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Different Approaches to Habitat Surveys Can Impact Fisheries Management and Conservation Decisions
Author(s) -
AlChokhachy Robert,
Roper Brett B.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
fisheries
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.725
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1548-8446
pISSN - 0363-2415
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8446-35.10.476
Subject(s) - habitat , oncorhynchus , fishery , trout , chinook wind , abundance (ecology) , ecology , geography , environmental science , environmental resource management , fish <actinopterygii> , biology
We illustrate how the variability in data collected within and among habitat sampling protocols can profoundly affect the interpretation of habitat quality and quantity, along with the development of habitat‐to‐fish population metrics. We input data collected from two standardized survey techniques, as well as data collected using one standardized technique with multiple crews, into empirically‐based relationships and found the variability in estimates of habitat data resulted in 1‐50% differences in predictions of Chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha ) egg‐to‐fry survival rates. Estimates of percent pool habitat collected via different protocols resulted in up to a 3.5‐fold difference in juvenile trout abundance. We also found substantial differences in the geomorphic relationships between large woody debris (LWD) and the frequency of pools when using data collected by different protocols. We illustrate how the precision of estimates of LWD and pool frequency can substantially affect data‐crosswalk opportunities between habitat data collected via different protocols. The effects of the variability in habitat assessments illustrated here highlights the importance of standardized, well‐documented protocols, adequate training of field crews collecting habitat data, and the need to evaluate potential bias and error.