5/18/2015  |   15:30 - 15:45   |  103C

VALUING FISH BIOMASS PRODUCTION AS A PROVISIONING SERVICE OF MICHIGAN RIVERS The increased integration of ecosystem services into resource management places renewed emphasis on mapping and valuation of provisioning services of nature. This paper describes a multi-model that links the demand for recreational stream fishing to game fish biomass for rivers of Michigan. We used boosted regression trees to predict spatially continuous patterns of fish biomass, and to identify the strongest landscape constraints on fish productivity. Fitted models were highly significant and explained between 22 and 56% of variation in validation datasets. We combined spatially explicit fish biomass estimates with fishing trip information from a 2008–2010 survey of Michigan anglers to estimate an economic demand model. Fishing sites in the angler choice set were defined by biomass aggregated to the area of small subwatersheds. The results indicated a significant relationship between the site choices of anglers and the biomass of certain species. The fitted economic model was used to estimate the dollar value of several landscape change scenarios, providing a direct estimate of potential ecosystem service benefits derived from Michigan rivers.

Peter Esselman (Primary Presenter/Author), U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, pesselman@usgs.gov;


Richard Melstrom (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Oklahoma State University, melstrom@okstate.edu;


Jan Stevenson (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Michigan State University, rjstev@cns.msu.edu;


Frank Lupi (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Michigan State University, lupi@msu.edu;


Catherine Riseng (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of Michigan, criseng@umich.edu;


Mike Wiley (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of Michigan, mjwiley@umich.edu;

5/18/2015  |   15:45 - 16:00   |  103C

THE ROLE OF FRESHWATER FISHERIES IN MAINTAINING FOOD SECURITY AND BIODIVERSITY Fisheries are an essential ecosystem service, but catches from freshwaters are often overlooked. Inspired by Dave Allan’s seminal synthesis of overfishing patterns in inland waters, we have developed a high-resolution global map of riverine fisheries to assess how these harvests affect biodiversity and food security. River discharge and human population density are the best predictors of fishery productivity, and 90% of global catch comes from rivers with above-average threat levels. Fish richness and catches are positively but not causally correlated, revealing that fishing is most intensive in rivers where potential impacts on biodiversity are highest. We find that impoverished and undernourished people depend disproportionately on wild-caught fish from rivers compared to marine or aquaculture sources. Ongoing degradation of river habitats is likely to undercut critical fisheries, thereby jeopardizing sustainable local protein sources for the world’s poor. These results add to Allan’s argument that inland over-fishing merits greater attention from the conservation and fisheries communities.

Peter B. McIntyre (Primary Presenter/Author), Cornell University, pbm3@cornell.ecu;


Catherine Reidy Liermann (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of Wisconsin-Madison, cathyrl@uw.edu;


Carmen Revenga (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), The Nature Conservancy, crevenga@TNC.ORG;

5/18/2015  |   16:00 - 16:15   |  103C

USE AND INTERPRETATION OF HUMAN DISTURBANCE GRADIENTS FOR CONDITION ASSESSMENT IN GREAT LAKES COASTAL ECOSYSTEMS The Laurentian Great Lakes and its basin are impacted by multiple stressors that range from chronic to pulse in their temporal dimension and local to regional in their spatial dimension. Successful restoration across a region requires comprehensive data capable of depicting stress types and sources, permitting evaluation, planning, and execution. Two projects (Great Lakes Environmental Indicators (GLEI) and Great Lakes Environmental Assessment Map (GLEAM) have recently characterized human activities across the Great Lakes Basin. The Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program developed a disturbance gradient to represent localized sources of stress, which includes water quality as well as landscape data. These stress gradients each have appropriate uses for predicting stress and establishing stress-response relationships. We will discuss characteristics of each, examine concordance in areas of overlap, and discuss appropriate uses of each gradient.

Lucinda Johnson (Primary Presenter/Author), Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth, ljohnson@d.umn.edu;


David Allan (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of Michigan, dallan@umich.edu;


Meijun Cai (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Natural Resources Research Institute - U. Minnesota Duluth, mcai@d.umn.edu;


Nicholas Danz (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Department of Natural Sciences, University of Wisconsin Superior, ndanz@uwsuper.edu;


Donald Uzarski (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Institute for Great Lakes Research, Central Michigan University, uzars1dg@cmich.edu;

5/18/2015  |   16:15 - 16:30   |  103C

FOR THE LOVE OF RIVERS: THE POWER OF STORY IN ENGAGING THE PUBLIC IN OUR FRESHWATER FUTURES Freshwater ecologists strive to provide information and tools so that river managers can balance human needs for water with conserving ecosystems. However, most of this is unknown to the public that provides the political impetus to shape river management. If we want real rivers in our future, then we must help the public understand what is at stake, what humans value, and what it will take to conserve these ecosystems. Here I describe using narrative non-fiction writing to draw readers into a story, educate them about how streams work as a by-product, and ask what is essential about rivers that would compel humans to conserve them. Beyond simply water to drink and grow crops, and fish to eat, humans are hard-wired to seek rivers. Science shows that they can reduce stress and increase happiness, thereby improving creativity and offering solace in times of great loss. Building on this science, the power of story is to help humans understand and achieve a deep love of rivers, and in that find a reason to conserve them.

Kurt D. Fausch (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Colorado State University, Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Fort Collins, CO 80523, Kurt.Fausch@colostate.edu;


Colden Baxter (Primary Presenter/Author), Idaho State University, baxtcold@isu.edu;

5/18/2015  |   16:30 - 16:45   |  103C

A CASCADE OF ECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES FOR WEST NILE VIRUS TRANSMISSION WHEN AQUATIC MACROPHYTES INVADE ANTHROPOGENIC STORMWATER HABITATS Among David Allan’s many contributions to the field of aquatic ecology are the importance of terrestrial inputs to aquatic food webs and the influence of spatial refugia on patterns of insect colonization of aquatic habitats. These same phenomena prove to be highly important in the ecology of mosquito vectors that develop in stormwater habitats. Artificial aquatic habitats are ubiquitous in anthropogenic landscapes and highly susceptible to colonization by invasive plant species. A recent field study demonstrates that the establishment and management of two invasive, emergent plants, cattails (Typha spp.) and phragmites (Phragmites australis), in stormwater dry detention basins alters the local distribution of vectors, avian hosts, and West Nile Virus (WNV) transmission risk in an urban residential setting. Mowing of emergent vegetation, and the subsequent deposition of leaf litter into the aquatic environment, results in a significant and sustained increase in the abundance of WNV-infected vectors. Deposition of emergent leaf litter may have affected an increase in spatial refugia for larval mosquitoes from invertebrate predators, contributing to an overall increase in mosquito production and disease risk.

Brian Allan (Primary Presenter/Author), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, ballan@illinois.edu;

5/18/2015  |   16:45 - 17:00   |  103C

LAKES TO LANDSCAPES, FISHERIES TO PHOSPHORUS, AND ASSEMBLAGES TO ASSESSMENTS: A 40-YEAR JOURNEY THROUGH (MOSTLY) RUNNING WATERS From the early years of my PhD studies of pond zooplankton to my involvement in Great Lakes work today spans a little more than 45 years, indeed spent mostly in running waters. Heading into the (mostly) retired phase of life seems warranted! Along the way I’ve worked in a variety of aquatic ecosystems, on issues that span the spectrum from basic to applied, and engaged with various research teams, environmental groups and government agencies. The challenge of unanswered questions and unresolved societal problems, and the colleagues one learns with and from, make the journey rewarding. Occasionally making a useful contribution helps too, but it seems to me that almost all meaningful advances are the work of many. Words cannot express my delight at this opportunity to unite with friends, colleagues, former students and post-docs, and others in reflecting on a meandering career. I am deeply touched and honored.

David Allan (Primary Presenter/Author), University of Michigan, dallan@umich.edu;

5/18/2015  |   17:00 - 17:15   |  103C

LAKES TO LANDSCAPES, FISHERIES TO PHOSPHORUS, AND ASSEMBLAGES TO ASSESSMENTS: A 40-YEAR JOURNEY THROUGH (MOSTLY) RUNNING WATERS From the early years of my PhD studies of pond zooplankton to my involvement in Great Lakes work today spans a little more than 45 years, indeed spent mostly in running waters. Heading into the (mostly) retired phase of life seems warranted! Along the way I’ve worked in a variety of aquatic ecosystems, on issues that span the spectrum from basic to applied, and engaged with various research teams, environmental groups and government agencies. The challenge of unanswered questions and unresolved societal problems, and the colleagues one learns with and from, make the journey rewarding. Occasionally making a useful contribution helps too, but it seems to me that almost all meaningful advances are the work of many. Words cannot express my delight at this opportunity to unite with friends, colleagues, former students and post-docs, and others in reflecting on a meandering career. I am deeply touched and honored.

David Allan (Primary Presenter/Author), University of Michigan, dallan@umich.edu;