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Basin Visual Estimation Technique (BVET) and Representative Reach Approaches to Wadeable Stream Surveys
Author(s) -
Williams Lance R.,
Warren Melvin L.,
Adams Susan B.,
Arvai Joseph L.,
Taylor Christopher M.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
fisheries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1548-8446
pISSN - 0363-2415
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8446(2004)29[12:bvetba]2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - streams , sampling (signal processing) , abundance (ecology) , habitat , structural basin , consistency (knowledge bases) , biota , estimation , environmental science , range (aeronautics) , computer science , environmental resource management , ecology , hydrology (agriculture) , geology , engineering , biology , computer network , paleontology , geotechnical engineering , systems engineering , filter (signal processing) , artificial intelligence , aerospace engineering , computer vision
Basin Visual Estimation Techniques (BVET) are used to estimate abundance for fish populations in small streams. With BVET, independent samples are drawn from natural habitat units in the stream rather than sampling “representative reaches.” This sampling protocol provides an alternative to traditional reach‐level surveys, which are criticized for their lack of accuracy in estimating abundance at larger scales. BVET methodologies have been adopted and used by numerous government agencies for monitoring stream biota. Many of the assumptions of BVET methods, however, cannot be met in streams where they are being implemented because of unsuitable conditions for BVET surveys. Lack of bed control structures, variability in flow regimes, and lack of consistency among observers create difficulties in assessing habitat using BVET methods. BVET methods also are used to assess assemblage structure in streams although that was not the application for which they were originally designed. Representative reach approaches also have problems, as they often do not accurately reflect conditions present throughout the stream. We review various studies in which BVET and representative reach methodologies were employed and make recommendations for their most appropriate application given a range of study objectives.