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Massie JA, Santos RO, Rezek RJ, James WR, Viadero NM, Boucek RE, Blewett DA, Trotter AA, Stevens PW, Rehage JS. Primed and cued: long-term acoustic telemetry links interannual and seasonal variations in freshwater flows to the spawning migrations of Common Snook in the Florida Everglades. MOVEMENT ECOLOGY 2022; 10:48. [PMID: 36372881 PMCID: PMC9655820 DOI: 10.1186/s40462-022-00350-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spawning migrations are a widespread phenomenon among fishes, often occurring in response to environmental conditions prompting movement into reproductive habitats (migratory cues). However, for many species, individual fish may choose not to migrate, and research suggests that conditions preceding the spawning season (migratory primers) may influence this decision. Few studies have provided empirical descriptions of these prior conditions, partly due to a lack of long-term data allowing for robust multi-year comparisons. To investigate how primers and cues interact to shape the spawning migrations of coastal fishes, we use acoustic telemetry data from Common Snook (Centropomus undecimalis) in Everglades National Park, Florida, USA. A contingent of Snook migrate between rivers and coastal spawning sites, varying annually in both the proportion of the population that migrates and the timing of migration within the spawning season. However, the specific environmental factors that serve as migratory primers and cues remain unknown. METHODS We used eight years of acoustic telemetry data (2012-2019) from 173 tagged Common Snook to investigate how primers and cues influence migratory patterns at different temporal scales. We hypothesize that (1) interannual differences in hydrologic conditions preceding the spawning season contribute to the number of individuals migrating each year, and (2) specific environmental cues trigger the timing of migrations during the spawning season. We used GLMMs to model both the annual and seasonal migratory response in relation to flow characteristics (water level, rate of change in water level), other hydrologic/abiotic conditions (temperature, salinity), fish size, and phenological cues independent of riverine conditions (photoperiod, lunar cycle). RESULTS We found that the extent of minimum marsh water level prior to migration and fish size influence the proportion of Snook migrating each year, and that high river water level and daily rates of change serve as primary cues triggering migration timing. CONCLUSION Our findings illustrate how spawning migrations are shaped by environmental factors acting at different temporal scales and emphasize the importance of long-term movement data in understanding these patterns. Research providing mechanistic descriptions of conditions that promote migration and reproduction can help inform management decisions aimed at conserving ecologically and economically important species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan A Massie
- Institute of Environment, Department of Earth and Environment, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL, USA.
| | - Rolando O Santos
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Ryan J Rezek
- Department of Marine Science, Coastal Carolina University, Conway, SC, USA
| | - W Ryan James
- Institute of Environment, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Natasha M Viadero
- Institute of Environment, Department of Earth and Environment, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL, USA
| | - Ross E Boucek
- Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, Florida Keys Initiative, Marathon, FL, USA
| | - David A Blewett
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Port Charlotte, FL, USA
| | - Alexis A Trotter
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Philip W Stevens
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Jennifer S Rehage
- Institute of Environment, Department of Earth and Environment, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th St., Miami, FL, USA
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Espinoza T, Burke CL, Carpenter-Bundhoo L, Marshall SM, McDougall AJ, Roberts DT, Campbell HA, Kennard MJ. Quantifying movement of multiple threatened species to inform adaptive management of environmental flows. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 295:113067. [PMID: 34171782 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
There is a growing need for water managers to refine and optimise environmental flow strategies (e-flows) to balance water requirements for humans and nature. With increasing demands for freshwater and consequent declines in biodiversity, managers are faced with the problem of how to adaptively manage e-flows for multiple stakeholders and species whose flow requirements may overlap or vary. This study assessed the effectiveness of a regulated e-flow release strategy from a dam, aimed at providing movement opportunities and facilitating reproductive processes for multiple threatened species. Movements of 24 Mary River cod (Maccullochella mariensis), 20 Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) and 13 Mary River turtle (Elusor macrurus) were quantified using acoustic telemetry over a three-year period. The influence of regulated e-flow releases, season, river depth, water temperature and rainfall on animal movements was assessed using Generalised linear mixed models (GLMMs). Models showed that hydraulic connectivity provided by both natural flows and regulated e-flow releases facilitated movement of all three species between pool habitats, throughout the year. Mary River turtles made extensive use of regulated e-flow releases when moving between habitats, whereas Mary River cod and Australian lungfish required additional natural rises in river height above the regulated e-flows to trigger movements. Significant movement activity was also recorded for cod and turtles during the dry season (winter and spring), broadly coinciding with breeding periods for these species. The effectiveness of, and potential improvements to, current e-flow strategies to sustain key life-history requirements of these species is discussed. Findings suggest a revised e-flow strategy with relatively minor increases in the magnitude of e-flow releases throughout winter and spring, would be effective in providing movement opportunities and supporting reproductive success for all three species. This study demonstrates that by quantifying movement behaviour in an e-flow context, ecological risk assessment frameworks can then be used to assess and provide for critical life-history requirements of multiple species within the context of a highly regulated system under increasing water use demands.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Espinoza
- Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water, Bundaberg, QLD, 4670, Australia.
| | - C L Burke
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | - L Carpenter-Bundhoo
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia
| | - S M Marshall
- Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water, Bundaberg, QLD, 4670, Australia
| | - A J McDougall
- Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water, Bundaberg, QLD, 4670, Australia
| | - D T Roberts
- Seqwater, Ipswich, Queensland, 4305, Australia
| | - H A Campbell
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, School of Environment, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, 0909, Australia
| | - M J Kennard
- Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland, 4111, Australia
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Webb JA, Watts RJ, Allan C, Conallin JC. Adaptive Management of Environmental Flows. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2018; 61:339-346. [PMID: 29362893 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-017-0981-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Adaptive management enables managers to work with complexity and uncertainty, and to respond to changing biophysical and social conditions. Amid considerable uncertainty over the benefits of environmental flows, governments are embracing adaptive management as a means to inform decision making. This Special Issue of Environmental Management presents examples of adaptive management of environmental flows and addresses claims that there are few examples of its successful implementation. It arose from a session at the 11th International Symposium on Ecohydraulics held in Australia, and is consequently dominated by papers from Australia. We classified the papers according to the involvement of researchers, managers and the local community in adaptive management. Five papers report on approaches developed by researchers, and one paper on a community-led program; these case studies currently have little impact on decision making. Six papers provide examples involving water managers and researchers, and two papers provide examples involving water managers and the local community. There are no papers where researchers, managers and local communities all contribute equally to adaptive management. Successful adaptive management of environmental flows occurs more often than is perceived. The final paper explores why successes are rarely reported, suggesting a lack of emphasis on reflection on management practices. One major challenge is to increase the documentation of successful adaptive management, so that benefits of learning extend beyond the project where it takes place. Finally, moving towards greater involvement of all stakeholders is critical if we are to realize the benefits of adaptive management for improving outcomes from environmental flows.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Angus Webb
- Department of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia.
| | - Robyn J Watts
- Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW, 2640, Australia
| | - Catherine Allan
- Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW, 2640, Australia
| | - John C Conallin
- Department of Science and Engineering, IHE-Delft, 2611 AX, Delft, The Netherlands
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