Transcript The National Fish Habitat Action Plan (NFHAP), the

Advancing Fish Habitat Science
Through Whitewater to Bluewater
Collaboration
ACFHP Science Projects
October 25, 2012
ACFHP Science Projects
Assessment of Existing Habitat Information
www8.nos.noaa.gov/bhv/spatbibindex.html
▫ Species – Habitat Matrix
www.atlanticfishhabitat.org/planningresources/database/
▫ North Atlantic LCC/Downstream Strategies Habitat
Assessment
www.northatlanticlcc.org/projects/downstream-strategies-project
Assessment of Existing Habitat
Information: Overview
Database of documents, data sets, and information
portals on Atlantic coastal fish species and habitats.
 Bibliographic and Assessment Databases
 GIS Framework
 Now Available: Project Report, NOAA Tech Memo,
and Web-based Query Tools
http ://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/publications/nccostechmemo103.pdf
NH Natural Heritage
Program
AEI: Bibliographic Database
 Over 500 entries
 Synoptic assessments
 Local and regional assessments and
management plans
AEHI: Assessment Database
 Over 200 entries yielding indicator, threat, or
action information
 Parameter and value recorded in separate
table by waterbody and reference
 Habitat Assessments and Conservation Plan
documents provide the richest sources of
“policy-relevant” information
AEHI:Web-Based Query Tools
http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/bhv/spatbibQuery.aspx
AEHI:Web-Based Query Tools
http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/bhv/spatbibMap.aspx
What is the Species Habitat Matrix
• The Species Habitat Matrix is:
An assessment of the importance of coastal & inland
habitats for each of four life stages of selected fish
species in terms of:
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Shelter
Direct trophic links
Spawning
Nurseries
Habitat and Species Selection
Over 100 Different Species Across Four
Subregions:
• ASMFC-managed species
• Council-managed species with life stages occurring
within 3-mile state limit
• All other native diadromous species
• Select state-managed species and unmanaged species
• Not included:
▫ Bivalves (counted as habitat).
▫ Species with no marine or estuarine life stage.
• Other sessile fauna:
▫ Primary coral reef architecture
▫ Patch reef, soft coral,
anemones.
▫ Live rock
• Macroalgae: Fucus, Ulva,
Laminaria, Sargassum.
NOAA / Department of Commerce
• Shellfish aggregations:
▫ Oyster reef
▫ Hard clam beds
▫ Scallop beds
▫ Dead shell accumulations
Jaclyn Daly / NOAA
Habitat and Species Selection
• Submerged aquatic vegetation:
▫ Tidal fresh and oligohaline spp.
▫ Mesohaline and polyhaline spp.
• Tidal vegetation:
▫ Saltwater/brackish marsh
▫ Tidal freshwater marsh
▫ Mangroves
Paige Gill / NOAA /
Department of Commerce
Habitat and Species Selection
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Loose fine bottom
Loose coarse bottom
Firm hard bottom
Structured sand
FWCC
• Coastal inert substrate:
Habitat and Species Selection
▫ Higher gradient headwater
tributaries
▫ Lower gradient tributaries
▫ Higher gradient large mainstem
rivers
▫ Lower gradient large mainstem
rivers
▫ Low order coastal streams
▫ Non-tidal freshwater mussel
beds
▫ Coastal headwater ponds
▫ Non-tidal freshwater marshes
NOAA / Department of Commerce
• Riverine:
Matrix
Completion
• Separate matrices
completed for each of
four subregions to
accommodate:
▫ Different species
assemblages
▫ Geographic variation
in habitat use (and
availability)
• Regional leads
assembled teams of
experts, each assigned
a set of species.
Matrix Completion
• Used published articles, grey literature, personal
observations and personal communication, all
documented in accompanying bibliography and notes
pages.
• Assigned one of six ranks to each node (species life
stage-habitat type combination):
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U = unknown
Blank = not present
L = Low
M = Medium
H = High
VH = Very High
Matrix Review
Overall goal: Minimize subjectivity
• Initial check:
▫ reviewed species that had rankings that varied
significantly across the different sub regions
▫ ensure that any differences in scoring reflected
genuine differences in habitat utilization across the
four sub regions and not effects of individual
biases.
Matrix Review
• Second check:
▫ A more exhaustive review of all matrices was
completed by a review work group.
▫ Consisted of project team members as well as
additional external experts.
▫ In the absence of expertise and/or consensus of the
scoring of a specific species by the workgroup,
external species specialists also reviewed.
Matrix Scoring & Analysis
• L/M/H/VH ranks converted to:
▫ 1/2/3.5/4 values
• Ranked habitats in terms of:
▫ Category/type with highest overall score
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Highest juvenile/YOY life stage score (nursery)
Highest # of H/VH
Highest # of L/M
Highest # any rank
Ratio of H/VH to L/M
Matrix Results Snapshot
Matrix Results Snapshot
Matrix Products
• Now Available: Summary Report
http://www.atlanticfishhabitat.org
• Next Steps: Developing a manuscript for
publication in a peer-reviewed journal and
identifying format for distributing data
online.
For information on ACFHP go
to: www.atlanticfishhabitat.org
For information on NFHAP go
to: www.fishhabitat.org
Emily Greene
ACFHP Coordinator
[email protected]
Caroly Shumway
ACFHP Science and Data Working Group Chair
[email protected]