Session Coordinator: Matt Peterson, FISHBIO

 

Monitoring populations of listed salmonid species forms the foundation for generating data necessary to inform their management and recovery actions. As these populations become exceedingly rare, collecting data to elucidate population dynamics and ecological interactions also becomes challenging. From southern populations of Steelhead to coastal Coho and Chinook Salmon, direct observation of individuals can be exceedingly difficult, and physical capture and collection of length, age, and genetic data is even harder. The difficulties associated with monitoring these dwindling populations is spurring alternative methods, which may include remote observation with sonar or video systems, genetic techniques such as parentage-based tagging or environmental DNA monitoring, or, in the case of steelhead, targeted sampling of freshwater residents. Increasingly, these data are being incorporated into integrated population models, which use complementary data sources to quantitatively model population demographics and estimate abundance. This session will explore the innovative studies and unique approaches that offer insights into monitoring methodologies necessary to collect data on these rare and imperiled salmonid populations. 

 

The proposed format of the session will consist of five presenters that have developed or currently lead sampling programs for rare salmonids throughout California. These presenters will share their advice, experience, and study design elements with the audience during their presentations as well as during a 30-minute interactive session facilitated by the moderator. This session will allow session attendees to share their own experiences and observations and ask questions, and will allow the presenters to provide a suite of recommendations for addressing this particular monitoring challenge in the future.