scholarly journals Lifelong population connectivity between large rivers and their tributaries: A case study of shovelnose sturgeon from the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brenda M. Pracheil ◽  
John Lyons ◽  
Ellen J. Hamann ◽  
Patrick H. Short ◽  
Peter B. McIntyre
Keyword(s):  
Population Connectivity ◽  
Large Rivers ◽  
Shovelnose Sturgeon

scholarly journals Ecogeochemistry potential in deep time biodiversity illustrated using a modern deep-water case study

2016 ◽  
Vol 371 (1691) ◽  
pp. 20150223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive N. Trueman ◽  
Ming-Tsung Chung ◽  
Diana Shores
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Record ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Morphological Diversity ◽  
Population Connectivity ◽  
The Body ◽  
Deep Time ◽  
The Common ◽  
Body Fossil ◽  
Methodological Ground

The fossil record provides the only direct evidence of temporal trends in biodiversity over evolutionary timescales. Studies of biodiversity using the fossil record are, however, largely limited to discussions of taxonomic and/or morphological diversity. Behavioural and physiological traits that are likely to be under strong selection are largely obscured from the body fossil record. Similar problems exist in modern ecosystems where animals are difficult to access. In this review, we illustrate some of the common conceptual and methodological ground shared between those studying behavioural ecology in deep time and in inaccessible modern ecosystems. We discuss emerging ecogeochemical methods used to explore population connectivity and genetic drift, life-history traits and field metabolic rate and discuss some of the additional problems associated with applying these methods in deep time.

Range-wide age and growth characteristics of shovelnose sturgeon from mark–recapture data: implications for conservation and management

2015 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin J. Hamel ◽  
Mark A. Pegg ◽  
Reuben R. Goforth ◽  
Quinton E. Phelps ◽  
Kirk D. Steffensen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Mississippi River ◽  
Missouri River ◽  
Large River ◽  
Population Connectivity ◽  
Growth Characteristics ◽  
Age And Growth ◽  
Mark Recapture ◽  
Shovelnose Sturgeon ◽  
Commercial Harvest

We used mark–recapture data from shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus) to describe range-wide growth characteristics and developed a model to estimate ages. Data were solicited throughout much of the current distribution of shovelnose sturgeon, specifically from the mainstem Missouri and Mississippi rivers and their tributaries. Shovelnose sturgeon exhibited variable growth among locations; however, adult fish exhibited almost no growth after they reached a particular size, presumably the size at sexual maturity. Shovelnose sturgeon from the Mississippi River basin attained greater maximum sizes and ages compared with the Missouri River basin. However, two populations from the Mississippi River that received high exploitation from commercial harvest had truncated age distributions with smaller asymptotic lengths. Lower Missouri River populations were characteristic of exploited populations (i.e., smaller fish and reduced longevity), presumably a result of anthropogenic effects. Wide discrepancies in maximum age and size suggest shovelnose sturgeon are capable of displaying phenotypic plasticity in response to exploitation or environmental influences. Determining metapopulation dynamics is a priority because it is unknown how population connectivity may influence dynamic rate functions and persistence of large-river fishes. Identifying potential source–sink connections in terms of population dynamics may provide a template for direction of future restoration and recovery efforts.

scholarly journals An adaptable toolkit to assess commercial fishery costs and benefits related to marine protected area network design

F1000Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 1234
Author(s):  
Rémi M. Daigle ◽  
Cristián J. Monaco ◽  
Ashley K. Elgin
Keyword(s):  
Network Design ◽  
Protected Area ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Marine Protected Area ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
R Package ◽  
Population Connectivity ◽  
Area Network ◽  
Mpa Network

Around the world, governments are establishing Marine Protected Area (MPA) networks to meet their commitments to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. MPAs are often used in an effort to conserve biodiversity and manage fisheries stocks. However, their efficacy and effect on fisheries yields remain unclear. We conducted a case-study on the economic impact of different MPA network design strategies on the Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) fisheries in Canada. The open-source R package that we developed to analyze this case study can be customized to conduct similar analyses for other systems. We used a spatially-explicit individual-based model of population growth and dispersal coupled with a fisheries management and harvesting component. We found that MPA networks that both protect the target species’ habitat and were spatially optimized to improve population connectivity had the highest net present value (i.e., were most profitable for the fishing industry). These higher profits were achieved primarily by reducing the distance travelled for fishing and reducing the probability of a moratorium event. These findings add to a growing body of knowledge demonstrating the importance of incorporating population connectivity in the MPA planning process, as well as the ability of this R package to explore ecological and economic consequences of alternative MPA network designs.

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