Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: A new digital transducer with tilt and roll sensor was purchased and tested. This unit was integrated with existing equipment and a system developed that allows for simultaneous collection of both sidelooking and downlooking acoustic data from small boats. Hydroacoustic data on alewife populations using combined sidelooking and downlooking acoustics were collected in a number of lakes (Oneida, Otsego, Champlain, Cayuta, Silver, Canadarago, Onondaga, Conesus, Hemlock lakes) with the collaboration of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), Oneonta Biological Field Station, and Onondaga County. This data was combined with vertical gill net samples and in some lakes small trawls to compare depth and species composition. Combined upwards and downlooking data were collected in Lake Champlain (with Vermont Fish and Wildlife) and Lake Ontario (with Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and NYSDEC) to test an alternative to sidelooking deployment particularly intended for larger lakes were surface noise limits our ability to collect sidelooking data. Target strength of alewife held in a large net pen were measured in the summer of 2010 and analyzed to obtain a first estimate of sidelooking target strength. Target strength distributions were substantially wider than obtained with downlooking deployment. Comparisons with lake data and depth distributions from gill nets were reasonable for two out of three lakes. We suspect boat avoidance is a problem in one of the lakes. This was further explored in Lake Champlain using a transducer towed at depth away from the boat. Avoidance of alewife was a problem in the first 3 m of water. Data on alewife populations were combined with information on zooplankton (alewife prey) and walleye (alewife predators) to assess the ecosystem effects of alewife and the possibility of using walleye to control alewife populations. The potential for alewife control was assessed using population and bioenergetics models and a new stock-recruitment function for alewife based on data from Cayuta and Canadarago Lakes. Cascading effects of alewife on water quality was explored in Onondaga Lake using acoustically derived abundance estimates. The contribution of different sources of uncertainty in acoustic estimates of fish and invertebrate populations was investigated using our data and presented at workshops and meetings. Results were disseminated at the annual meetings of the American Fisheries Society (AFS) and the International Association of Great Lakes Research (in 2009, 2010 and 2011), a international meeting in the Czech Republic (in 2010), a special symposium of AFS and the American Fisheries Society in Seattle (in 2011), three workshops (at Cornell Biological Field Station in 2009, at Sandusky, Ohio in 2010, and in Stockholm, Sweden in 2011), and through direct consultation with our collaborators. Educations materials produced include the chapter on Fisheries Acoustics in the new textbook by the American Fisheries Society in Fisheries Techniques and an upgrade of our web page (www.acousticsunpacked.org). PARTICIPANTS: Lars Rudstam and Patrick Sullivan were the PIs on this project. Rudstam worked primarily with acoustic surveys, acoustic analyses and ecological implications. Sullivan worked with statistical analysis and the web based educational material but was also involved in mentoring graduate and undergraduate students together with Rudstam. In addition to the PIs, Tom Brooking, Scott Krueger and William Fetzer (Cornell University) were supported by the project to help with surveys and net cage measurements. Undergraduate interns involved in the acoustic data collection and supported by the project were Sam Tideman (2009), Jose Oyola (2010), and Bryan Curtis (2011). Kurt Jirka, Paul Simonin, Allison Hrycik, and Roland Wang (all Cornell University), David Snyder and Chris Gandino (Onondaga County), Bernie Pientka (Vermont Fish and Wildlife), Donna Parrish (Vermont Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit), Holly Waterfield (SUNY-Oneonta), Mark Cornwell (SUNY-Cobleskill), Brad Hammers, Matt Sanderson, Michael Connerton (NYSDEC), Ted Schaner (OMNR) were involved with data collection and processing. Sandra Parker-Stetter and John Horne (University of Washington), Doran Mason (NOAA-GLERL in Ann Arbor), Michael Jech (NOAA-Woods Hole) and David Warner (USGS-Great Lakes Lab) were involved with SOP and a summary chapter on Fisheries Hydroacoustics. Daniel Yule (USGS-Superior), David Claramunt (Michigan DNR), Tom Hrabik (University of Minnesota-Duluth), John Deller (Ohio DNR), Patrick Kocovsky (USGS-Erie), Don Einhouse and Michael Connerton (NY DEC), Ted Schaner and Larry Witzel (OMNR), David Warner, Maureen Walsh, Brian Weidel, Jean Adams (USGS- Great Lakes Laboratory) were all involved in workshops. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for this work is primarily fisheries professionals in the Great Lakes region, but also people working with fisheries acoustics worldwide PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
During this project we completed and published a standard operating procedure for Great Lakes acoustics (GLSOP, see publication list). This document is now used across the Great Lakes and is being implemented elsewhere in North American and Europe. Application of standard methods improve comparability of acoustic results across systems, hardware and software platforms. The GLSOP has led to changes in standard software including the for guided analysis method implemented in one of the main acoustic software programs (Balk and Lindem, Sonar5) and is looked at as a basis for new EU standards on the use of acoustics in lakes. Side-looking acoustics still has problems associated with application of target strength to fish, boat avoidance, and biases associated with equations used in echo integration when the sound beam is distorted by the water surface. We have learned more about these limitations as part of this project. In addition, bubbles are present even when wave action is limited, making the method mainly usable in small lakes on calm nights. We therefore also investigated the use of upwards looking deep towed transducer and obtained promising results. Manuscripts on side-looking, upward-looking and boat avoidance are in progress. We are working with other acoustics experts in Norway (Dr. Helge Balk) and Czech Republic (Dr Jan Kubecka) to solve remaining issues with side-looking applications. Uncertainty in acoustic estimates is partly due to spatial patchiness, but also due to the translation of acoustic back-scattering to biomass. This translation can dominate uncertainty. Only limited improvement in precision is possible by increasing survey coverage. Additional improvement in precision will require further attention to the translation. Alewife in small New York lakes is resilient to walleye predation due to a very steep stock-recruitment curve. Decreasing alewife abundance leads to compensatory increases in alewife recruitment. At the same time, alewife affects water quality by eliminating large zooplankton grazers. Depressing alewife by increasing predation rates through stocking large numbers of walleye is not likely to be a viable management strategy, although it may be possible to create a trophy fishery for walleye. Acoustics is now used across New York State to determine fish population size (NYSDEC, SUNY-Oneonta, SUNY-Cobleskill, Vermont Fish and Wildlife for Lake Champlain, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources for Lake Ontario and Lake Erie). The working group for hydroacoustics across the Great Lakes Region is continuing development of the method and two meetings/workshops were sponsored by this project and the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission.
Publications
- Wang, R. W., L. G. Rudstam, T. E. Brooking, D. J. Snyder, M. A. Arrigo, and E. L. Mills. 2010. Food web effects and the disappearance of the spring clear water phase in Onondaga Lake following nutrient loading reductions. Lake and Reservoir Management 26: 169-177.
- Rudstam, L. G., J. M. Jech, S. L. Parker Stetter, J. K. Horne, P. J. Sullivan, and D. M. Mason. 2012. Fisheries acoustics. in A. V. Zale, D. L. Parrish, and T. M. Sutton, editors. Fisheries Techniques 3rd edition. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland. in press.
- Sullivan P.J. and L. G. Rudstam. 2009. Acoustics unpacked - a general guide for fisheries acoustics. www.acousticsunpacked.org
- Sullivan, P.J. and L.G. Rudstam. 2011. Accounting for uncertainty in acoustic estimates in the Great Lakes. Electronic conference proceedings (abstract) American Fisheries Society annual meeting. September 2011
- Simonin, P., S. Tideman, B. Pientka, L. Rudstam, P. Sullivan, D. Parrish. 2011. Uncertainty in hydroacoustic-derived fisheries data: an analysis of simultaneous hydroacoustic-trawl surveys. Electronic conference proceedings (abstract) American Fisheries Society annual meeting. September 2011
- Sullivan, P.J. and L.G. Rudstam. 2011. Accounting for uncertainty in acoustic estimates in the Great Lakes. Electronic conference proceedings (abstract). International Association of Great Lakes Research annual meeting, June 2011
- Sullivan, P.J. and L.G. Rudstam. 2011. Accounting for uncertainty in acoustic estimates in the Great Lakes. (abstract) J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 129:2694.
- Simonin, P., S. Tideman, B. Pientka, L. Rudstam, P. Sullivan, D. Parrish. 2011. Uncertainty in hydroacoustic-derived fisheries data: an analysis of simultaneous hydroacoustic-trawl surveys. (abstract) J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 129:2694.
- Oyola Morales, J. R. and L. G. Rudstam. 2011. Assessing the target strength of alewife Alosa pseudoharengus through side deployment of hydroacoustic transducers. Electronic conference proceedings (abstract). National Conference on Undergraduate Research, March 2011.
- Kubecka, J., O. R. Godoe, P. Hickley, M. Prchalovaa, M. Riha, L. Rudstam, and R. Welcomme. 2012. Fish sampling with active methods. Fisheries Research: in press, available online
- Warner, D. M., R. M. Claramunt, J. S. Schaeffer, D. L. Yule, T. R. Hrabik, B. Pientka, L. G. Rudstam, J. D. Holuszkoa, and T. P. OBrien. 2012. Relationship between mid-water trawling effort and catch composition uncertainty in two large lakes (Huron and Michigan) dominated by alosines, osmerids, and coregonines. Fisheries Research: in press, available online.
- Rudstam, L. G., T. E. Brooking, S. D. Krueger, J. R. Jackson, and L. Wetherbee. 2011. Analysis of compensatory responses in land-locked alewife to walleye predation: a tale of two lakes. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 140: 1587-1603.
|
Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: During the second year of this project, we continued surveys with side and down-looking acoustics in Silver Lake, Canadarago Lake, Onondaga Lake, Oneida Lake, Hemlock Lake, and Conesus Lake with cooperation from NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. We also measured the target strength of alewife in a large net cage using simultaneous side and down looking deployment and we are in the process of finalizing the procedures for using side-looking acoustics in New York lakes. Comparisons of side-looking data with net catches were completed for three lakes (Canadarago, Silver and Cayuta Lakes). Comparisons were reasonable for two of the three lakes, and possible issues with both net catches and side-looking acoustics identified. Results were presented at an international meeting in Ceske Budejovice (Czech Republic) and at a workshop for acoustic practitioners in the US and Canada (Sandusky Ohio): (1) Rudstam L.G., P. Kocovsky, D. Yule, D, Warner, J. Deller, T. Schaner, B. Pientka, L. Witzel, P. Sullivan. Standard Operating Procedures for Great Lakes Acoustics - what is important (2) Rudstam, L.G., T. E. Brooking, P. J. Sullivan, R. Wang. J. Oyola. Does side-looking acoustics provide a quantitative abundance estimate of alewife in New York lakes. (3) Simonin, P.W., S.A. Tideman, L.G. Rudstam, P.J. Sullivan, B. Pientka, D.L. Parrish. Uncertainty in pelagic forage fish assessments using down-looking hydroacoustics and trawls. In addition, PI Pat Sullivan presented a talk on statistical analysis of acoustic data at the Sandusky workshop. PARTICIPANTS: Participants in Year 2 included many of the same managers and scientist as in Year 1 with some additions. People involved include Tom Brooking, Kurt Jirka, Sam Tideman, Jose Oyola, Allison Hrycik, and Paul Simonin (all Cornell University), Holly Waterfield (SUNY Oneonta), Mark Cornwell (SUNY-Cobleskill), Bernie Pientka (Vermont Fish and Wildlife) and Donna Parrish (Vermont Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit), David Warner, Dan Yule, Patrick Kocovsky, J. S. Schaeffer (USGS Great Lakes), Brad Hammers, Michael Connerton, Don Einhouse, Matt Sanderson (NYSDEC), David Claramunt (Michigan DNR), John Deller (Ohio DNR), Tom Hrabik (University of Minnesota-Duluth), Ted Schaner and Larry Witzel (OMNR). TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for this work is primarily fisheries professionals in the Great Lakes region, but also people working with fisheries acoustics worldwide. Lars Rudstam and Patrick Sullivan participated and presented at a workshop on acoustics at USGS Sandusky in October 2010 with 20 participants from around the Great Lakes region. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Procedures for analyzing side-looking data were presented and additional uncertainties identified. Methods for dealing with these issues (uneven distribution in the sonar beam, boat avoidance) will be tested using the field data collected in additional lakes in the fall of 2010. Data from alewife surveys in Cayuta and Canadarago Lakes were used to develop a stock - recruitment curve for alewife in inland lakes. This relationship is needed to model the predator-prey interactions involving alewife and walleye in inland lakes as well as alewife and salmonids in the Great Lakes. A paper on this relationship has been submitted to the Transaction of the American Fisheries Society as well as submitted as a report to New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The Standard Operating Procedure for Great Lakes Acoustics is being used for developing standard operating procedures for inland lakes in the European Union.
Publications
- Rudstam L.G., P. Kocovsky, D. Yule, D, Warner, J. Deller, T. Schaner, B. Pientka, L. Witzel, P. Sullivan. 2010 Standard Operating Procedures for Great Lakes Acoustics. What is important Abstract Book. Conference on Fisheries Sampling with Active Methods, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
- Rudstam, L.G., T. E. Brooking, P. J. Sullivan, R. Wang. J. Oyola. 2010. Does side-looking acoustics provide a quantitative abundance estimate of alewife in New York lakes. Abstract Book. Conference on Fisheries Sampling with Active Methods, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
- Simonin, P.W., S.A. Tideman, L.G. Rudstam, P.J. Sullivan, B. Pientka, D.L. Parrish. 2010. Uncertainty in pelagic forage fish assessments using down-looking hydroacoustics and trawls. Abstract Book. Conference on Fisheries Sampling with Active Methods, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
|
Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: During the first year of this project, we purchased the acoustic equipment (Biosonics Dt-X digital transducer, 120kHz)and tested the unit on its own and as a combined side and down looking instrument. Surveys with the combined instrument was done in Lake Champlain, Oneida Lake, Ostego Lake, Canadarago Lake, Silver Lake and Cayuta Lake, all with associated fish sampling in different depth strata. The equipment is working well and the combined instrument is providing data that can be viewed together in available Cornell software. We also completed the analysis for downwards looking acoustics on target strength of alewife and published a standard operating procedure for Great Lakes acoustics. PARTICIPANTS: In addition to the PIs, Tom Brooking, Kurt Jirka, Holly Waterfield, William Fetzer, Sam Tideman, and Paul Simonin (all Cornell University), David Snyder (Onondaga County), Bernie Pientka (Vermont Fish and Wildlife)and Donna Parrish (Vermont Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit) were involved with data collection and processing. Sandra Parker-Stetter and John Horne (University of Washington), Doran Mason (NOAA-GLERL in Ann Arbor), Michael Jech (NOAA-Woods Hole) and David Warner (USGS-Great Lakes Lab) were involved with SOP and a summary chapter on Fisheries Hydroacoustics. Daniel Yule (USGS-Superior), David Claramunt (Michigan DNR), Tom Hrabik (University of Minnesota-Duluth), Patrick Koczovsky (USGS-Erie), Don Einhouse and Michael Connerton (NY DEC), Ted Schaner and Larry Witzel (OMNR) were all involved in workshops about the standard operating procedure. TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience for this work is primarily fisheries professionals in the Great Lakes region, but also people working with fisheries acoustics worldwide. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Outcomes and impacts of developing side-looking acoustic techniques for use on alewife are expected primarily after the second and third year of the project. During 2009 the main impact of our work was in developing a standard operating procedure for down-looking acoustic surveys which is available on the web (www.aousticsunpacked.org). This standard operating procedure is used primarily across the Great Lakes but also world wide. It forms the basis for guided analysis in one of the main acoustic software programs (Balk and Lindem, Sonar5).
Publications
- Brooking, T.E., and Rudstam, L.G. 2009. Hydroacoustic target strength distributions of alewife an a net cage compared to field surveys: deciphering target strength distributions and effect on density estimates. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 138: 471-486
- Parker-Stetter, S.L., Rudstam, L.G., Sullivan, P.J., and Warner, D.M. 2009. Standard operating procedures for fisheries acoustic surveys in the Great Lakes. Great Lakes Fisheries Commission Special Publication 2009-01
- Rudstam, L.G., Sullivan, P.J., Parker-Stetter, S.L., and Warner, D.M. 2009b. Towards a standard operating procedure for fisheries acoustic surveys in the Laurentian Great Lakes, North America. ICES J. Mar. Sci. 66: 1391-1397.
|