research, citizen involvement, and the wisconsin department of natural resources jack sullivan...

Research, Citizen Involvement, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Research, Citizen Involvement, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Jack SullivanJack SullivanScience ServicesScience ServicesWisconsin Dept. of Natural ResourcesWisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources

Presentation Outline• Research at Wisconsin DNR

• How DNR Research is Funded

• Wildlife and Forestry Research

• Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat Research

Presentation Outline• Research at Wisconsin DNR

• How DNR Research is Funded

• Wildlife and Forestry Research

• Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat Research

Research at Wisconsin DNR• Research is “an activity that seeks new

knowledge, that tests a hypothesis using an experimental design.”

• Research may be either applied or basic. Applied research addresses a management problem/need or answers a management question. Basic research seeks new knowledge not necessarily related to a defined problem.

Research at Wisconsin DNRWhat does DNR Research do?• Collect population dynamics information

about species.

• Monitor wildlife and fisheries species to assess population status.

• Test management hypotheses.

• Evaluate ecosystem composition, structure, and function to guide management strategies.

• Guide landscape-scale management projects and use adaptive management strategies.

• Provide expertise to management in decision-making and policy and rule development.

Research at Wisconsin DNR• Centralized Research Program: Science

Services has direct responsibility, but research is a shared function:• Internal contracts with subprograms.• Research activity in subprograms.

• Independent of management programs to help insure objectivity.

Research at Wisconsin DNR• Research needing special expertise and

refined facilities is done outside of the agency:• Contracts with external partners.• Fish and Wildlife Coop. Units.

Research at Wisconsin DNR

Forestry and Wildlife Research

1930s

Research at Wisconsin DNR

Forestry and Wildlife Research

1930s

Fisheries Research

1950s

Research at Wisconsin DNR

Forestry and Wildlife Research

1930s

Fisheries Research

1950s

Water Resources and Outdoor Rec.

Research

1960s

Research at Wisconsin DNR

Forestry and Wildlife Research

1930s

Fisheries Research

1950s

Water Resources and Outdoor Rec.

Research

1960sWastewater, Waste Management, and

Monitoring Techniques

1970s

Research at Wisconsin DNR

Forestry and Wildlife Research

1930s

Fisheries Research

1950s

Water Resources and Outdoor Rec.

Research

1960sWastewater, Waste Management, and

Monitoring Techniques

1970s

Research Review

1980s

Reorganization

1990s

Research at Wisconsin DNR

Forestry and Wildlife Research

1930s

Fisheries Research

1950s

Water Resources and Outdoor Rec.

Research

1960sWastewater, Waste Management, and

Monitoring Techniques

1970s

Research Review

1980s

Reorganization

1990s

Inter-disciplinary

Integrated

Applied Science

Single Species

Single Issue

Basic Science

Presentation Outline• Research at Wisconsin DNR

• How DNR Research is Funded

• Wildlife and Forestry Research

• Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat Research

• Human dimensions research

How DNR Research is Funded

• FY 2002 Budget: $10.4 million.

• FY 2003 Budget: $10.2 million.

• FY 2002-2003: • $4.9 million in outside funding.

How DNR Research is Funded• General purpose revenues.

• Federal fish and wildlife funds.

• State environmental segregated funds.

• State conservation segregated funds.

• Competitive grants.

Presentation Outline• Research at Wisconsin DNR

• How DNR Research is Funded

• Wildlife and Forestry Research

• Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat Research

Wildlife and Forestry ResearchWisconsin Checklist Project• Volunteer monitoring program.• Initiated in 1982 at University of

Wisconsin; administered by Wisconsin DNR since 1989.

• Provides information on annual, seasonal, and geographic variation in abundance for 296 species of Wisconsin birds.

• During 1983-2004, cooperators submitted 88,367 weekly checklists of birds they saw or heard.

Wildlife and Forestry ResearchMammal Surveys

• Partnership with:• Wisconsin Trappers Association• Wisconsin Bow Hunters Association

• Initiated in 1997.

• Effort to monitor mammal distribution and abundance in the state.

• Thousands of bow hunters have made ten's of thousands of mammal observations through out the state.

Wildlife and Forestry ResearchOak Ecosystem Study

• Documenting changes to the Madison School forest over the last 50 years

• Testing different management techniques (logging and burning) to see which works best to regenerate oak trees and the entire oak ecosystem.

Wildlife and Forestry ResearchPrairie Invertebrate Study• Documenting:

• What prairie invertebrates occur on native prairie remnants across 5 states.

• Which species are prairie dependent. • How management (primarily fire) has

affected prairie invertebrates.

Species new to science have been discovered.

Wildlife and Forestry ResearchChronic Wasting Disease Research

Wisconsin Common Loon Population Viability Assessment

Photo credit: Woody HaggeR82-905

Wildlife and Forestry ResearchWildlife and Forestry Research

Old Growth Forest Study

Compare:

•Managed forest communities.

•Unmanaged (old-growth) forest communities.

Goal:

Refine forest management strategies to maintain the biodiversity of Wisconsin's forests.

Wildlife and Forestry ResearchWildlife and Forestry Research

Presentation Outline• Research at Wisconsin DNR

• How DNR Research is Funded

• Wildlife and Forestry Research

• Fisheries and Aquatic Habitat Research

Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research

Conservation Genetics

Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research

Development of Indices of Biotic Integrity to evaluate responses of fishes, invertebrates, and physical habitat to different watershed land uses.

Revising Fishes of Wisconsin

Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research

Fish Identification Website

Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research

Solid color

Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research

Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research

Long-term Walleye Trends and the Long-term Walleye Trends and the Effects of HarvestEffects of Harvest

Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research

Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research

Devil’s LakeFisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research

Lake Wingra Carp Exclosure ExperimentFisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research

Sediment Core AnalysesFisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research

Thank you!