42 research outputs found
Being relevant: Practical guidance for early career researchers interested in solving conservation problems
AbstractIn a human-altered world where biodiversity is in decline and conservation problems abound, there is a dire need to ensure that the next generation of conservation scientists have the knowledge, skills, and training to address these problems. So called “early career researchers” (ECRs) in conservation science have many challenges before them and it is clear that the status quo must change to bridge the knowledge–action divide. Here we identify thirteen practical strategies that ECRs can employ to become more relevant. In this context, “relevance” refers to the ability to contribute to solving conservation problems through engagement with practitioners, policy makers, and stakeholders. Conservation and career strategies outlined in this article include the following: thinking ‘big picture’ during conservation projects; embracing various forms of knowledge; maintaining positive relationships with locals familiar with the conservation issue; accepting failure as a viable (and potentially valuable) outcome; daring to be creative; embracing citizen science; incorporating interdisciplinarity; promoting and practicing pro-environmental behaviours; understanding financial aspects of conservation; forming collaboration from the onset of a project; accepting the limits of technology; ongoing and effective networking; and finally, maintaining a positive outlook by focusing on and sharing conservation success stories. These strategies move beyond the generic and highlight the importance of continuing to have an open mind throughout the entire conservation process, from establishing one’s self as an asset to embracing collaboration and interdisciplinary work, and striving to push for professional and personal connections that strengthen personal career objectives
Technoscience and the modernization of freshwater fisheries assessment and management
Inland fisheries assessment and management are challenging given the inherent com-
plexity of working in diverse habitats (e.g., rivers, lakes, wetlands) that are dynamic
on organisms that are often cryptic and where fishers are often highly mobile. Yet,
technoscience is offering new tools that have the potential to reimagine how inland
fisheries are assessed and managed. So-called ‘‘technoscience’’ refers to instances in
which science and technology unfurl together, offering novel ways of spurring and
achieving meaningful change. This paper considers the role of technoscience and its
potential for modernizing the assessment and management of inland fisheries. It first
explores technoscience and its potential benefits, followed by presentation of a series
of synopses that explore the application (both successes and challenges) of new tech-
nologies such as environmental DNA (eDNA), genomics, electronic tags, drones, phone
apps, iEcology, and artificial intelligence to assessment and management. The paper
also considers the challenges and barriers that exist in adopting new technologies. The
paper concludes with a provocative assessment of the potential of technoscience to
reform and modernize inland fisheries assessment and management. Although these
tools are increasingly being embraced, there is a lack of platforms for aggregating these
data streams and providing managers with actionable information in a timely manner.
The ideas presented here should serve as a catalyst for beginning to work collectively
and collaboratively towards fisheries assessment and management systems that harness
the power of technology and serve to modernize inland fisheries management. Such
transformation is urgently needed given the dynamic nature of environmental change,
the evolving threat matrix facing inland waters, and the complex behavior of fishers.
Quite simply, a dynamic world demands dynamic fisheries management; technoscience
has made that within reach.publishedVersio
Factors influencing postrelease predation for a catch-and-release tropical flats fishery with a high predator burden
Postrelease predation (PRP) of fishes released by anglers is a potentially significant contributo