Alligator Gar and the GCPOLCC

1. Alligator Gar and the GCPOLCC John Tirpak Science Coordinator, GCPOLCC USGS / National Wetlands Research Center Lafayette, LA Alligator Gar Technical Committee Meeting SDAFS – Biloxi, MS 27 January 2012

2. Mission of the GCPOLCC • To articulate the shared vision for sustainable natural and cultural resources in the Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks geography in the face of a changing climate and other threats, foster a cooperative capacity within the conservation community to meet the challenges of achieving that vision, and facilitate the refinement of that vision through targeted evaluation over time.

3. Gator Gar: Why the Interest? • The interest of partners • Pretty clear…you are here! • The interest of the LCC • What does a sustainable landscape look like for alligator gar? • How does that integrate with the vision for birds and bears? • Gar as a model for other “large river” fish • Other floodplain-dependent fish • Pallid sturgeon ? ?

4. A Strategic Vision for Gator Gar • Held a meeting in Vicksburg on 7 December 2010 • Yvonne Allen, Army Corps of Engineers (ERDC) • Ricky Campbell, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (PJANFH) • Glenn Constant, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (BRFCO) • Jan Dean, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (NNFH) • Lee Holt, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission • John Tirpak, Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks LCC • Nick Wirwa, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (SCCNWR)

5. Objectives for Model • To identify relative habitat quality for alligator gar across the entire Lower Mississippi River Basin • Identify habitats similar to the “hotspot” at St. Catherine Creek NWR • Analyze data at St. Catherine Creek NWR to explain gar usage of that area • Identify missing elements of “ideal” gar habitat to direct management • Identify highly suitable places to stock gar • Identify factors to measure to characterize gar habitat at multiple scales

6. Modeling Considerations • Spatial • Hierarchical scales • Site: St. Catherine’s Creek NWR • Region: Lower Mississippi River basin • Temporal • Consider seasonal use patterns • Staging (1 February – 14 April) • Spawning/Nursery (15 April – 14 June) • Summer (15 June – 31 October) • Winter (1 November – 31 January)

7. Framing the Conceptual Model • Identifying factors that define gar habitat • Water presence • Water class (e.g., lake, river, etc.) • Flooding frequency • Water depth • Water temperature • Vegetation type • Connectivity to river • Flood duration

8. Towards an Empirical Model

9. Towards an Empirical Model

10. Flood Inundation Frequency • Identifying inundation extent for Atchafalaya

11. Filling in Data Gaps

12. Next Steps • Run this model to get some initial results • Are we in the ballpark? • Explore options for expansion • Mississippi Alluvial Valley to start • LiDAR • Flood index models • HGM

13. Next Steps

14. Next Steps • Run this model to get some initial results • Are we in the ballpark? • Explore options for expansion • Mississippi Alluvial Valley to start • LiDAR • Flood index models • HGM • Move towards explicit demographic conservation targets • Population size? • Age class distribution? Harvest?

15. http://gcpolcc.org

16. http://gcpolcc.org

17. http://gcpolcc.org

18. Contact us • Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks LCC • Greg Wathen, Coordinator • greg.wathen@tn.gov, 615-781-6610 (Nashville, TN) • John Tirpak, Science Coordinator • john_tirpak@fws.gov, 337-262-8565 (Lafayette, LA) • Other staff • Michael Osland, USGS Scientist (Lafayette, LA) • Laurie Rounds, NOAA Gulf Coast Liasion (Nashville, TN) • Gregg Elliott, Communications Specialist (Memphis, TN) • Janet Ertel, Monitoring Coordinator – USFWS NWRS I&M (Atlanta, GA) • Vacant, Geoinformatics Coordinator – Miss. St. Univ. (Starkville, MS)