Factors influencing the survival of outmigrating juvenile salmonids through multiple dam passages: an individual-based approach.

Substantial declines of Pacific salmon populations have occurred over the past several decades related to large-scale anthropogenic and climatic changes in freshwater and marine environments. In the Columbia River Basin, migrating juvenile salmonids may pass as many as eight large-scale hydropower projects before reaching the ocean; however, the cumulative effects of multiple dam passages are largely unknown. Using acoustic transmitters and an extensive system of hydrophone arrays in the Lower Columbia River, we calculated the survival of yearling Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) and steelhead (O. mykiss) passing one, two, or three dams. We applied a unique index of biological characteristics and environmental exposures, experienced by each fish individually as it migrated downstream, in order to examine which factors most influence salmonid survival. High outflow volumes led to involuntary spill in 2011 and created an environment of supersaturated dissolved gas concentrations. In this environment, migrating smolt survival was strongly influenced by barometric pressure, fish velocity, and water temperature. The effect of these variables on survival was compounded by multiple dam passages compared to fish passing a single dam. Despite spatial isolation between dams in the Lower Columbia River hydrosystem, migrating smolt appear to experience cumulative effects akin to a press disturbance. In general, Chinook salmon and steelhead respond similarly in terms of survival rates and responses to altered environmental conditions. Management actions that limit dissolved gas concentrations in years of high flow will benefit migrating salmonids at this life stage.

Assessing accuracy in citizen science-based plant phenology monitoring.

In the USA, thousands of volunteers are engaged in tracking plant and animal phenology through a variety of citizen science programs for the purpose of amassing spatially and temporally comprehensive datasets useful to scientists and resource managers. The quality of these observations and their suitability for scientific analysis, however, remains largely unevaluated. We aimed to evaluate the accuracy of plant phenology observations collected by citizen scientist volunteers following protocols designed by the USA National Phenology Network (USA-NPN). Phenology observations made by volunteers receiving several hours of formal training were compared to those collected independently by a professional ecologist. Approximately 11,000 observations were recorded by 28 volunteers over the course of one field season. Volunteers consistently identified phenophases correctly (91% overall) for the 19 species observed. Volunteers demonstrated greatest overall accuracy identifying unfolded leaves, ripe fruits, and open flowers. Transitional accuracy decreased for some species/phenophase combinations (70% average), and accuracy varied significantly by phenophase and species (p < 0.0001). Volunteers who submitted fewer observations over the period of study did not exhibit a higher error rate than those who submitted more total observations. Overall, these results suggest that volunteers with limited training can provide reliable observations when following explicit, standardized protocols. Future studies should investigate different observation models (i.e., group/individual, online/in-person training) over subsequent seasons with multiple expert comparisons to further substantiate the ability of these monitoring programs to supply accurate broadscale datasets capable of answering pressing ecological questions about global change.

Evaluating in-home training for fathers of children with autism using single-subject experimentation and group analysis methods.

BACKGROUND: Autism, or the broader category of autistic spectrum disorder, is a complex developmental disability with uncertain etiologies that appears to be increasing in prevalence. Researchers have stated that training programs for children with autism are most effective when they are individualized, address communicative intent of child behaviors, and promote social reciprocity between children and individuals with whom they have regular contact. Yet, to date, most of what is known comes solely from studying mothers, who have traditionally been the most accessible parent. OBJECTIVES: In this study the mother-child in-home training program was modified and evaluated for its effects on the acquisition of training skills by fathers and on precommunication skills by the autistic children. METHODS: Frequency counts of skills taught to fathers and targeted child behaviors were obtained from videotaped father-child play sessions. These data were analyzed for each father-child dyad by using graphs and visual analyses, which are integral parts of single-participant experimentation. This procedure was replicated across all of the father-child dyads. Data were then grouped and analyzed using the more traditional repeated measures analysis of variance. RESULTS: The most significant findings were increases in father use of imitating with animation (p < .0001) and child initiating following training (p < .0004). Also noteworthy were significant increases in father responding (p < .0005) and child vocalizations (p < .05). DISCUSSION: Results of the study indicate that the in-home training for fathers of children with autism was effective and valued by the participating families.