Transcript Research, Citizen Involvement, and the Wisconsin

Research, Citizen Involvement,
and the Wisconsin Department
of Natural Resources
Jack Sullivan
Science Services
Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources
Presentation Outline
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Research at Wisconsin DNR
How DNR Research is Funded
Wildlife and Forestry Research
Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat Research
Presentation Outline
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Research at Wisconsin DNR
How DNR Research is Funded
Wildlife and Forestry Research
Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat Research
Research at Wisconsin DNR
• Research is “an activity that seeks new
knowledge, that tests a hypothesis using an
experimental design.”
• Research may be either applied or basic. Applied
research addresses a management problem/need
or answers a management question. Basic
research seeks new knowledge not necessarily
related to a defined problem.
Research at Wisconsin DNR
What does DNR Research do?
• Collect population dynamics information
about species.
• Monitor wildlife and fisheries species to
assess population status.
• Test management hypotheses.
• Evaluate ecosystem composition, structure,
and function to guide management strategies.
• Guide landscape-scale management projects
and use adaptive management strategies.
• Provide expertise to management in decisionmaking and policy and rule development.
Research at Wisconsin DNR
• Centralized Research Program: Science
Services has direct responsibility, but
research is a shared function:
• Internal contracts with subprograms.
• Research activity in subprograms.
• Independent of management programs to
help insure objectivity.
Research at Wisconsin DNR
• Research needing special expertise and
refined facilities is done outside of the
agency:
• Contracts with external partners.
• Fish and Wildlife Coop. Units.
Research at Wisconsin DNR
Forestry and
Wildlife Research
1930s
Research at Wisconsin DNR
Forestry and
Wildlife Research
Fisheries
Research
1930s
1950s
Research at Wisconsin DNR
Forestry and
Wildlife Research
Fisheries
Research
1930s
1950s
Water Resources
and Outdoor Rec.
Research
1960s
Research at Wisconsin DNR
Forestry and
Wildlife Research
Fisheries
Research
1930s
1950s
Water Resources
and Outdoor Rec.
Research
1960s
Wastewater, Waste
Management, and
Monitoring Techniques
1970s
Research at Wisconsin DNR
Forestry and
Wildlife Research
Fisheries
Research
1930s
1950s
Water Resources
and Outdoor Rec.
Research
1960s
Wastewater, Waste
Management, and
Monitoring Techniques
1970s
Research Review
1980s
Reorganization
1990s
Research at Wisconsin DNR
SingleForestry
Species and
Wildlife
Research
Single
Issue
1930s
Basic Science
Fisheries
Research
1950s
Water Resources
and Outdoor Rec.
Research
1960s
Wastewater, Waste
Management, and
Monitoring Techniques
1970s
Research Review
Inter-disciplinary
1980s
Integrated
Applied Science
Reorganization
1990s
Presentation Outline
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Research at Wisconsin DNR
How DNR Research is Funded
Wildlife and Forestry Research
Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat Research
Human dimensions research
How DNR Research is Funded
• FY 2002 Budget: $10.4 million.
• FY 2003 Budget: $10.2 million.
• FY 2002-2003:
• $4.9 million in outside funding.
How DNR Research is Funded
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General purpose revenues.
Federal fish and wildlife funds.
State environmental segregated funds.
State conservation segregated funds.
Competitive grants.
Presentation Outline
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Research at Wisconsin DNR
How DNR Research is Funded
Wildlife and Forestry Research
Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat Research
Wildlife and Forestry Research
Wisconsin Checklist Project
• Volunteer monitoring program.
• Initiated in 1982 at University of
Wisconsin; administered by Wisconsin
DNR since 1989.
• Provides information on annual, seasonal,
and geographic variation in abundance for
296 species of Wisconsin birds.
• During 1983-2004, cooperators submitted
88,367 weekly checklists of birds they saw
or heard.
Wildlife and Forestry Research
Mammal Surveys
• Partnership with:
• Wisconsin Trappers Association
• Wisconsin Bow Hunters Association
• Initiated in 1997.
• Effort to monitor mammal distribution and
abundance in the state.
• Thousands of bow hunters have made ten's
of thousands of mammal observations
through out the state.
Wildlife and Forestry Research
Oak Ecosystem Study
• Documenting changes to
the Madison School forest
over the last 50 years
• Testing different
management techniques
(logging and burning) to
see which works best to
regenerate oak trees and the
entire oak ecosystem.
Wildlife and Forestry Research
Prairie Invertebrate Study
• Documenting:
• What prairie invertebrates occur on
native prairie remnants across 5 states.
• Which species are prairie dependent.
• How management (primarily fire) has
affected prairie invertebrates.
Species new to science
have been discovered.
Wildlife and Forestry Research
Chronic Wasting Disease Research
Wildlife and Forestry Research
Wisconsin Common
Loon Population
Viability Assessment
Photo credit: WoodyR82-905
Hagge
Wildlife and Forestry Research
Old Growth Forest Study
Compare:
•Managed forest communities.
•Unmanaged (old-growth) forest communities.
Goal:
Refine forest management strategies to maintain the
biodiversity of Wisconsin's forests.
Presentation Outline
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Research at Wisconsin DNR
How DNR Research is Funded
Wildlife and Forestry Research
Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat Research
Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research
Conservation Genetics
Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research
Development of Indices of Biotic Integrity to evaluate
responses of fishes, invertebrates, and physical habitat
to different watershed land uses.
Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research
Revising Fishes of Wisconsin
Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research
Fish Identification Website
Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research
Solid color
Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research
Fisheries & Aquatic
Habitat Research
Long-term Walleye Trends and the
Effects of Harvest
Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research
Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research
Devil’s Lake
Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research
Lake Wingra Carp Exclosure Experiment
Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research
Sediment Core Analyses
Thank you!