Developing user-friendly habitat suitability tools from regional stream fish survey data
North American Journal of Fisheries Management
By: T.G. Zorn, P. Seelbach, and M.J. Wiley
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Abstract
We developed user-friendly fish habitat suitability tools (plots) for fishery managers in Michigan; these tools are based on driving habitat variables and fish population estimates for several hundred stream sites throughout the state. We generated contour plots to show patterns in fish biomass for over 60 common species (and for 120 species grouped at the family level) in relation to axes of catchment area and low-flow yield (90% exceedance flow divided by catchment area) and also in relation to axes of mean and weekly range of July temperatures. The plots showed distinct patterns in fish habitat suitability at each level of biological organization studied and were useful for quantitatively comparing river sites. We demonstrate how these plots can be used to support stream management, and we provide examples pertaining to resource assessment, trout stocking, angling regulations, chemical reclamation of marginal trout streams, indicator species, instream flow protection, and habitat restoration. These straightforward and effective tools are electronically available so that managers can easily access and incorporate them into decision protocols and presentations.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Developing user-friendly habitat suitability tools from regional stream fish survey data |
| Series title | North American Journal of Fisheries Management |
| DOI | 10.1080/02755947.2011.557965 |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Year Published | 2011 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | American Fisheries Society |
| Contributing office(s) | Great Lakes Science Center |
| Description | 15 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | North American Journal of Fisheries Management |
| First page | 41 |
| Last page | 55 |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |