Kelly Burnett - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Kelly Burnett

Log driving and splash damming were among the earliest reported management disturbances in rivers... more Log driving and splash damming were among the earliest reported management disturbances in rivers of the Pacific Northwest. A splash dam would span the width of a river, creating an upstream reservoir in which logs were collected until the spillway was opened to release a large flood. While effective at moving logs, splash damming dramatically altered streams, with historical photographs of splashed streams showing long stretches scoured to bedrock and little habitat complexity. Log drives and splash dams were routinely used from the 1880s through the 1950s in Oregon to transport logs to downstream mills before extensive road networks were constructed. Recent literature implicates log driving and splash damming as key culprits in declines of salmon population abundances and suggests that habitats in affected streams have not recovered. Despite this, few formal studies have quantified whether log drives and splash dams left an environmental legacy and none of these studies examined e...

Hydrologic connectivity is a critical component of habitat quality for riverine fishes that move ... more Hydrologic connectivity is a critical component of habitat quality for riverine fishes that move long distances. The stream network is the foundation upon which stream habitats are organized. How aquatic ecologists address habitat organization within the context of dendritic stream systems is a research question open to discussion and opportunity. We reviewed how hydrological connectivity has been studied for migratory salmonids. Our analysis indicated three main themes of study that related to: 1) relatively stable connections 2) dynamic connections and 3) anthropogenic influences on hydrologic connectivity. Challenges unique to understanding connectivity for river fishes include the complexity of hydrologic connectivity (the force and direction of flow, scale-dependent effects), the constraints of movement isolated within a stream network, and human influences. However, we also identified that work is currently under way that includes network structure and river discharge in analy...

We are linking a dynamic landscape model with a habitat-based life cycle model for Oregon coastal... more We are linking a dynamic landscape model with a habitat-based life cycle model for Oregon coastal Coho salmon to explore scenarios of natural disturbance and forest management. The landscape model simulates wood and sediment inputs to the stream. The Coastal Landscape Analysis and Modeling Study provide inputs to the landscape model of initial forest conditions and simulated responses to a variety of land management scenarios. Modeled wood inputs to the stream are from riparian and upslope processes (e.g., tree mortality and debris flows) and modeled sediment sources are landslides and debris flows. In-channel wood and sediment budgets are simulated for each reach. The Coho life-cycle model is based on the approach of Nickelson and Lawson (1998). They estimated production of egg, summer parr, smolts, adults, and spawners for each modeled stream reach. They also estimated smolt capacity, which reflects habitat quality, from stream survey data using Oregon Department of Fish and Wildl...

Rice/River Confluences, Tributaries and the Fluvial Network, 2008

Integrating Landscape Ecology into Natural Resource Management, 2002

Natural resource management has moved from a single disciplinary and one resource management appr... more Natural resource management has moved from a single disciplinary and one resource management approach to an interdisciplinary and ecosystembased approach. Many conceptual models are being developed to understand and implement ecosystem management and forest certification initiatives that require an integration of data from both the social and natural systems (Vogt et al, 1997, 1999a,b). These changed approaches to natural resource management arose from a perception that variables critical in controlling the health and functioning of an ecosystem could only be determined by integrating information from both the social and the natural sciences (~o g t et al., 1997). However, it has been difficult to take many of the theoretical discussions and the frameworks or conceptual models that they have produced and to operationalize or put them into practice on the ground.

River Research and Applications, 2013

We developed an intrinsic potential (IP) model to estimate the potential of streams to provide ha... more We developed an intrinsic potential (IP) model to estimate the potential of streams to provide habitat for spawning fall Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Lower Columbia River evolutionarily significant unit. This evolutionarily significant unit is a threatened species, and both fish abundance and distribution are reduced from historical levels. The IP model focuses on geomorphic conditions that lead to the development of a habitat that fish use and includes three geomorphic channel parameters: confinement, width and gradient. We found that the amount of potential habitat for each population does not correlate with current, depressed, total population abundance. However, reaches currently used by spawners have high IP, and IP model results correlate well with results from the complex Ecosystem Diagnosis and Treatment model. A disproportionately large amount of habitat with the best potential is currently inaccessible to fish because of anthropogenic barriers. Sensitivity analyses indicate that uncertainty in the relationship between channel width and habitat suitability has the largest influence on model results and that model form influences model results more for some populations than for others. Published in 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Landscape and Urban Planning, 2007

Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 1989

The reproductive performance of yearling Florida red tilapia broodstock was studied in laboratory... more The reproductive performance of yearling Florida red tilapia broodstock was studied in laboratory aquaria at salinities of 1 (freshwater), 9, 18, 27 and 36 ppt under controlled photoperiod (14 L10 D) and temperature (28 C).

Freshwater Biology, 2010

1. In this review, we first summarize how hydrologic connectivity has been studied for riverine f... more 1. In this review, we first summarize how hydrologic connectivity has been studied for riverine fish capable of moving long distances, and then identify research opportunities that have clear conservation significance. Migratory species, such as anadromous salmonids, are good model organisms for understanding ecological connectivity in rivers because the spatial scale over which movements occur among freshwater habitats is large enough to be easily observed with available techniques; they are often economically or culturally valuable with habitats that can be easily fragmented by human activities; and they integrate landscape conditions from multiple surrounding catchment(s) with in-river conditions. Studies have focussed on three themes: (i) relatively stable connections (connections controlled by processes that act over broad spatio-temporal scales >1000 km 2 and >100 years); (ii) dynamic connections (connections controlled by processes acting over fine to moderate spatio-temporal scales 1-1000 km 2 and <1-100 years); and (iii) anthropogenic influences on hydrologic connectivity, including actions that disrupt or enhance natural connections experienced by fish. 2. We outline eight challenges to understanding the role of connectivity in riverine fish ecology, organized under three foci: (i) addressing the constraints of river structure; (ii) embracing temporal complexity in hydrologic connectivity; and (iii) managing connectivity for riverine fishes. Challenges include the spatial structure of stream networks, the force and direction of flow, scale-dependence of connectivity, shifting boundaries, complexity of behaviour and life histories and quantifying anthropogenic influence on connectivity and aligning management goals. As we discuss each challenge, we summarize relevant approaches in the literature and provide additional suggestions for improving research and management of connectivity for riverine fishes. 3. Specifically, we suggest that rapid advances are possible in the following arenas: (i) incorporating network structure and river discharge into analyses; (ii) increasing explicit consideration of temporal complexity and fish behaviour in the scope of analyses; and (iii) parsing degrees of human and natural influences on connectivity and defining acceptable alterations. Multiscale analyses are most likely to identify dominant patterns of connections and disconnections, and the appropriate scale at which to focus conservation activities.

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 1990

The influence of competition, exploitation and level of energy input on toxicant fate and effect ... more The influence of competition, exploitation and level of energy input on toxicant fate and effect in simple aquatic laboratory ecosystems was studied. Twenty-four systems composed of populations of guppies (Poecilia re/icula/a), snails (family Planorbidae) and various taxa of algae were maintained in 40-liter flow-through glass aquaria. Guppies and snails were competitors for a common food resource. Ecosystems were established in which guppies and snails were sympatric and allopatric. The systems were exposed to three levels of guppy exploitation and received two levels of energy input. System dynamic and near steady-state behavior were documented through monthly measurements of population biomasses. Biomasses of interacting populations were displayed on phase planes. Shifts in system structure followed chronic exposure to a sublethal concentration of dieldrin. System responses to the toxicant ranged from increased population biomass to population extinction and were influenced by level of exploitation, energy input rate and species competition. Toxicant concentrations were determined in adult female fish. Both toxicant effect and fate were influenced by system organization and environment. Quite different conclusions concerning toxicant performance in these systems could have been drawn if observation had been restricted to only one set of organizational and environmental conditions.

Environmental Management, 2013

Diadromous aquatic species that cross a diverse range of habitats (including marine, estuarine, a... more Diadromous aquatic species that cross a diverse range of habitats (including marine, estuarine, and freshwater) face different effects of climate change in each environment. One such group of species is the anadromous Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.). Studies of the potential effects of climate change on salmonids have focused on both marine and freshwater environments. Access to a variety of estuarine habitat has been shown to enhance juvenile life-history diversity, thereby contributing to the resilience of many salmonid species. Our study is focused on the effect of sea-level rise on the availability, complexity, and distribution of estuarine, and low-freshwater habitat for Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), steelhead (anadromous O. mykiss), and coho salmon (O. kisutch) along the Oregon Coast under future climate change scenarios. Using LiDAR, we modeled the geomorphologies of five Oregon estuaries and estimated a contour associated with the current mean high tide. Contour intervals at 1-and 2-m increments above the current mean high tide were generated, and changes in the estuary morphology were assessed. Because our analysis relied on digital data, we compared three types of digital data in one estuary to assess the utility of different data sets in predicting the changes in estuary shape. For each salmonid species, changes in the amount and complexity of estuarine edge habitats varied by estuary. The simple modeling approach we applied can also be used to identify areas that may be most amenable to pre-emptive restoration actions to mitigate or enhance salmonid habitat under future climatic conditions.

Environmental Management, 1999

This paper identifies lessons learned and issues raised during the development of an ecosystem mo... more This paper identifies lessons learned and issues raised during the development of an ecosystem monitoring strategy intended to support the Northwest Forest Plan. Adaptive ecosystem management, which requires monitoring as essential feedback to management, recognizes that action is necessary or appropriate, although knowledge may be imperfect. We suggest that this principle be explicitly acknowledged in the design of monitoring programs, and we coin the term adaptive monitoring design. Adaptive monitoring design is an iterative process that refines the specifications for monitoring over time as a result of experience in implementing a monitoring program, assessing results, and interacting with users. An adaptive design therefore facilitates ecosystem management. We also discuss lessons of temporal and spatial scales raised by the consideration of a design for ecosystem management. Three additional issues-integration of information from different sources, institutional infrastructure, and the roles of individuals working in an interagency setting-are also identified, but not developed in detail.

Ecological Applications, 1996

Ecological Applications, 2007

The geographic distribution of stream reaches with potential to support highquality habitat for s... more The geographic distribution of stream reaches with potential to support highquality habitat for salmonids has bearing on the actual status of habitats and populations over broad spatial extents. As part of the Coastal Landscape Analysis and Modeling Study (CLAMS), we examined how salmon-habitat potential was distributed relative to current and future (þ100 years) landscape characteristics in the Coastal Province of Oregon, USA. The intrinsic potential to provide high-quality rearing habitat was modeled for juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and juvenile steelhead (O. mykiss) based on stream flow, valley constraint, and stream gradient. Land ownership, use, and cover were summarized for 100-m analysis buffers on either side of stream reaches with high intrinsic potential and in the overall area encompassing the buffers. Past management seems to have concentrated nonindustrial private ownership, agriculture, and developed uses adjacent to reaches with high intrinsic potential for coho salmon. Thus, of the area in coho salmon buffers, 45% is either nonforested or recently logged, but only 10% is in larger-diameter forests. For the area in steelhead buffers, 21% is either non-forested or recently logged while 20% is in larger-diameter forests. Older forests are most extensive on federal lands but are rare on private lands, highlighting the critical role for public lands in near-term salmon conservation. Agriculture and development are projected to remain focused near high-intrinsic-potential reaches for coho salmon, increasing the importance of effectively addressing nonpoint source pollution from these uses. Percentages of larger-diameter forests are expected to increase throughout the province, but the increase will be only half as much in coho salmon buffers as in steelhead buffers. Most of the increase is projected for public lands, where policies emphasize biodiversity protection. Results suggest that widespread recovery of coho salmon is unlikely unless habitat can be improved in high-intrinsic-potential reaches on private lands. Knowing where high-intrinsic-potential stream reaches occur relative to landscape characteristics can help in evaluating the current and future condition of freshwater habitat, explaining differences between species in population status and risk, and assessing the need for and feasibility of restoration.

Conservation Biology, 2006

Implemented in 1994, the Aquatic Conservation Strategy of the Northwest Forest Plan was designed ... more Implemented in 1994, the Aquatic Conservation Strategy of the Northwest Forest Plan was designed to restore and maintain ecological processes for aquatic and riparian area conservation on federal lands in the western portion of the Pacific Northwest. We used decision support models to quantitatively evaluate changes in the condition of selected watersheds. In the approximately 10 years since strategy implementation, watershed condition scores changed modestly, but conditions improved in 64% of 250 sampled watersheds, declined in 28%, and remained relatively the same in 7%. Watersheds that had the largest declines included some where wildfires burned 30-60% of their area. The overall statistical distribution of the condition scores did not change significantly, however. Much of the increase in watershed condition was related to improved riparian conditions. The number of large trees (>51 cm diameter at breast height) increased 2-4%, and there were substantial reductions in tree harvest and other disturbances along streams. Whether such changes will translate into longer-term improvements in aquatic ecosystems across broader landscapes remains to be seen.

Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 2003

... Spatial and temporal dynamics of sediment and wood in headwater streams in the central Oregon... more ... Spatial and temporal dynamics of sediment and wood in headwater streams in the central Oregon Coast ... Changes in the quantity and characteristics of large woody de-bris in streams of the Olympic ... In River ecology and management: lessons from the Pacific coastal ecoregion. ...

American Fisheries …, 2006

Multiscale analysis of relationships with landscape characteristics can help identify areas and p... more Multiscale analysis of relationships with landscape characteristics can help identify areas and physical processes that affect stream habitats, and thus suggest where and how land management is likely to influence these habitats. Such analysis is rare for mountainous areas where forestry is the primary land use. Consequently, we examined relationships in a forested, montane basin between stream habitat features and landscape characteristics that were summarized at five spatial scales (three riparian and two catchment scales). Spatial scales varied in the area encompassed upstream and upslope of surveyed stream segments and, presumably, in physical processes. For many landscape characteristics, riparian spatial scales, approximated by fixed-width buffers, could be differentiated from catchment spatial scales using forest cover from 30-m satellite imagery and 30-m digital elevation data. In regression with landscape characteristics, more variation in the mean maximum depth and volume of pools was explained by catchment area than by any other landscape characteristic summarized at any spatial scale. In contrast, at each spatial scale except the catchment, variation in the mean density of large wood in pools was positively related to percent area in older forests and negatively related to percent area in sedimentary rock types. The regression model containing these two variables had the greatest explanatory power at an intermediate spatial scale. Finer spatial scales may have omitted important source areas and processes for wood delivery, but coarser spatial scales likely incorporated source areas and processes less tightly coupled to large wood dynamics in surveyed stream segments. Our findings indicate that multiscale assessments can identify areas and suggest processes most closely linked to stream habitat and, thus, can aid in designing land management to protect and restore stream ecosystems in forested landscapes.

Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 2012

1. Aquatic ecologists are working to develop theory and techniques for analysis of dynamic stream... more 1. Aquatic ecologists are working to develop theory and techniques for analysis of dynamic stream processes and communities of organisms. Such work is critical for the development of conservation plans that are relevant at the scale of entire ecosystems. The stream network is the foundation upon which stream systems are organized. Natural and human disturbances in streams alter the configuration of stream habitats such as pools, riffles, and glides across seasons, decades, or centuries. Thus, native aquatic species have developed mechanisms for adapting to the dynamic configuration of habitats in stream networks.