Transcript Day 1 Introduction

SFCC Walkover Habitat Survey
Training Course July 2015
DAY 1
DAY 2
Why survey river habitat?
Improve knowledge of fish populations; fish survey data
• Fishery & conservation management
• Primarily salmonids
• Lamprey & other species
Assess habitat in relation to pressures; habitat survey data
• Availability; quantitative
• Suitability; categorisation
• Condition; subjective observation
Identify & communicate; Management actions
• Pressures
• Bottlenecks
• Opportunities
• Estimate fish production
• Develop Management strategy
Habitat influences on fish populations
• Distribution of fish
• Abundance of fish
• Life-history characteristics
Influenced by a complex mix of;
• Biotic & Abiotic factors
• Interactions within aquatic food web
• Human derived pressures
Influences on Fish Habitat (Abiotic)
The aquatic environment; food & shelter;
• Geography; Climate, geology & topography
• Water chemistry / quality; Suitability & Productivity,
• Hydrology; seasonal variation in discharge
• Hydraulics; channel gradient / type, water depth, bed
roughness etc.
Influences of Habitat on fish (Biotic)
• Characteristics; species, life history, genetics
• Survival; cover provided by habitat
• Health; disease, parasites, condition of
individual
• Food; population density, feeding niches,
aquatic & terrestrial invertebrates
• Competition; productivity, habitat
heterogeneity / complexity
• Carrying capacity; species & life stage
Influences on Habitat Condition
Human derived pressures
• Barriers to migration; Habitat accessibility
• Pollution; point & diffuse – habitat productivity
• Abstraction / regulation; Habitat availability
• Modification; Loss of heterogeneity
All Combine to affect;
• Carrying capacity; population abundance
• Predation; cover provided by habitat
• Health stressors; disease, parasites, condition of
individual
• Food availability; competition for limited resources
• Adaptation; genetic variation, exacerbate effects of
climate change
Survey Preparation
Spatial information
• O.S Maps; waterfalls, gradient, land & water use, road
network, potential pressures
• Google Maps; land use, recent developments, type of
channel
• Old maps; channel realignment / migration
• Geological maps; Hard and soft rock / soil types
• Arial photography & LIDAR; Terrain and land cover
Identifying pressures
• RBP information sheets; ecological status / pressures
• Flow gauging data; link to land drainage / water use
• Water quality data; Chemistry & inverts
RIVER SHIRA – CONSTRAINTS
a modified habitat (moderate EP)
River Shira
Survey design
Survey type
• Remote; Aerial studies
• Field; continuous walkover
• Mixture; Targeted spot / transect sampling (e-fish
habitat data)
Survey resolution
• Remote; Large area, low resolution & high cost
• Field; Moderate area, variable resolution & cost
• Mixture; Large area / mixed resolution & cost
Field surveys– Design considerations
Survey coverage & Interpretation
• SFCC protocol; 2 – 4 km per day
• Walkover; 4 – 8 or more km per day
• Habitat variability; access, complexity, logistics
• Health & safety; phone signal, lone working etc
• Experience; E-fish surveys, Identifying visual signs
Survey outputs
• Quantifying the resource; Access / area / type
• Gauging condition & pressures; limitations
• Spatial information; GIS mapping;
• Recommendations for management actions
Field survey kit
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Waders
Polaroid sunglasses
Wading / measure stick / Ruler
Waterproofs
Sun / midge replant
Clipboard / weather writer / pencils
Hand-held GPS
Camera