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| Michigan Department of Natural Resources Fisheries Technical Report No. 97-3, 1997 |
Overview of the Michigan Rivers Inventory (MRI) Project |
| Paul W. Seelbach |
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Institute for Fisheries Research Michigan Department of Natural Resources 212 Museums Annex Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 |
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| Michael J. Wiley |
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School of Natural Resources and Environment The University of Michigan Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 |
 Abstract.-The sound, scientific management of lower Michigan's expansive river systems will require a sophisticated understanding of their ecological structures and processes, and a careful evaluation of the state of these rivers as they currently exist-i.e. a comprehensive inventory. To this end we developed a partnership in 1988 between scientists at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources-Institute for Fisheries Research, and the University of Michigan-School of Natural Resources and Environment, known as the Michigan Rivers Inventory (MRI) project. Our strategy for studying the comparative ecology of Michigan rivers has four primary components: conducting an Inventory, developing Descriptions and Predictive Models, developing an Ecological Classification System, and developing Management Applications. The foundation of the inventory was a large Geographic Information System (GIS); i.e. a collection of maps and a relational, geo-referenced database containing key physical and biological characteristics for a large number (~675) of river sites representative of rivers draining the Lower Peninsula of Michigan. Data incorporated in the MRI came from a variety of sources and included (1) field measurements made by project personnel; (2) numerous existing datasets that were compiled by other State and University research groups; (3) mapped data of various origins that could be processed and related to MRI study sites by manipulation in a GIS; and (4) "synthetic" data produced by modeling site-scale variables (for example stream flows) from summaries of catchment landscape characteristics for a subset of sites. To explore linkages between different-scale habitat variables and fishes, we emphasized data development at 3 distinct spatial scales of influence: (1) the catchment landscape; (2) the local channel reach; and (3) the immediate sampling site. The temporal extent of the data covered the past 2.5 decades, providing a reasonable summary of the current nature of Michigan's rivers. We used the GIS to develop several graphical summaries and statistical models of habitat and fish community characteristics. These helped to identify broad patterns within the data, explore the underlying relationships between local ecological conditions and the larger-scale processes that drive them, and to provide predictive capabilities. We likewise developed an ecological classification for the river valley segments of Michigan's Lower Peninsula, incorporating both physical and biotic segment attributes. The multi-scale framework of the MRI approach provides a toolbox for addressing many local river management issues. Viewing a system in its larger-scale (landscape) context helps managers to define key variables and constraints that shape site-scale problems. MRI models provide the complimentary ability to predict specific site-scale attributes for developing management expectations and targets. Comprehensive regional assessments like the MRI ultimately should provide a platform for more-informed, broader-scale thinking and communication about river ecosystems. The MRI is an ongoing project; current work includes extending geographical coverage to Michigan's Upper Peninsula and further refinement of the valley segment ecological classification system. |
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Fisheries Technical Report No. 97-3  - Full Text Acrobat Reader File. |
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