Science in the stream

Let’s say your phone rings, and the person on the line offers you full access to their property to conduct a stream habitat restoration project to benefit Eastern brook trout, an iconic, cold-water dependent species that’s starting to feel the heat from climate change.

You can plant trees to provide shade, change the slope of the bank to reduce erosion, and even pull out a dilapidated old culvert that’s obstructing flow. Need to truck in heavy machinery to get the job done? Make yourself at home. They’ll even bring you coffee and donuts every morning to help you start your day.

Say no more! I’d bite.

Eastern brook trout. Credit Robert S. Michelson.

Fortunately, Sandy Davis would be a little more discerning. As a fish and wildlife biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Chesapeake Bay Field Office, she knows there are a number of different variables to consider when selecting a restoration project, and that it takes time to parse them out at a potential site.

So in the past when Davis would get a call like that, she would start by rounding up all the background information she could on the site, from ownership records to land-use history to species population data.

Then she would round up a camera, a tape measure and a survey rod and head for the door.

“They might say there are brook trout present, but we always need to go and see for ourselves,” she explained.

Now thanks to a new online decision support tool, Davis can save valuable time — and miles.

“Before we even get to that step, we can do a quick query to figure out if a project is worth considering without leaving the office,” she said.

Developed by environmental consulting firm Downstream Strategies with support from the North Atlantic Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other partners, the Fish Habitat Decision Support Tool enables users to establish and rank conservation priorities, predict how species like brook trout will fare under various management scenarios, and evaluate long-term conservation benefits in the face of climate change.

The tool can help in targeting aquatic resources from the Midwest to the Atlantic coast — nearly half of the continental United States. In the Northeast, it has been developed for brook trout in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, river herring and other anadromous fish in Atlantic coastal rivers, and winter flounder in Long Island Sound and Narragansett Bay.

“We have always used the best available science to target where we work, but this tool puts all of the information we need right at our fingertips so we can make decisions quickly and strategically,” said Davis.

Information that used to require legwork, and field work: brook trout presence/absence data collected in the field, projections about how development and climate change will affect conditions at the site in the future, and the locations of any relevant activities that might be happening nearby. You know, like sites of other restoration projects, large population centers, leaking acid mines…

“Say we are considering a project in a small stream where we know brook trout are present, but the model shows us that there’s is no way we can restore the surrounding watershed enough to support a connected, sustainable brook trout population because of other factors,” said Davis. That project probably won’t make the cut.

That means rather than take on a project that will benefit a handful of brook trout today, they can use the tool to identify those with the potential to benefit the entire species well into the future.

“Ultimately our goal is to create populations that will be self sufficient,” said Davis. “This technology helps us pick projects that will have the greatest long-term impact by targeting areas for restoration projects that will increase connectivity between separate populations.”

The free online mapping tool also helps them communicate with members of the public (like me) about why some restoration sites are better than others — donuts or no donuts.

“You might need a science background to understand the nuts and bolts of the tool, but you don’t need a degree in fisheries to see the connections on a map,” said Davis. “We can show people visually that if we improve a certain area, we predict others areas will change for the better, too,” she said, adding that good conditions for brook trout mean good conditions for associated species as well — including people. “The added benefits are clean water, less erosion, and more attractive streams for everyone.”

To access the Fish Habitat Decision Support Tool, visit www.fishhabitattool.org/

To learn how to use it, tune into a free webinar hosted by the North Atlantic LCC on Wednesday, March 9, from 1-2 p.m. (EST): http://northatlanticlcc.org/news/webinar-fish-habitat-decision-support-tool

 

A plan of attack on invasive species

Kelly McDonald is a biological technician at the Lower Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office in New York. Photo credit: USFWS

Invasive species awareness and education is a critical part of fighting these foreign invaders. This week we are highlighting the intense work our biologists take on each day in their efforts to control the deadly spread of invasive species. Today we hear from Kelly McDonald, a biological technician with the aquatic invasive species team at the Lower Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office in New York.

 

In the quest to fight invasive species, timing can make all the difference in the world. If discovered too late, as many invasive species have already proven, their impact on ecological balance is devastating. But aquatic invasive species (AIS) crews at the Lower Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office are on the front lines to battle new invaders, executing a plan that would stop this trend before they have the chance get out of control.

Biologists pull a paired fyke net out of the upper Niagara River. The nets are set overnight in sample locations. Photo credit: USFWS

In partnership with other federal, state and non-government agencies, Service biologists have developed a system called Early Detection and Monitoring, or EDM, in an effort to prevent the ecological suffering that invasive species often cause when they spread unchecked. We are now using the EDM program as part of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to keep invasive species from taking over the Great Lakes. Previously introduced invasive species such as zebra mussel and round goby have plagued the Great Lakes, causing negative biological impacts and hurting local economies.

One of the AIS crew members takes environmental DNA samples out in the field.  Environmental DNA uses genetics to look for invasive species in water samples. Photo credit: USFWS

 

So what is so special about this EDM program? While most invasive species control programs have focused on reacting to already established species, the EDM program takes a pro-active approach in its mission to seek out and detect new invaders before they take over. The earlier an infestation is discovered, the more feasible it is to eradicate and manage the species, preventing catastrophic damage.

The program, while still relatively young, is evolving and growing to best detect several different types of aquatic invasive species. The techniques we use in the program include a variety of field methods and cutting edge technology in order to cover as much biological ground as possible. We use sampling methods for invertebrates and fish, while also applying innovative genetics and GIS technology to search for invasive species.

Lab work is an important aspect of fighting invasive species. Here, we measure and count ichthyoplankton in preparation for genetic analysis. Photo credit: USFWS

While practicing the best sound-science possible, the team uses an ecosystem-based approach to determine where to collect samples. We take into consideration the populations of native species in the area, the proximity of human populations, types of aquatic habitats, and possible means of invasive species introduction. But all this data is not limited to just finding invasive species. The information we gather also provides needed baseline data for more in-depth projects down the road. For example, one aspect of the EDM program is mapping habitat using side-scan sonar to image the bottom of potential sample areas. Once complete, we then “ground truth” that data by bringing an underwater camera and a bottom sampler, called a Ponar, to confirm that the bottom habitat is mapped correctly. This information can be invaluable for native species spawning studies or potential restoration projects.

After spending time on the water, staff rinse down ichthyoplankton nets. They skim the top of the water to catch larval fish at night, when they rise to the top. Photo credit: USFWS

So far, we have not discovered any new invaders using the EDM program. But if we do, a rapid response could make all the difference between eradication and control, or trying to fight a losing battle. Typically these quick actions include a large coordinated effort between many partners to thoroughly sample the areas to determine the extent of the infestation, and plan an adaptive management strategy to best attack the species before it becomes a serious and harmful issue.

Sharing Lessons Learned

Great Dismal Swamp, Credit: USFWS

Sunset in Sebangua, Credit: USFWS

Staff from the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, located in North Carolina and Virginia, has entered into a Sister Protected Area Arrangement with Sebangau National Park in Indonesia. Through this partnership, the two nationally protected areas will work together to share expertise in environmental restoration and the development of ecotourism.

Participants of the Ecotourism Workshop conducted by the USFWS during their last visit to Indonesia, Credit: DOI-ITAP

As exciting as this partnership sounds, you may be wondering why Great Dismal Swamp was chosen to become a “sister” to a national park half a world away. Well, there are actually very good reasons!

Deforestation outside of Sebangau National Park for a palm oil production plantation, Credit: DOI-ITAP

Both Great Dismal Swamp and Sebangau encompass vast peatlands that have historically been drained of water to support timber harvesting operations. Prior to becoming a National Wildlife Refuge in 1974, Great Dismal Swamp was owned by timber companies, who created ditches to drain the peatlands, making it easier to remove trees. Similarly, much of the peatlands in Sebangau have been drained through the formation of canals that were created to move timber down river to market. Because the once rich peatland forests have been drained and deforested, both areas have suffered frequent forest fires that have further devastated the area’s ecology.

Devastation from the 2008 wildfire at Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Credit: USFWS

Why are wetlands such as peatlands important to conserve? Wetlands provide many direct services to people, like cleaning our drinking water, protecting us from floods, and providing habitat for many species of wildlife. In addition, Great Dismal Swamp and Sebangau are refuges for endangered species. Great Dismal Swamp is home to the red-cockaded woodpecker and the canebreak rattlesnake, while Sebangau hosts the largest orangutan population in any protected area in Indonesia.

A wild orangutan spotted in a peat swamp forest in Indonesia, Credit: Daniel Murdiyarso, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)

Peatlands are particularly important to the issue of climate change because they store huge amounts of carbon in their wet soils. Although they only cover about 3 percent of the world’s land area, peatlands store twice as much carbon as all of the trees in the world’s forests combined! When peat soils are drained and exposed to oxygen from the atmosphere, those stores of carbon are released as carbon dioxide, a heat-trapping gas scientists say is a major cause of global warming. Even more devastating are the amounts of carbon dioxide released if these dry soils are burned in forest fires.

Layers of dry peat soil were destroyed during a wildfire at Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, leaving these plant roots exposed, Credit: USFWS

At Great Dismal Swamp, scientists have been working for years to rewet the peatland soils. They have installed weirs, devices that can be used to control water levels, into the ditches throughout the refuge to slow drainage and raise water levels. Through a $3.1 million project supported by federal funding for Hurricane Sandy recovery, 13 additional weirs will be added or replaced at the refuge. By managing water levels, the Service and partners hope to bring back the natural resources that have been lost, along with the benefits they provide, such as protection from floods. Also, because the refuge will be able to raise or lower water levels as needed, the peatlands will become more resilient to the predicted effects of climate change.

A half-moon riser structure installed to slow drainage and re-wet the peat soils at Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, Credit: USFWS

A large weir at Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, another water control structure used to slow drainage and raise water levels, Credit: USFWS

Sebangau, which was only established as a Federal National Park in 2004, is still in the beginning of its restoration journey. Through the Sister Protected Area Arrangement, the staff at Great Dismal Swamp has committed to helping them navigate through this journey. Great Dismal Swamp personnel will offer training in hydrological restoration and monitoring, endangered species management, and the development of ecotourism in the Park.

USFWS Hydrologist Fred Wurster discussing groundwater well installation with Indonesian conservationists, Credit: DOI-ITAP

Great Dismal Swamp and Sebangau staff “trekking” along an interpretive trail in Sebangau National Park, Credit: DOI-ITAP

Each year for five years, the staffs of the protected areas will meet in person, once at Great Dismal Swamp and once at Sebangau. In addition, an Indonesian intern will spend one month at Great Dismal Swamp this spring, learning how hydrology is managed at the refuge.

Great Dismal Swamp staff travelling by klotoeks, a boat traditional to the area, into Sebangau National Park, Credit: DOI-ITAP

Chris Lowie, refuge manager at Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, says he has learned a lot from Indonesian conservationists. “For me, the trip was beneficial to see first-hand that we are not alone in the U.S. at addressing peatland management. It is a very complex system, so learning what folks are doing in other parts of the world is useful for our management strategies as well.”

Chris Lowie (Refuge Manager, Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge) and Adib Gunawan (Manager, Sebangau National Park) at the Partnership Signing Ceremony, Credit: DOI-ITAP

This partnership is just one example of how the Service is committed to addressing environmental restoration on a global scale. By creating and maintaining partnerships across the world, we hope to contribute toward true and lasting impacts to Earth’s natural resources, for the benefit of all.

To learn more about Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, please visit their website and Facebook page.

To learn more about Sebangau National Park, please visit their Facebook page.

The sister protected area partnership between Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and Sebangau National Park was signed through the United States Department of Interior (DOI) to strengthen management of national parks in Indonesia. The DOI International Technical Assistance Program (ITAP) is partnering with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry to implement the project, with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

Feature photo credit: Exotissimo Travel