Angling for Dinosaurs: Status and Future Study of the Ecology, Conservation and Management of Ancient Fishes (Symposium)

Monday, August 22, 2016: 9:40 AM-5:00 PM
Chicago A (Sheraton at Crown Center)
Gars (Lepisosteidae) and Bowfin (Amiidae), collectively known as holosteans, are among the most ancient fish lineages native to North American waters. Understudied and historically disliked relative to other North American fisheries, many holostean populations have declined due to habitat loss, overfishing, and eradication efforts (Scarnecchia 1992, Kluender et al. 2016). Furthermore, knowledge regarding the basic biology and life history of these species is limited (Binion et al. 2015, David et al. 2015, Smylie et al. 2015). As anglers’ perception of these ancient species begins to transform from “rough fish” to “sport fish,” the need for a better understanding of the ecology and conservation status of holostean populations is fundamental to their effective management. This symposium will focus on the ecology, conservation, and management of holostean fishes, providing the opportunity for scientists and managers to discuss past and current research on topics such as life history, genetics, evolution, sampling methodologies, population dynamics, hybridization, aquaculture, and human dimensions. These presentations and panel discussions will provide valuable information to further our understanding of these ecologically important species, as well as develop a research framework to direct future conservation and management objectives. Proceedings of this symposium will be organized for publication.
Moderators:
Sarah Huck, Solomon David and Jeffrey Stein
Organizers:
Sarah Huck, Solomon David and Jeffrey A. Stein
9:40 AM
Introductory Remarks Solomon David, U.S. Geological Survey
10:00 AM
Morphological Variation Among Bowfin (Amia) Populations from the Carolinas and Laurentian Great Lakes: Taxonomic and Conservation Implications Jay Palumbo, SUNY Coll. Envir. Sci. & For., Syracuse, NY 13210, USA; Kean Clifford, SUNY Coll. Envir. Sci. & For., Syracuse, NY 13210, USA; Donald Stewart, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
10:20 AM
Success of Morphometric Gender Identification of Alligator Gar Dusty McDonald, Perry R. Bass Marine Fisheries Research Station; Daniel Daugherty, Heart of the Hills Fisheries Science Center; J. Warren Schlechte, Heart of the Hills Fisheries Science Center
10:40 AM
Primer Designs for Identifying Seven Species of Gars and Potential Hybrids at the Belle Isle Aquarium Richard Kik IV, Belle Isle Aquarium; Nicole Farley, Wayne State University; Adrian Vasquez, Wayne State University; Solomon David, Shedd Aquarium/U.S. Geological Survey; Jeffrey Ram, Belle Isle Aquarium and Wayne State University
11:00 AM
“Population Genetics of Bowfins (Amiidae) Across the Laurentian Great Lakes and Carolinas” Madeline Clark, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry; Donald Stewart, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry; Steven Bogdanowicz, Cornell University; Amy McCune, Cornell University
11:20 AM
Connecting the Spots: Life History and Ecology of the Spotted Gar Lepisosteus Oculatus from an Oklahoma Reservoir Bryan Frenette, Kansas State University; Richard Snow, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
11:40 AM
Monday Lunch Break
1:00 PM
Development of a Stage-Specific Floodplain Inundation Model to Predict Suitable Spawning Habitat Availability for Assessing Alligator Gar Recruitment Success Clint Robertson, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; Karim Aziz, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; Nolan Raphelt, Texas Water Development Board; Dave Buckmeier, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; Nate Smith, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
1:20 PM
Juvenile Alligator Gar Movement Patterns in a Disconnected Floodplain Habitat in Southeast Missouri Levi Solomon, University of Illinois, Prairie Research Institute, Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois River Biological Station; Quinton Phelps, Missouri Department of Conservation and Southeast Missouri State University; Dave Herzog, Missouri Department of Conservation; Christopher Kennedy, Missouri Department of Conservation; Michael Taylor, Southeast Missouri State University
1:40 PM
Movement Patterns and Home Range Fidelity of Bowfin in Oneida Lake, New York James R. Jackson, Cornell Biological Field Station, Cornell University; Alexander W. Latzka, McGill University; Tomomi Landsman, Léman Manhattan Preparatory School; Amy R. McCune, Cornell University
2:00 PM
Growth and Ecology of Bowfin (Amia calva) in Green Bay, Lake Michigan Collin Moratz, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay; Patrick Forsythe, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay; Christopher Houghton, University of Wisconsin - Green Bay; Gary Lamberti, University of Notre Dame; Katherine O'Reilly, University of Notre Dame; Donald Uzarski, Central Michigan University; James Student, Central Michigan University; Martin Berg, Loyola University Chicago
2:20 PM
Utility and Precision of Four Hard Structures Used to Estimate Age of Spotted, Shortnose, and Longnose Gars Sarah Huck, University of Illinois; Solomon David, U.S. Geological Survey; Jeffrey Stein, University of Illinois
2:40 PM
Alligator Gar in Texas' Coastal Zone: Long-Term Trends and Environmental Influences Daniel Daugherty, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; J. Warren Schlechte, Heart of the Hills Fisheries Science Center; Dusty McDonald, Perry R. Bass Marine Fisheries Research Station
3:00 PM
Monday Afternoon Break
3:20 PM
Modeling the Responses of Alligator Gar Populations to Harvest: Implications for Meeting the Needs of a Diverse Angling Constituency Nathan Smith, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; Daniel Daugherty, Heart of the Hills Fisheries Science Center; J. Warren Schlechte, Heart of the Hills Fisheries Science Center; David Buckmeier, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
3:40 PM
Research and Revelations in Avant-Gar(de) Eco-Writing Mark Spitzer, University of Central Arkansas
4:00 PM
Discussion Solomon David, U.S. Geological Survey
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