Terms of Reference

Habitat Use of Copper Redhorse and Quantifying Habitat Quality - Part 2

Regional Peer Review Meeting - Quebec Region

March 18, 2010

Hôtel Gouverneur, Île Charron
Montreal, Quebec

Co-chairs: Charley Cyr and Hugues Bouchard

Context

Since December 2007, the copper redhorse has been added to the SARA list of endangered species. Under the Species At Risk Act (SARA), Critical Habitat must be identified to the extent possible based on the best information available in the Recovery Strategy for all threatened, endangered or extirpated species. If this Critical Habitat is unknown, the recovery strategy must include a schedule of studies that, when completed, would allow the species’ Critical Habitat to be identified. Once identified as Critical Habitat in a Recovery Strategy or Action Plan, provisions of SARA and/or other federal legislations prevent activities that would destroy the species’ Critical Habitat.

The recovery potential assessment produced in 2006 provided a review of important information, although somewhat incomplete, on the copper redhorse habitat. During a workshop held in March 2009, with the participation of the Ministère des Ressources Naturelles et de la Faune du Québec (MRNF), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) reviewed the information to better define the habitat use of copper redhorse. During this workshop, additional information requirements were raised. Various actions were thus identified to obtain and/or identify certain data.

During the current workshop, the work carried out on the copper redhorse habitat will be completed with new data obtained, which will help finalize the science advice. If certain parts of the critical habitat remain unknown, recommendations on studies for the full identification of critical habitat as well as the schedule for the realization of these will be proposed.

Objective of the Meeting

The intent of the current meeting is to assess and integrate the new data obtained following the 2009 workshop in order to complete the science advice on the copper redhorse habitat. The list of required information was taken from this workshop's proceedings (DFO, CSAS, 2009/30):

1. Identify the spawning habitat characteristics at the telemetric location sites of 2004, 2007 and 2008.
2. Assess available spawning areas in Chambly and St. Ours to see if there is sufficient area of habitat to support 2,000 females. Determine whether there exists in the literature a minimum area required for a female to spawn.
3. Analyse the databank on copper redhorse recruitment to identify habitat characteristics for O+ and 1+.
4. Quantify the grass bed areas available for adult copper redhorse in the St. Lawrence and in other tributaries used.
5. Review the modelling aspect approach, in particular the method used for integrating results from the field models to the modelling approach. Model summer prey and fall and spring vegetation.
6. If portions of the critical habitat remain unknown, recommendations on studies necessary in order to fully identify critical habitat as well a schedule for their completion will be proposed.

Products

CSAS Science Advisory Report
CSAS Proceedings

Participants

Experts from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans
Experts from Environment Canada
Experts from the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et de la Faune du Québec