ATTACHMENT A
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Study 236101
Renewed: 2009-2010
New Study: 2003-2004
Name of Study: Development and implementation of conservation genetic initiatives for Michigan
inland and Great Lakes fisheries and aquatic wildlife species
A. Problem: Michigan’s inland and Great Lakes waters support a diverse and economically and
ecologically important fisheries resource base. State commercial and sports fisheries rely on the
production from wild systems, and increasingly on fish produced by aquiculture programs.
Agency stewardship that is directed at maintaining healthy wild stocks and implementing
successful enhancement activities underlies the need for a comprehensive and effective genetics
policy and research program. Aquatic habitats are also important to other aquatic wildlife species
of conservation concern including reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. There are fundamental
deficiencies in knowledge of the ecology, recruitment, degree of population structuring, and
effects of landscape features on the viability of aquatic wildlife species.
B. Objectives: To develop and enhance a research, education, and outreach/service program aimed
at providing information on historical, current, and projected future levels of genetic diversity for
Great Lakes and inland aquatic wildlife species in Michigan waters, and of the impacts of
management and other anthropogenic effects on diversity and sustainability.
C. Justification: Much of the historical biological diversity represented by Michigan’s inland and
Great Lakes fisheries or by populations of other aquatic wildlife species has been altered and/or
lost by loss and fragmentation of habitat, introductions of non-indigenous species, exploitation
from commercial and sporting user groups, and by transplantation and supplementation. Often,
except for readily apparent declines in species diversity or population size, little is known of the
consequences of these perturbations. Due to limitations posed by accessibility, low numbers and
wide dispersion, direct assessments of population parameters or the effects of management are
often difficult to make. In the absence of direct observational data, genetic markers and
population genetics theory can be powerful research tools.
Management of fisheries and other aquatic wildlife resources has often been directed towards
goals of maintaining total population numbers. However, there is a need to reconcile goals of
meeting and maintaining specific criteria for numerical abundance with long-term goals of
restoring and maintaining sustainable biodiversity. Management efforts should be based on
biologically sound criteria founded on a greater fundamental understanding of the complexity of
historical diversity and the genetic diversity of extant populations and of the factors that define
spatial genetic stock relationships among populations. Further, long-term management goals for
fisheries and for other aquatic wildlife species should include directives to maintain genetic
diversity (and inferentially evolutionary adaptability). As such, issues related to production,
transportation and mixing of individuals from different populations, and the choice of donor
stocks to use in supplementation should be based on fundamental genetics principles.
D. Expected Results and Benefits: The Fisheries Division of the Michigan Department of Natural
Resources will have access to professional advice, technical and laboratory resources, and genetic
tools such as markers and analyses and interpretation of data, so as to better understand the
consequences of management and exploitation on genetic diversity of populations of aquatic
wildlife. Management planning will be better informed so that genetic conservation can become a
more routine objective of resource management and protection programs.
Study 236101 - 2
E. Status: Management directed towards long-term sustainability of aquatic wildlife resources
should in part be based on a fundamental understanding of population genetics and of
biodiversity. The Fisheries Division of the Michigan DNR recognized the need to apply genetic
principles in the areas of fisheries research and management. The PERM Geneticist and his staff
have provided valuable data and interpretation that have been instrumental in redesign of statewide hatchery programs and in developing state-wide information on fish stock structure and
effects of hatchery supplementation on genetic diversity of natural populations. This proposal
seeks to build upon existing partnerships between agency and PERM personnel.
F. Procedure:
Job 1. Review literature and unpublished studies on genetics of Great Lakes and inland fish and
other aquatic wildlife as well as population and community dynamics, regional hatchery
practices, stocking levels and locations and rates of exploitation that relate to levels and
partitioning of genetic variation for species in Michigan waters. Synthesize literature for
use in ongoing genetic assessment activities.
Job 2. Expand the PERM research genetics program into new areas complementary to the
existing funded research programs with an emphasis on native aquatic wildlife species of
conservation and economic concern. Seek additional funding from a variety of partners to
enhance and diversify the research program.
Job 3. Provide service to Michigan DNR Fisheries Division, other partners of the PERM
program including Michigan State University, state, federal, tribal, NGOs, and the
broader scientific community with activities such as program reviews, review of journal
articles and grant proposals, counseling in areas of population ecology and genetics as
related to policy, effects of management practices, broodstock development and
management. Serve on committees, provide editorial services, participate in academic
governance and in activities of professional societies.
Job 4. Provide training and other educational opportunities for staff or students from Michigan
DNR Fisheries Division, other partners of the PERM program including Michigan State
University, and the broader scientific community in a variety of areas related to fisheries
genetics in the form of formal courses, short-courses, workshops, seminars, and training
programs. Such activities should have pre-service, in-service, and public outreach
components.
Job 5. Supervise graduate research assistants, post-doctoral associates and technical staff whose
work is supported by funds obtained from sources other than Michigan Department of
Natural Resources.
Job 6. Prepare annual report and as appropriate communicate program results in the form of
peer-reviewed publications, reports, popular articles, and presentations.
Study 236101 - 3
G. Schedule:
Year
Work planned
2007-08
Job 1.
Job 2.
Job 3.
Job 4.
Job 5.
Job 6.
Review literature.
Expand research program.
Provide service.
Provide training, education and outreach.
Supervise non-MDNR funded assistants.
Prepare annual report and communicate results.
2008-09
Job 1.
Job 2.
Job 3.
Job 4.
Job 5.
Job 6.
Review literature.
Expand research program.
Provide service.
Provide training, education and outreach.
Supervise non-MDNR funded assistants.
Prepare annual report and communicate results.
2009-10
Job 1.
Job 2.
Job 3.
Job 4.
Job 5.
Job 6.
Review literature.
Expand research program.
Provide service.
Provide training, education and outreach.
Supervise non-MDNR funded assistants.
Prepare annual report and communicate results.
2010-11
Job 1.
Job 2.
Job 3.
Job 4.
Job 5.
Job 6.
Review literature.
Expand research program.
Provide service.
Provide training, education and outreach.
Supervise non-MDNR funded assistants.
Prepare annual report and communicate results.
2011-12
Job 1.
Job 2.
Job 3.
Job 4.
Job 5.
Job 6.
Review literature.
Expand research program.
Provide service.
Provide training, education and outreach.
Supervise non-MDNR funded assistants.
Prepare annual report and communicate results.
H. Geographic Location: Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, East
Lansing, MI
I. Personnel: Principal Investigator: Kim T. Scribner, Associate Professor, Dept. of Fisheries and
Wildlife, MSU/PERM.