Identifying and mitigating systematic biases in fish habitat simulation modeling: Implications for estimating minimum instream flows

Rosenfeld, Jordan S.; Naman, Sean M.

doi:10.1002/rra.3803

Cited by 8 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 64 publications

(97 reference statements)

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“…However, drift-feeders often wait for prey in velocity shelters that reduce swimming speed. Therefore, if we measure water velocity at a fish's waiting position, we underestimate the larger-scale velocity it needs to deliver food, thereby biasing instream flow recommendations toward lower flows (Railsback, 1999(Railsback, , 2016Rosenfeld & Naman, 2021). Driftfeeders also avoid cover that would interfere with prey capture but prefer cover further away but close enough to escape predators in.…”

Section: Why Spatial Resolution Is Importantmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial scales in instream flow modeling: Why and how to use ecologically appropriate resolutions

Railsback¹

2023

River Research & Apps

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This paper discusses why and how to use ecologically appropriate spatial resolutions (e.g., cell size or range of cell sizes) when modeling instream flow effects on aquatic animals. Resolution is important because relations between habitat and animal habitat use vary with spatial resolution, and different habitat variables may best predict habitat use at different resolutions. Using appropriate resolutions consistently would bring clarity and coherence to how we quantify and model habitat characteristics and habitat use by fish, facilitate the use of standard and more credible measures of habitat preference, incorporate more fisheries knowledge to improve models for different kinds of fish, and avoid well‐known (and perhaps unknown) biases. Doing so involves describing habitat, and habitat use by fish, with spatially explicit measures with clear resolutions; using the same resolution for physical habitat and fish habitat use; selecting that resolution for ecological reasons; and using habitat variables and fish observation methods appropriate for the resolution. The choice of resolution considers factors such as how much space fish use for specific activities and the size of important habitat patches. For drift‐feeders, cell sizes and fish habitat use observations should use a resolution no smaller than feeding territories. Piscivores typically hunt over large areas so should be modeled with larger habitat units. Models of small and less‐mobile organisms (e.g., benthic invertivores) may need fine resolutions to capture the small areas of unusual habitat they depend on. Because of such differences, instream flow studies (like any spatial ecology exercise) should clearly state what resolution(s) they use and why.

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Section: Why Spatial Resolution Is Importantmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial scales in instream flow modeling: Why and how to use ecologically appropriate resolutions

Railsback¹

2023

River Research & Apps

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InSTREAM 7: Instream flow assessment and management model for stream trout

Railsback

Ayllón

Harvey

2021

River Research & Apps

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Mechanistic, individual-based simulation models have been used for >25 years to overcome well-known limitations of "habitat suitability" models. InSTREAM 7 is the latest of our individual-based models for predicting the effects of flow and temperature regimes on stream salmonid populations. Unlike PHABSIM (or other methods based on habitat "quality," e.g., as net rate of energy intake), inSTREAM mechanistically represents specific effects of flow and temperature on all life stages, and how those effects combine into testable predictions of population measures such as abundance, relative abundance of multiple trout species, and persistence. InSTREAM 7 is the first version to also represent the daily light cycle (dawn, day, dusk, and night) and how feeding, predation risk, and individual behavior vary among light phases. An example assessment illustrates the importance of inSTREAM's multiple mechanisms: predicted trout population response to flow and temperature regimes depended on the effects of sub-lethal temperatures on feeding behavior and effects of temperature on egg survival and development, as well as how depth and velocity affected growth and predation risk. While its input data requirements are comparable to PHABSIM's, inSTREAM provides a more comprehensive framework for thinking about and predicting specific, well-known effects of flow and temperature. It has also proven useful for designing and evaluating restoration projects and for prioritizing alternative management actions. InSTREAM 7 is free, open-source, completely updated with recent literature, and implemented in the popular NetLogo software platform that makes customization easy.

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