Guiding Present and Future Native Fish Restoration Using a Strategic Planning Process, Literature Synthesis, Database Analysis, Field Protocol Development/Testing, and Adaptive Management
Investigators:
Caitlyn Aymami, M.S. Student
Olivia Rode, M.S. Student
Project Supervisor:
Dr. Martha Mather
Status:
Ongoing
Overview:
The conservation profession is making good use of existing tools to master conservation challenges. However, new challenges are increasing rapidly. As a result, new tools are needed in the conservation toolbox to keep up with these increasing challenges. This project will deliver a process that guides data collection and links data to future restoration activities. The plans, syntheses, and protocols that result from this proposal with help our valued state cooperator [Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism (KDWPT) Ecological Services Section (ESS)] hit the ground running relative to future restoration for an array of species and locations.
Proposal:
Here we seek to provide new conservation tools using threatened Kansas fish species under consideration for restoration through the Kansas Aquatic Biodiversity Center (KABC) at the Farlington Fish Hatchery in southeast Kansas. Our integration includes a strategic planning process, synthesis of peer-reviewed literature on restoration and stocking, analysis of existing KDWPT data, development and testing of field restoration protocols (e.g., species /site selection, stocking protocols, evaluation procedures), and adaptive management.
Objectives:
- Identify a process to create and modify a dynamic strategic plan that guides fish restoration using stretch goals, smart goals, options for data collection, possible outcomes, pinch points for decisions, and a way to integrate different types of data.
- Synthesize, integrate, summarize peer-reviewed literature to understand what is known, gaps, and best available practices for success related to
- Restoration
- Stocking
- Use existing databases to guide future restoration plans, decisions, and priorities for
- Habitat
- Fish distribution and abundance
- Conduct field studies that develop and test protocols to evaluate restoration using target and/or surrogate species (density, timing, evaluation).
- Make recommendations for an adaptive management plan to aid future conservation actions.
