SFCC Walkover Habitat Survey Training Course July 2015

Why survey river habitat? Improve knowledge of fish populations; fish survey data Fishery & conservation management Primarily salmonids Lamprey & other species Assess habitat in relation to pressures; habitat survey data Availability; quantitative Suitability; categorisation Condition; subjective observation Identify & communicate; Management actions Pressures Bottlenecks Opportunities Estimate fish production Develop Management strategy

Habitat influences on fish populations Distribution of fish Abundance of fish Life-history characteristics Influenced by a complex mix of; Biotic & Abiotic factors Interactions within aquatic food web Human derived pressures

Influences on Fish Habitat (Abiotic) The aquatic environment; food & shelter; Geography; Climate, geology & topography Water chemistry / quality; Suitability & Productivity, Hydrology; seasonal variation in discharge Hydraulics; channel gradient / type, water depth, bed roughness etc.

Influences of Habitat on fish (Biotic) Characteristics; species, life history, genetics Survival; cover provided by habitat Health; disease, parasites, condition of individual Food; population density, feeding niches, aquatic & terrestrial invertebrates Competition; productivity, habitat heterogeneity / complexity Carrying capacity; species & life stage

Influences on Habitat Condition Human derived pressures Barriers to migration; Habitat accessibility Pollution; point & diffuse – habitat productivity Abstraction / regulation; Habitat availability Modification; Loss of heterogeneity All Combine to affect; Carrying capacity; population abundance Predation; cover provided by habitat Health stressors; disease, parasites, condition of individual Food availability; competition for limited resources Adaptation; genetic variation, exacerbate effects of climate change

Survey Preparation Spatial information O.S Maps; waterfalls, gradient, land & water use, road network, potential pressures Google Maps; land use, recent developments, type of channel Old maps; channel realignment / migration Geological maps; Hard and soft rock / soil types Arial photography & LIDAR; Terrain and land cover Identifying pressures RBP information sheets; ecological status / pressures Flow gauging data; link to land drainage / water use Water quality data; Chemistry & inverts

RIVER SHIRA – CONSTRAINTS a modified habitat (moderate EP)

River Shira

Survey design Survey type Remote; Aerial studies Field; continuous walkover Mixture; Targeted spot / transect sampling (e-fish habitat data) Survey resolution Remote; Large area, low resolution & high cost Field; Moderate area, variable resolution & cost Mixture; Large area / mixed resolution & cost

Field surveys– Design considerations Survey coverage & Interpretation SFCC protocol; 2 – 4 km per day Walkover; 4 – 8 or more km per day Habitat variability; access, complexity, logistics Health & safety; phone signal, lone working etc Experience; E-fish surveys, Identifying visual signs Survey outputs Quantifying the resource; Access / area / type Gauging condition & pressures; limitations Spatial information; GIS mapping; Recommendations for management actions

Field survey kit Waders Polaroid sunglasses Wading / measure stick / Ruler Waterproofs Sun / midge replant Clipboard / weather writer / pencils Hand-held GPS Camera