PNW SciCast Webinar: Ecology and Management at the Upper Extent of Fish

Streams with fish receive more protections than those without, which makes upper limit boundaries of fish in forested streams important. For example, policies may limit forest harvest by requiring greater protections and wider riparian buffers on lands adjacent to fish-bearing streams. This makes identifying the upper distribution of fish ecologically, economically, and regulatorily relevant.

Tune in to hear Research Fisheries Biologist Brooke Penaluna describe two novel methods to identify the position of the upper extent of fish that use the UPRLIMET model and environmental DNA. These methods uncover how this boundary marks a distinct ecological change in freshwater biodiversity assemblages.

Using this non-invasive management tool, land managers can determine the upper extent of fish in streams and make more inclusive conservation decisions around identifying this critical boundary. This work helps managers make more accurate forest management prescriptions, while providing optimal protection for freshwater species of concern.