Research, Citizen Involvement, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Jack Sullivan Science Services Wisconsin 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 DNR What 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 1960s Wastewater, Waste Management, and Monitoring Techniques 1970s

Research at Wisconsin DNR Forestry and Wildlife Research 1930s Fisheries Research 1950s Water Resources and Outdoor Rec. Research 1960s Wastewater, 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 1960s Wastewater, 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 : $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 Research Wisconsin Checklist Project Volunteer monitoring program. Initiated in 1982 at University of Wisconsin; administered by Wisconsin DNR since Provides information on annual, seasonal, and geographic variation in abundance for 296 species of Wisconsin birds. During , cooperators submitted 88,367 weekly checklists of birds they saw or heard.

Wildlife and Forestry Research Mammal Surveys Partnership with: Wisconsin Trappers Association Wisconsin Bow Hunters Association Initiated in 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 Research Oak 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 Research Prairie 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 Research Chronic Wasting Disease Research

Wisconsin Common Loon Population Viability Assessment Photo credit: Woody Hagge R Wildlife 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 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

Long-term Walleye Trends and the Effects of Harvest Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research

Devil’s Lake Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research

Lake Wingra Carp Exclosure Experiment Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research

Sediment Core Analyses Fisheries & Aquatic Habitat Research

Thank you!