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Mejia FH, Ouellet V, Briggs MA, Carlson SM, Casas-Mulet R, Chapman M, Collins MJ, Dugdale SJ, Ebersole JL, Frechette DM, Fullerton AH, Gillis CA, Johnson ZC, Kelleher C, Kurylyk BL, Lave R, Letcher BH, Myrvold KM, Nadeau TL, Neville H, Piégay H, Smith KA, Tonolla D, Torgersen CE. Closing the gap between science and management of cold-water refuges in rivers and streams. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:5482-5508. [PMID: 37466251 PMCID: PMC10615108 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Human activities and climate change threaten coldwater organisms in freshwater ecosystems by causing rivers and streams to warm, increasing the intensity and frequency of warm temperature events, and reducing thermal heterogeneity. Cold-water refuges are discrete patches of relatively cool water that are used by coldwater organisms for thermal relief and short-term survival. Globally, cohesive management approaches are needed that consider interlinked physical, biological, and social factors of cold-water refuges. We review current understanding of cold-water refuges, identify gaps between science and management, and evaluate policies aimed at protecting thermally sensitive species. Existing policies include designating cold-water habitats, restricting fishing during warm periods, and implementing threshold temperature standards or guidelines. However, these policies are rare and uncoordinated across spatial scales and often do not consider input from Indigenous peoples. We propose that cold-water refuges be managed as distinct operational landscape units, which provide a social and ecological context that is relevant at the watershed scale. These operational landscape units provide the foundation for an integrated framework that links science and management by (1) mapping and characterizing cold-water refuges to prioritize management and conservation actions, (2) leveraging existing and new policies, (3) improving coordination across jurisdictions, and (4) implementing adaptive management practices across scales. Our findings show that while there are many opportunities for scientific advancement, the current state of the sciences is sufficient to inform policy and management. Our proposed framework provides a path forward for managing and protecting cold-water refuges using existing and new policies to protect coldwater organisms in the face of global change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francine H. Mejia
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Cascadia Field Station, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Valerie Ouellet
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, Orono, Maine, USA
| | - Martin A. Briggs
- Observing Systems Division, U.S. Geological Survey, Hydrologic Remote Sensing Branch, Storrs, Connecticut, USA
| | - Stephanie M. Carlson
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Roser Casas-Mulet
- Aquatic Systems Biology Unit, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- Department of Infrastructure Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Mollie Chapman
- Department of Geography, URPP Global Change and Biodiversity, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mathias J. Collins
- National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Joseph L. Ebersole
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Danielle M. Frechette
- Maine Department of Marine Resources, Bureau of Sea Run Fisheries and Habitat, Augusta, Maine, USA
| | - Aimee H. Fullerton
- Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Zachary C. Johnson
- U.S. Geological Survey, Washington Water Science Center, Tacoma, Washington, USA
| | - Christa Kelleher
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, USA
| | - Barret L. Kurylyk
- Department of Civil and Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Rebecca Lave
- Department of Geography, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA
| | - Benjamin H. Letcher
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, S.O. Conte Fish Research Center, Turners Falls, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Knut M. Myrvold
- Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Lillehammer, Norway
| | - Tracie-Lynn Nadeau
- Region 10, Water Division, Oregon Operations Office, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | | | - Herve Piégay
- UMR 5600 CNRS EVS, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Kathryn A. Smith
- Department of Civil and Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Diego Tonolla
- Institute of Natural Resource Sciences, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Wädenswil, Switzerland
| | - Christian E. Torgersen
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Cascadia Field Station, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Warren DR, Roon DA, Swartz AG, Bladon KD. Loss of riparian forests from wildfire led to increased stream temperatures in summer, yet salmonid fish persisted. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dana R. Warren
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USA
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation Sciences Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USA
| | - David A. Roon
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation Sciences Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USA
- Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USA
| | - Allison G. Swartz
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USA
| | - Kevin D. Bladon
- Department of Forest Engineering, Resources, and Management Oregon State University Corvallis Oregon USA
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