Field Museum CI

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Field Museum
CI

AquaRAP Rapid Assessment of Aquatic Ecosystems
An Interdisciplinary, International Program
Developing Integrated Solutions For a
Sustainable Future
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AquaRAP

• International
• scientists from 7 countries in
• South America

• Interdisciplinary
• 5 scientific disciplines

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• Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems
• Include Humans in Ecosystem
• Integrated, Sustainable Use Plans
• Watershed is Unit of Conservation

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River Basin -- Watershed

• headwaters
• springs
• streams
• lakes
• flooded areas
• riffles - rapids
• main channels
• deltas

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River Basin -- Watershed

• fishes and the forest
• long distance migrations
• dynamic life histories
• ecological services

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Rainy Season High Water Fishes in Forest
Flooded Forests Feeding
Reproduction
Nursery Area
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Early Mid Dry Season Downstream
Migration (adults, juveniles, larvae)
Early Rainy Season Upstream Migration (adults)
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Rapid Assessment (RAP) is an important tool in
Conservation Biology RAP provides a critical
across taxon perspective at the distributions
within a watershed Landscape level approach that
results in first pass scientific information and
conservation strategy
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• RAP Programs face a number of challenges
• Turn lists of taxa into conservation
  strategies

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• RAP Programs face a number of challenges
• Turn lists of taxa into conservation
  strategies
• Adhere to scientific principles
• Use data to test basic null hypotheses
• Establish preliminary hypotheses upon which
  longer term studies can be based

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Are species distributed Randomly? Homogeneousl
y? Heterogeneously? Among subregions or
macrohabitats within watershed or area of
interest Conservation Strategy depends upon
Answer
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Testing hypotheses of distribution with RAP data
can lead to Type I Error -- the false rejection
of a true null hypothesis!
But we are willing to take this risk in order
to develop conservation strategies that are over
determined with the effect that they will help
to preserve more rather than fewer species.
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R C species 1 1 species
2 1 1 species 3 1 species 4 1
1 species 5 1 species 6 1
1 species 7 1 1 species 8 1
species 9 1 1 species 10 1
How similar are these habitats? 50 or 100 ?
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R C species 1 1 species
2 1 1 species 3 1 species 4 1
1 species 5 1 species 6 1
1 species 7 1 1 species 8 1
species 9 1 1 species 10 1
Solution depends upon interpretation of
absences!
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For Rapid Assessment Data Absences
are ambiguous! Therefore similarity is 100,
discount absences.
R C species 1 1 species
2 1 1 species 3 1 species 4 1
1 species 5 1 species 6 1
1 species 7 1 1 species 8 1
species 9 1 1 species 10 1
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