Symposium Recommendations: Where Are the Future Research Needs for Life Cycle Models and Empirical Survival Estimates

The 27 talks in this symposium have covered an exceptional diversity of studies estimating survival and capacity, and highlight numerous approaches for using these parameters in life-cycle models. Prior to the symposium, we asked each presenter to provide us with their key findings and top three key research needs or challenges. Here we synthesize and discuss these findings and recommendations for 1) estimating population response to assist with management and recovery of salmonid fishes and their habitat, 2) determining future research (e.g., empirical data needs, life history knowledge gaps, future modeling domains), and 3) identifying avenues for future collaboration. It is clear from these talks that continued collaboration among modelers and field biologists is essential to improving life cycle models to assist with salmonid management, protection and recovery.