seminar4

The session goals are to 1) identify the important features of freshwater habitat to include in models, including the relationship between salmon population status and freshwater habitat quantity or quality; e.g., the effects of habitat structure, temperature and flow regimes, wood on salmon at different life stages, and 2) discuss bounds for scenarios for these features.

George Pess (George.Pess@noaa.gov)is a stream ecologist with the Northwest Fisheries Science Center and has worked in the fisheries science and management field since 1989. His primary research interest during that time has been the examination of natural and land-use effects on salmon habitat and production. George has conducted research on historic and current land use impacts on salmon habitat and production, the influence of wood in forested stream channels, the development of a wood recruitment model to determine the relative influence of forestry activities, and what role watershed analysis plays in ecosystem management. He is currently studying how salmon respond to log jam placement in large river systems, the effects of large flood events on salmon spawning success, and how landscape characteristics and land use effect salmon abundance. George has an B.A. in Economics and Environmental Science (Bowdoin College 1987) and a M.S. in Forest Science (Yale University 1992).

Ashley Steel (Ashley.Steel@noaa.gov) is a quantitative ecologist with applied research interests in riverine ecology. Her current research at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center focuses on the relationships between land-use, geology, climate and spatial patterns in salmon abundance. Primary statistical interests include analysis of ratio data, repeated measures data, and quantification of variability in river flows or water temperature. Her research experience includes studies on the effects of in-stream conditions on juvenile salmonid migration patterns, methods for measuring water visibility, and the role of river-deposited wood in providing habitat for birds and small mammals in riparian areas. Ashley is committed to communicating the importance of scientific thinking and quantitative skills through her involvement with The TRUTH About Science and other K-12 science curricula. Ashley Steel holds a B.S. from Duke University, a M.S. in River Ecology (University of Washington 1993), a M.S. in Statistics (University of Washington 1997), and a Ph.D. in Quantitative Ecology (University of Washington 1999).

George
1. How is the line between a perfect amount of LWD for salmon habitat and an excessive amount of LWD that may impede the migration of adults determined? For example, while LWD may be beneficial in some systems, the addition of excessive LWD in smaller streams may result in a barrier to fish migration. Can this issue be incorporated into a model?

2. For restoration, what do you think is the one most beneficial freshwater habitat component on which to focus effort for a quality increase? Is quality more important than quantity?

3. Do you think the EFH (Essential Fish Habitat) part of the regulations is working (or will work) to help endangered salmonids?

Ashley
1. How confident are you in the accuracy of field data used when you are analyzing the "relationships between land-use, geology, climate and spatial patterns in salmon abundance". Where are the weaknesses that need to be improved and which measurements (if any) do you feel are completely accurate?

2. What kind of challenges have you met incorporating data collected at different scales, and how have you dealt with those challenges?

3. How have you incorporated the errors and uncertainties in such data into watershed models?