Draft Conceptual Model for LOSL Integrated Ecological

Response Model

Limno-Tech, Inc.

501 Avis Drive

Ann Arbor, MI 48108

Ecological Response

Value?Input to Shared Vision Model

RegulationNatural hydrological & climatological variations

H&H Model predicted water level/flow hydrograph

Wetland Habitat Quantity/Quality

Riverine Habitat Quantity/Quality

Aquatic BirdsFish

Other Management Actions and System Stressors

General Model

Components

Phytoplankton/Benthic algae

Zooplankton

Shoreline Habitat Quantity/Quality

Nearshore Habitat Quantity/Quality

Aquatic Macrophytes

Mammals

Open Water/Imp Quantity/Quality

Benthic invertebrates

Aquatic Insects

Reptiles and amphibians

6/28/02 LOSL1

Potential Quantitative Ecological Endpoints

• Abundance age-0 northern pike

• Abundance northern pike of reproductive age

• Acres wetland plant community type

• Acres geomorphic wetland type

• Wetland habitat suitability indicator

• Number breeding pairs Canada goose

• Canada goose brood survival rate

• Number Canada goose broods

• Abundance adult muskrat

• Number muskrat dens• % cattails• Aquatic insect

biomass:productivity ratio

• Zooplankton diversity• Zooplankton biomass• Benthic algae biomass• Acres submerged aquatic

macrophyte indicator species (e.g., wild rice)

• Benthic invertebrate biomass

• Phytoplankton biomass

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6/28/02 LOSL1

Wetland Habitat

• Aquatic plant biomass

• Detrital production

• Vegetative succession

• Plant species

composition

• Plant colonization

• Water clarity

• Soil moisture availability

• Autochthonous-

allochthonous function

• Plant species diversity

• Anaerobic stress

• Soil nutrient availability

• Dissolved oxygen

• Water pH

• Water temperature

• Decreased habitat value

• Water nutrients

• Vegetative density

• Area

• Hydrologic function

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6/28/02 LOSL1

Shoreline Habitat

• Plant colonization

• Vegetative succession

• Vegetative density

• Plant species

composition

• Erodability

• Habitat value

• Organic matter

• Anaerobic stress in

plants

• Slope

• Slope aspect

• Soil nutrient availability

• Plant species diversity

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6/28/02 LOSL1

Riverine Habitat

• Riffle exposure

• Sedimentation

• Substrate changes

• Sediment transport

• Bed scour

• Morphology

• Shoaling

• Water clarity

• Large woody debris

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• Habitat formation

and maintenance

• Hydraulic refugia

• Dissolved oxygen

• Water temperature

• Nutrients

• pH

• Organic matter

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6/28/02 LOSL1

Nearshore Habitat

• Sedimentation

• Substrate quality

• Sediment transport

• Water temperature

• Wave scour

• Water clarity

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• Habitat formation

and maintenance

• Dissolved oxygen

• Nutrients

• Organic matter

• Thermal

stratification (e.g.,

thermal bars)

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6/28/02 LOSL1

Open Lake/Impoundment Habitat

• Sedimentation

• Substrate quality

• Sediment transport

• Water temperature

• Wave scour

• Water clarity

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• Habitat formation

and maintenance

• Dissolved oxygen

• Nutrients

• Organic matter

• Water temperature

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6/28/02 LOSL1

Fish

• Biomass

• Growth

• Recruitment

• Egg survival

• Functional organization

• Species composition

• Spawning cues

• Condition

• Bioenergetics

• Redd oxygenation/waste removal

• Abundance

• Habitat suitability

• Food webs

• Access to critical habitats

• Species diversity

• Behavioral mechanisms

Species list

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Fish Species of Interest

• Northern pike• Smallmouth bass• Whitefish• Lake trout• Anadromous species• Other wetland dependent

species

• Other flow dependent species (e.g., darters)

• Specific guilds• Exotic species

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6/28/02 LOSL1

Mammals

• Mobility (availability of

water)

• Stranded dens

• Flooded dens

• Access to food source

Species list

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Mammal Species of Interest

• Muskrat• Mink• Beaver• Moose• River otter

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6/28/02 LOSL1

Reptiles/Amphibians

• Dessication stress

• Adult survival

• Hibernation

• Species composition

• Population structure

• Nesting success

• Abundance • Reproduction/juvenile

survival

• Life history

Species list

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Reptiles and Amphibians of Interest

• Wetland turtles• Riverine turtles• Softshell turtles• Snapping turtles• Mud or musk turtles• Map turtles

• Toads• Frogs• Eastern massasauga

rattlesnake

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6/28/02 LOSL1

Aquatic Birds

• Invertebrate food

availability during

migration

• Plant food availability

during migration

• Brood survival

• Nesting success

– Flooding

– Predator invasion Species list

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Aquatic Bird Species of Interest

• Diving ducks• Heron• Plover• Canada goose

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Aquatic Insects

• Species composition• Productivity• Biomass• Dessication (dewatered

habitat – e.g., riffles)• Species diversity• Growth• Functional organization

Species list

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Aquatic Insect Species of Interest

• Dragonfly• Damselfly• Caddisfly• Mayfly• Beetles• Specific functional

feeding groups

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6/28/02 LOSL1

Benthic Invertebrates

• Productivity• Biomass• Reproduction• Species composition• Density• Abundance

Species list

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Benthic Invertebrates of Interest

• Mussels• Snails• Crayfish• Other small crustaceans• Exotic species

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6/28/02 LOSL1

Zooplankton

• Productivity• Biomass• Species composition• Species diversity• Size distribution

Species list

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Zooplankton of Interest

• Copepods• Cladocerans• Rotifers• Herbivors• Carnivors• Exotic species

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6/28/02 LOSL1

Phytoplankton and Benthic Algae

• Productivity• Algal biomass• Undesirable species• Species composition• Species diversity• Planktonic/benthic

species composition

Species list

6/28/02 LOSL1

Phytoplankton and Benthic Algae of Interest

• Diatoms (attached and planktonic)

• Filamentous algae (e.g., cladophora)

• Green algae• Blue-green algae• Chara species• Nitellas species

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6/28/02 LOSL1

Aquatic Macrophytes

• Productivity• Biomass• Undesirable species• Species composition• Species diversity• Planktonic/benthic

species composition

Species list

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Aquatic Macrophytes of Interest

• Wild celery• Wild rice• Sedges• Cattails• Potamogetons• Key wetland species• Rushes• Exotic species

• Specific community types

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6/28/02 LOSL1

D R A F T L A K E O N TA R IO A Q U AT IC C O N C E P T U A L IZ AT IO NH A B ITAT

W ETLAND NEARSHORE OPEN LAKE NEARSHORE SHORELINE

L a k e O n ta r io - St . L a w ren ce R iv erE co sy stem M o d e l D ev e lo p m en t

Ju ly 2 , 2 0 0 2

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6/28/02 LOSL1

D R A F T S T. L AW R E N C E R IV E R A Q U AT IC C O N C E P T U A L IZ AT IO NH A B ITAT

W ETLAND RIVERINE

L a k e O n ta r io - St . L a w re n c e R iv erE co sy ste m M o d e l D ev e lo p m en t

Ju ly 2 , 2 0 0 2

IM POUNDM ENT

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