Quinton E. Phelps

Are We Preparing the Next Generation of Fisheries Professionals to Succeed in their Careers?: A Survey of AFS Members

Natural resource professionals have frequently criticized universities for poorly preparing graduates to succeed in their jobs. We surveyed members of the American Fisheries Society to determine which job skills and knowledge of academic topics employers, students, and university faculty members deemed most important to early-career success of fisheries professionals. Respondents also rated proficiency of recently hired, entry-level professionals (employers) on how well their programs prepared them for career success (students and faculty) in those same job skills and academic topics. Critical thinking and written and oral communication skills topped the list of important skills and academic topics. Employers perceived recent entry-level hires to be less well-prepared to succeed in their careers than either university faculty or students. Entry-level hires with post-graduate degrees rated higher in proficiency for highly important skills and knowledge than those with bachelors degrees. We conclude that a...

Mississippi River Basin Paddlefish Population Dynamics: Implications for the Management of a Highly Migratory Species

Management of migratory fishes is a difficult task for fishery managers because fish cross jurisdictional boundaries and encounter differing regulations. States within the Mississippi River basin have differing commercial and recreational regulations for riverine Paddlefish Polyodon spathula populations, and the current population dynamics have not been evaluated on a system-wide basis. The objective of this study was to simulate the current reproductive potential of the population using various harvest scenarios. At the current exploitation rate of all locations pooled (u = 14.8%), the population may experience recruitment overfishing at a 610 mm minimum length limit and has the potential to experience recruitment overfishing at a 710 mm length limit (u = ∼20%). Any added stressors (e.g., Asian carp) may cause further mortality; thus, adopting a precautionary approach is necessary to maintain sustainable Paddlefish fisheries. At an 810 mm length limit, the population would not realistically experience re...

Measurement error in shovelnose sturgeon: evidence from field observation and controlled experiment data

Length measurements of fishes are commonly used by fishery scientists because of their ease of collection and the profound insight into fish populations that they provide. Specifically, obtaining accurate fish lengths is imperative for obtaining accurate population demographics. Thus, reproducibility and consistency of measuring an individual fish over time can greatly influence population level metrics and ultimately management decisions. To investigate this, we recorded fork lengths of 526 shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus captured, measured, and marked in the field and recaptured within six years. Secondarily, we evaluated 37 shovelnose sturgeon measured in a controlled laboratory setting. We found that in both our field and laboratory evaluation that experienced biologists (between 5 and 20 years experience as fishery biologists) inaccurately measured (greater than 15 mm reduction in length) shovelnose sturgeon in approximately 5% of all cases. Of the approximately 5% erroneous measurements, substantial negative growth (greater than 100 mm reduction in length) occurred in some situations. This suggests that errors in recorded fish lengths exist and because of this, we believe multiple steps should be taken to minimize measurement error. Individual fishery biologists performing measurements should strive to ensure every fish is measured properly (i.e., fish laid completely flat on measuring board) and is recorded accurately. To this end, fishery biologists must accept that measurement error occurs and perform periodic quality assurance/quality control measures to account for these inaccuracies.

An investigation of fish community and water quality compositions in an isolated side channel of the upper Mississippi River

Varying degrees of connectivity between side channels and the main river channel are vital for sustainable ecological processes and functions for both aquatic and terrestrial communities. Within the Mississippi River, restoring side channel functional diversity is a top priority for many natural resource agencies. Buffalo Chute, located at river kilometer 41, is one of the several side channels, island complexes that becomes isolated from the main channel during low river stages leading to thermal and chemical stratifications and anoxic conditions. The purpose of this study was to better understand the impacts of side-channel isolation in the middle Mississippi River (MMR) by measuring fish community and water quality characteristics within an isolated waterbody. Therefore, we selected Buffalo Chute a representative side channel of the MMR to document water quality and fish community characteristics. Water quality measurements were summarized for the 2-year study. Thermal and chemical stratifications coupled with high water temperatures and anoxic conditions were observed in both years during summer. Oxygen reduction potential was lower in summer than winter, which could be attributed to excessive growth of microorganisms and increased biological oxygen demand. Specific conductivity, total phosphorus, total nitrogen, and chlorophyll a were higher in summer compared to winter. Differences in water quality characteristics may have resulted in lower mean fish species richness, diversity, and evenness observed during the following winter. We surveyed 45 sites over 2 years using multiple gears to assess fish assemblage characteristics. The data collected in Buffalo Chute provide some insight into how isolated side channels function during low flow periods.

Aiming to Support Young Professionals

To cite this article: Hilary Meyerfor the YPC Young Professional Committee Members:, Quinton Phelps (Chair), Jesse Fischer (Education Section), Mark Fincel, Marty Hamel, Rebecca Krogman (Education Section), Tom Lang, Travis Neebling, Landon Pierce (Student Subsection of the Education Section) & Tyler Stubbs (2015) Aiming to Support Young Professionals, Fisheries, 40:3, 108-108, DOI: 10.1080/03632415.2015.1008695