Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Please see the attached minutes from the annual meeting.

Short-term outcomes Most outcomes are pending. Some examples of key activities and progress are highlighted below. One short-term outcome is the use of sub-project 6 findings in ODNR conservation and reintroduction efforts of rare fishes. Outputs Project research activities have resulted in the production of graduate student and postdoctoral fellow positions, undergraduate research internships, scientific presentations, and publications in peer reviewed journals and books. Dr. Mazeika Sullivans efforts under sub-project 1 (TIPPING THE BALANCE: IDENTIFYING THRESHOLD CONDITIONS FOR OHIOS FISHERIES) have produced publications (listed below) and presentations including at annual meetings of the OH Fish and Wildlife Management Association, Society for Freshwater Science, EcoSummit, and the Ohio Biodiversity Conservation Partnership. Results from sub-project 6 (COMMUNITY CAPACITY FOR ECOSYSTEM-BASED MANAGEMENT IN NEW YORKS GREAT LAKES AND MARINE COASTAL AREAS) have been presented at the annual meeting of the American Fisheries Society, the oikos Young Scholars Organization Academy, the Northeast Fish and Wildlife Conference, and the Managing Our Nations Fisheries 3 conference. Interviews of key staff were completed in New York State agencies charged with implementing an ecosystem-based approach to their activities. These included environment-related agencies such as Department of Environmental Conservation and Agriculture and Markets, and general agencies such as Department of State and Department of Transportation. Additional activities include work by new project members Dr. Conner Bailey, Dr. Dennis Devries, and Dr. Russell Wright at Auburn University. A journal article was published that examines the impact on small scale shrimp farmers of certification systems for shrimp created in industrialized nations. A Working Paper was prepared for the Norwegian Research Council on genetic modification of key species used in aquaculture with a focus on transgenic salmon developed by AquaBounty Technologies. A separate manuscript was developed out of this Working Paper for submission to a peer reviewed academic journal. A pre-proposal was submitted to the Louisiana Sea Grant program to compare oyster production in Louisiana and Alabama and likely receptivity to off-bottom production systems using hatchery-raised triploids. A book chapter was written examining the resiliency of coastal communities of Louisiana in the face of eustatic sea level rise. Projects were completed that quantified the movement of fish along the Alabama River as hindered by lock/dam structures, and the quantified the impacts of introduced yellow perch populations in two different reservoirs on the resident aquatic communities. Work was continued in freshwater/coastal areas relative to effects of the 2010 BP oil spill on the fish communities. Studies were conducted on freshwater pond communities via an assessment of the effects of pellet feeding on largemouth bass-bluegill pond communities, as well as the effects of threadfin shad presence on these pellet-feeding effects. Further research was conducted to quantify the respiration of non-game fishes that serve as mussel hosts across various temperatures and dissolved oxygen concentrations to determine the influence of impoundment presence on downstream fishes that serve as mussel hosts. Activities The team made considerable progress throughout the year and at the annual meeting to build a synthetic, innovative research plan. The first step is to produce a cohesive grant proposal and potential core funding for a cohesive research project. Additional researchers have been brought on to the project, and we are in the process of identifying a social scientist to assist with our new research focus. These activities will be supported by a symposium we are planning to hold the American Fisheries Society in 2014: Ecosystem Services: Bridging Natural and Social Sciences toward Sustainable Policies. The synthesis overview of the symposium will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. In support of our overarching goals, activities in each of the subprojects have progressed with good results and as planned. Sub-project 1 (TIPPING THE BALANCE: IDENTIFYING THRESHOLD CONDITIONS FOR OHIOS FISHERIES) has continued to work within the Scioto River basin, a major Ohio tributary of the Ohio River to investigate the distribution and composition of stream and river fish communities and their role in larger riverine food webs. This work has involved 3 graduate students and multiple undergraduate students. Ongoing linkages with multiple stakeholders, including Ohio EPA and Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), continue to strengthen the project. Educational outreach activities including stream fish demonstrations to local youth groups and classes link the project to the community. Sub-project 4 (INTRINSIC AND EXTRINSIC INFLUENCES ON FISH GROWTH RATES: A CASE EXAMPLE USING YELLOW PERCH) formed a collaboration with Casey Schoenebeck (University of Nebraska at Kearney) to revise the preproposal (Wuellner, M., B. Graeb, and K. Bertrand. Preliminary Proposal: Prevalence and Persistence of Stunted Populations and the Effects of Directional Selection) that had been submitted to NSFs Population Biology panel for consideration. A revised pre-proposal was submitted as a small grant to the same NSF panel on January 23, 2013 (Wuellner, M., B. Graeb, K. Bertrand and C. Schoenebeck. Preliminary Proposal: SG: Understanding the Influence of Extrinsic Factors and Compensatory Growth Responses on Stunted Growth). The researchers in sub-project 6 (COMMUNITY CAPACITY FOR ECOSYSTEM-BASED MANAGEMENT IN NEW YORKS GREAT LAKES AND MARINE COASTAL AREAS) have developed and implemented survey instruments focusing on analysis and comparison of perceptions, understanding, and support associated with the concept of ecosystem-based fisheries management among diverse stakeholders associated with the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and the New England Fishery Management Council. Groups surveyed included council members, Scientific and Statistical Committee members, commercial fishers, recreational fishers, and members of environmental non-governmental organizations; 5,500 questionnaires were mailed to selected stakeholders. A Communications Coorientation framework is being used to conceptualize the inquiry. Data analysis is underway. Other accomplishments under sub-project 6 focus on improving and diversifying the nations intellectual workforce. Both Ph.D. students associated with this sub-project are women, as is the PI for this portion of the project, contributing to federal goals to diversity the advanced research community. Both Ph.D. students have exhibited an increase in knowledge, evidenced by their ability to articulate and present their research plans in public forums and to conduct research and analyze data. Both Ph.D. students have completed research integrity training in research methods involving human participants. Both have demonstrated improved skills in writing, oral presentations, research techniques, and analytical tools. Both have passed their admission-to-candidacy exams. Milestones (1) TIPPING THE BALANCE: IDENTIFYING THRESHOLD CONDITIONS FOR OHIOS FISHERIES: (2013): Collect field data related to fish-dominated food webs and aquatic habitat in representative Ohio drainages. Milestone Status: Partial Completion; Ongoing (3) FACTORS INFLUENCING RECRUITMENT OF SPORT FISH POPULATIONS IN ILLINOIS: (2013-17): Collect data on factors influencing recruitment in sportfish populations. Milestone Status: Partial Completion; Ongoing (4) INTRINSIC AND EXTRINSIC INFLUENCES ON FISH GROWTH RATES: A CASE EXAMPLE USING YELLOW PERCH: (2013): Collect extant data on yellow perch populations and categorize populations as exhibiting stunted body size or not. Milestone Status: Partial Completion; Ongoing (5) GENETIC, ECOLOGICAL, AND BEHAVIORAL DETERMINANTS OF LIFE HISTORY VARIATION IN BROOK TROUT (Salvelinus fontinalis): (2011-2013): Identification and study of populations of interest in the U.S. and Canada. Milestone Status: Partial Completion (6) COMMUNITY CAPACITY FOR ECOSYSTEM-BASED MANAGEMENT IN NEW YORKS GREAT LAKES AND MARINE COASTAL AREAS: (2012-2013): Implementation of surveys, data collection. Milestone Status: Complete (2013): Data analysis, draft report and manuscript preparation. Milestone Status: Partial Completion; Ongoing We completed interviews of key staff in New York State agencies charged with implementing an ecosystem-based approach to their activities. These included environment-related agencies such as Department of Environmental Conservation and Agriculture and Markets, and general agencies such as Department of State and Department of Transportation. Data analysis is underway. (2013): Sharing of draft reports with stakeholders in case study communities, and with key Council members. Milestone status: Complete Presentations of preliminary results were given to Fishery Management Councils. (7) PRODUCTION DYNAMICS, GOVERNANCE, AND SUSTAINABILITY OF FISHERIES RESOURCES: (2011-2014): Collect field data evaluating environmental and social resilience in the face of changing demands on fish and fish habitats and analyze related fish population dynamics. Milestone Status: Partial Completion; Ongoing (2012-2015): Develop and evaluate feasibility of a decision support tool for fishery harvest management in a changing climate. Milestone Status: Partial Completion; Ongoing (2015-2016): Preparation of final project reports and manuscripts. Milestone Status: Partial Completion; Ongoing

Bailey, Conner, Bob Gramling, and Shirley Laska. In Press. Complexities of Resilience: Adaptation and Change within Human Communities of Coastal Louisiana. In The Once and Future Delta. Editors, J. Day, P. Kemp, A. Freeman, and David Muth. Springer. Bailey, Conner. In Press. Remaking Fish for Aquaculture in the United States: From Selective Breeding to Genetic Engineering. Working Paper. The Research Council of Norway (Project number 202374/I10) Governing Food in a Globalising Environment. Oslo: Research Council of Norway. DeVries, D.R. 2013. A tale of two animals: the importance of aquatic habitat and flow. Pages 136-139 in Auburn Speaks: On Water. Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama. DeVries, D.R., R.A. Wright, D.C. Glover, T.M. Farmer, M R. Lowe, A.J. Norris, and A.C. Peer. in press. Largemouth Bass in coastal estuaries: A comprehensive study from the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, Alabama. In Black Bass Diversity: Multidisciplinary Science for Conservation. American Fisheries Society Special Publication. (30 MS pages, 1 figure). Farmer, T.M, D.R. DeVries, R.A. Wright, and J.E. Gagnon. 2013. Using seasonal variation in otolith microchemical composition to indicate Largemouth Bass and Southern Flounder residency patterns across an estuarine salinity gradient. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 142: 1415-1429. Glover, D.G., D.R. DeVries, and R.A. Wright. 2013. Growth of largemouth bass in a dynamic estuarine environment: an evaluation of the relative effects of salinity, diet, and temperature. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 70:485-501. Hamel, M.J., K.D. Steffensen, J.J. Hammen, and M.A. Pegg. 2013. Evaluation of passive integrated transponder tag retention from two tagging locations in juvenile pallid sturgeon. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 29:41-43. Lynch, A.J. and W.W. Taylor. 2013. The Four Fs of Fish: Communication of Public Value of Fish and Fisheries. Fisheries 38(1): 43-33. Parasiewicz, P., J.N. Rogers, P. Vezza, J. Gortazar, T. Seager, M. Pegg, and W Wisniewolski. 2013. Applications of MesoHABSIM simulation model. Pages xx-yy in, Maddock, and Kemp, editors. Ecohydraulics - an integrated approach, John Wiley & Sons, New York. Penaskovic, R., D.R. DeVries, and N.E. Chadwick. in press. Teaching about sustainability: raising consciousness and taking action. In K.D. Thomas and H.E. Muga, editors. Cases on Pedagogical Innovations for Sustainable Development. IGI Global. (23 text pages, 1 Table). Purcell, T.R., D.R. DeVries, and R.A. Wright. 2013. The relationship between shoreline development and resident fish communities in a Southeastern U.S. reservoir. Lake and Reservoir Management 29:270-278. Rasmussen, J., H.A. Regier, R.E. Sparks and W.W. Taylor 2013. Aquatic Invasive Species Risks to the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins: Asian Carp as a Case for Serious Consideration of Hydrologic Separation. In: Taylor, W.W., A.J. Lynch, N.J. Leonard, (eds.) Great Lakes Fisheries Policy and Management: A Binational Perspective (Second Edition). MSU Press: East Lansing, MI. pp 767-786. Steffensen, K.D., B.L. Eder, and M.A. Pegg. 2013. Trotline efficiencies and catch dynamics in a large river system. Fisheries Ecology and Management. Steffensen, K.D., M.A. Pegg, and G.L. Mestl. 2013. Pallid sturgeon life-history model. Journal of Applied Ichthyology. Steffensen, K.D., M.A. Pegg, and G. Mestl. 2013. Population characteristics of pallid sturgeon in the lower Missouri River. Journal of Applied Ichthyology. Taylor, W. W., A. J. Lynch, and N. J. Leonard, eds. 2013. Great Lakes Fisheries Policy and Management: A Binational Perspective (Second Edition). MSU Press: East Lansing, MI. 865pp Taylor, W.W., K.B. Mueller and J.T. Martin 2013. Epilogue: Fisheries sustainability and water policy: The need to think beyond the basin boundaries. In: Taylor, W.W., A.J. Lynch, N.J. Leonard, (eds.) Great Lakes Fisheries Policy and Management: A Binational Perspective (Second Edition). MSU Press: East Lansing, MI. pp. 787-792 Tran, Nhuong Van, Conner Bailey, Norbert Wilson, and Michael Phillips. 2013. Governance of Global Value Chains in Response to Food Safety and Certification Standards: The Case of Shrimp from Vietnam. World Development 45:325-336. Turek, K.C., M.A. Pegg, and K.L. Pope. 2013. Review of the influences of non-native salmonids on species of concern. Great Plains Research 23:39-49. Woodard, S.R., R.A. Wright, and D.R. DeVries. 2013. Growth and survival of largemouth bass following supplemental feeding of bluegill in small impoundments. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 33:170-177.