Tailoring Salmonid Life Cycle Models to Answer Population-, Watershed-, and Management-Specific Questions

All life cycle models for anadromous salmonid populations exhibit a common structure dictated by an anadromous life history strategy.  Yet salmonid life history strategies are highly adapted to their local environment, watersheds vary in their biogeochemical properties, and humans alter population dynamics through harvest and habitat alterations.  Consequently, life cycle models must be tailored to the unique aspects of a particular population.  In addition, specialized model structure often centers on informing a particular set of management actions.  Although life cycle models require specialization for particular populations, managers are also faced with decisions that that influence multiple populations simultaneously.  How can this complexity be incorporated into a life-cycle model while keeping the problem tractable?