R. Kirk Steinhorst

Using Small Groups to Promote Active Learning in the Introductory Statistics Course: A Report from the Field

Over several semesters, we changed from the traditional lecture approach to cooperative learning. After some initial difficulty, we found procedures that work in classes of 40 to 100 students. Data...

Two alternative juvenile life history types for fall Chinook salmon in the Snake River basin

Abstract Fall Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in the Snake River basin were listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1992. At the time of listing, it was assumed that fall Chinook salmon juveniles in the Snake River basin adhered strictly to an ocean-type life history characterized by saltwater entry at age 0 and first-year wintering in the ocean. Research showed, however, that some fall Chinook salmon juveniles in the Snake River basin spent their first winter in a reservoir and resumed seaward movement the following spring at age 1 (hereafter, reservoir-type juveniles). We collected wild and hatchery ocean-type fall Chinook salmon juveniles in 1997 and wild and hatchery reservoir-type juveniles in 1998 to assess the condition of the reservoir-type juveniles at the onset of seaward movement. The ocean-type juveniles averaged 112–139 mm fork length, and the reservoir-type juveniles averaged 222–224 mm fork length. The large size of the reservoir-type juveniles suggested a high potential for surv...

Migrational Behavior and Seaward Movement of Wild Subyearling Fall Chinook Salmon in the Snake River

Abstract Flow augmentation increases flow and decreases temperature in reservoirs in the lower Snake River during the seaward migration of wild subyearling fall chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha. A study of the migrational behavior and seaward movement of wild subyearling fall chinook salmon in the Snake River was necessary to help understand the efficacy of flow augmentation. We studied fall chinook salmon in the Snake River during 1992–2001. After analyzing mark–recapture data, we deduced that fall chinook salmon passed through at least four migrational phases, including (1) discontinuous downstream dispersal along the shorelines of the free-flowing river, (2) abrupt and mostly continuous downstream dispersal offshore in the free-flowing river, (3) passive, discontinuous downstream dispersal offshore in the first reservoir encountered en route to the sea, and (4) active and mostly continuous seaward migration. We used ordinary-least-squares multiple regression to test the effects of flow (m3/s), t...

Telephone Interview and Mail Questionnaire Applications of the Randomized Response Model

Abstract Randomization devices and methodologies for self-administered mail questionnaire and telephone interview applications of the randomized response method are described. The results of field tests of both techniques indicate that if the serious problems of nonresponse and failure to follow instructions can be overcome, the techniques may serve as less expensive alternatives to personal interview randomized response studies. A multivariate version of Warners linear model is also described.

Developing Material for Introductory Statistics Courses from a Conceptual, Active Learning Viewpoint

For traditionally trained statistics teachers, developing active learning material is difficult. We present representative active learning materials that we have used over the last several years. W...

Water Velocity, Turbulence, and Migration Rate of Subyearling Fall Chinook Salmon in the Free-Flowing and Impounded Snake River

Abstract We studied the migratory behavior of subyearling fall Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in free-flowing and impounded reaches of the Snake River to evaluate the hypothesis that velocity and turbulence are the primary causal mechanisms of downstream migration. The hypothesis states that impoundment reduces velocity and turbulence and alters the migratory behavior of juvenile Chinook salmon as a result of their reduced perception of these cues. At a constant flow (m3/s), both velocity (km/d) and turbulence (the SD of velocity) decreased from riverine to impounded habitat as cross-sectional areas increased. We found evidence for the hypothesis that subyearling Chinook salmon perceive velocity and turbulence cues and respond to these cues by varying their behavior. The percentage of the subyearlings that moved faster than the average current speed decreased as fish made the transition from riverine reaches with high velocities and turbulence to upper reservoir reaches with low velocities and tu...

Movement and Spawner Distribution of Hatchery Fall Chinook Salmon Adults Acclimated and Released as Yearlings at Three Locations in the Snake River Basin

Abstract As part of the supplementation program for fall Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in the Snake River basin, yearlings from Lyons Ferry Hatchery were released at acclimation facilities stationed along the lower Clearwater River and the lower and upper reaches of the Snake River. The distance required for migration out of the release reach was greatest for juveniles released in the lower Clearwater River. The distance required for migration out of the release river was greatest for juveniles released in the upper Snake River. We captured and radio-tagged returning adults at Lower Granite Dam (the last dam encountered prior to entering the release reaches), monitored adult movements, and assessed the performance of acclimation facilities in terms of their ability to distribute adults to their corresponding release reaches. Adults from the lower Clearwater River acclimation group had the lowest frequency of movement, the most restricted spatial movement, and the highest observed rate of spawnin...

Using Bioenergetics Modeling to Estimate Consumption of Native Juvenile Salmonids by Nonnative Northern Pike in the Upper Flathead River System, Montana

Abstract Introductions of nonnative northern pike Esox lucius have created recreational fisheries in many waters in the United States and Canada, yet many studies have shown that introduced northern pike may alter the composition and structure of fish communities through predation. We estimated the abundance of nonnative northern pike (2002–2003) and applied food habits data (1999–2003) to estimate their annual consumption of native bull trout Salvelinus confluentus and westslope cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi juveniles in the upper Flathead River system, Montana. Population estimates were generally consistent among years and ranged from 1,200 to 1,300 individuals. Westslope cutthroat trout were present in the diet of younger (≤600 mm) and older (>600 mm) northern pike during all seasons and bull trout were found only in larger northern pike during all seasons but summer. Bioenergetics modeling estimated that the northern pike population annually consumed a total of 8.0 metric tons (mt) of fi...

Forecasting Survival and Passage of Migratory Juvenile Salmonids

Abstract We developed methods to forecast survival and cumulative percent passage for subyearling chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha at a dam to help managers effectively time the release of reservoir water to mitigate for passage delays and reduced survival. We tagged Snake River subyearling chinook salmon upstream of a dam from 1993 to 1998 and determined when a subsample of the tagged fish passed the dam. We randomly selected data (1993, 1994, 1996, and 1998) to develop a quadratic discriminant function for predicting which fish would survive to the dam and to develop a multiple-regression equation to predict the date survivors would pass the dam. We used the predicted passage dates within a year to calculate a daily cumulative percent passage forecast and then calculated a 90% forecast interval that varied by year, depending on the number of predicted survivors. We validated the forecast method using data for 1995 and 1997. The 1995 forecasted passage curve differed from the observed passage curv...

Statistical analysis of the hydrochemistry of ground waters in Columbia River basalts

Abstract Multivariate cluster analysis, MANOVA, canonical analysis, and discriminant analysis were used to investigate the directions of groundwater movement in the Saddle Mountains, Wanapum, and Grande Ronde Basalt Formations in the vicinity of the Hanford Reservation, Washington, U.S.A. Hydrochemistry data constituted the data base. The statistical analyses indicate that the hydrochemistry of the ground waters in these basalt formations is distinctly different on each side of the Columbia River where the river passes through the Handford Reservation. A continuous groundwater flow system passing beneath the river would be expected to display hydrochemically similar ground waters on both sides of the river. The hydrochemically distinct ground waters on opposite sides of the river suggest that the river is a groundwater divide or that the river is roughly coincident with a hydrogeologic barrier boundary. In addition, the hydrochemistry of ground water in each of the basalt formations is statistically relatively distinct on the Hanford Reservation west of the river. This distinctness of ground water among basalt formation is not evident east of the river. The statistical procedures used in this study constitute a quantitative means for differentiating ground waters according to hydrochemistry.