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Sampling design for early detection of aquatic invasive species in Great Lakes ports
Citation:
Hoffman, J., J. Schloesser, A. Trebitz, Greg Peterson, M. Gutsch, H. Quinlan, AND J. Kelly. Sampling design for early detection of aquatic invasive species in Great Lakes ports. FISHERIES. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD, 41(1):26-37, (2016).
Impact/Purpose:
The manuscript reports on initial results from the pilot adaptive monitoring program for aquatic invasive species early detection in Lake Superior. The monitoring program is designed to detect newly-introduced fishes, and encompasses the lake’s three major ports (Duluth-Superior, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay). We found that the adaptive monitoring program provided an approach that substantially improved the efficiency of species detection over time. Further, survey performance evaluation and improvement benefitted from a consistent, common approach to data analysis and survey optimization. Our pilot adaptive monitoring program provides a successful, data-driven foundation for building the Great Lakes AIS early detection network.
Description:
We evaluated a pilot adaptive monitoring program for aquatic invasive species (AIS) early detection in Lake Superior. The monitoring program is designed to detect newly-introduced fishes, and encompasses the lake’s three major ports (Duluth-Superior, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay). Our goal was to test whether we can over time harmonize and improve technical capability (rare species detectability) within and among survey locations based on performance indicators and using an adaptive monitoring approach. Elements of an efficient early detection survey include deliberately searching multiple habitats with multiple gears to increase encounters with rare species; these design goals differ from typical index fishery surveys which emphasize standardization and common species. Despite differences among the three ports with respect to introduction vectors, aquatic habitat and fish assemblages, survey performance evaluation benefitted from a consistent, common approach to data analysis, which suggested all three ports could effectively be monitored with a similar gear combination and annual effort. Our pilot adaptive monitoring program with its cycle of assessment, refinement, and implementation and ability to evaluate and incorporate new designs and technologies along the way provides a successful, data-driven foundation for building the Great Lakes AIS early detection network.
