Using Hydroacoustics To Spatially Quantify Productive Capacity In
- 1. An MSc. Thesis Proposal Submitted by Riley Pollom Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University Supervisor: Dr. George Rose
- 2. Proposal Outline Introduction - NSERC’s HydroNet - the productive capacity of fish habitat - hydroacoustics - body size and ecosystem function Methods - study sites - plankton - hydroacoustic surveys - fish tagging - target strength experiments - data analysis Potential Results
- 3. HydroNet NSERC Strategic Research Network How do hydropower operations impact aquatic ecosystems? Mesoscale modelling of PCFH in lakes and reservoirs
- 4. The Productive Capacity of Fish Habitat •ability of an ecosystem to produce healthy fish, safe for human consumption, or to support or produce aquatic organisms upon which fish depend •DFO’s no net loss policy
- 5. Hydroacoustics •Sonar-like technology •Non-invasive •Integrated GPS •High resolution •Species ID difficult
- 6. Body Size and Ecosystem Function •Body size closely related to metabolic requirements – and thus energy flux through ecosystems
- 7. Body Size and Ecosystem Function b=~-3/4 Log (Abundance or Biomass) Log (Body Size)
- 8. Goals and Objectives Spatially quantify fish productivity and distribution Investigate spatial relationships between fish and zoo/phytoplankton Determine how resources are partitioned across different body size classes
- 9. Manigotagan Lake Study Sites Lac du Bonnet
- 10. Hydroacoustic Surveys •Transects across long axis of lake •500m or 1nm apart •Replicates offset
- 11. Target Strength Experiments From Gauthier and Rose 2001.
- 12. Plankton Sampling Plankton samples to be collected with 80μm mesh using vertical tows Collected with replication at all sites with unique acoustic signals.
- 13. Fish Tagging
- 14. Data Analysis • Data to be edited and analyzed using Echoview • Biomass estimates and distribution of fish and plankton will be mapped • Geostatistical analyses to identify spatial relationships between fish and plankton • Regression analysis to determine size-abundance relationship
- 16. Conclusions Protocols determined here will allow for the quantitative assessment of PCFH for future hydropower projects Spatial configuration of important functional components of the ecosystems will be characterized
- 17. Acknowledgements Laura Wheeland Ed Stern George Rose NSERC Manitoba Hydro Manitoba Conservation Caribou Lodge