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<br />. <br /> <br />3.3.2 Core-Research Studies <br /> <br />The monitoring/research effort is embodied primarily in the Core-Research <br />Studies. Core-Research is based on a life history approach to monitoring the <br />bi 01 ogi cal response of target sped es to the recommended f1 ows. They are <br />primarily long term studies designed to gather consistent trend data on relative <br />fi sh abundance and popul at ion structure over the 5-year program peri od. Although <br />primarily composed of long term research studies some shorter term studies which <br />provide needed background information are also included. It was the opinion of <br />the research team that collection of long-term trend data is needed to reveal <br />basic biological responses of the Green River ecosystem to recommended flow <br />regimes. <br /> <br />The Core-Research Studies component of the S-Year Flaming Gorge Research <br />Program is a package of closely related research and monitoring activities that <br />will be conducted annually throughout the 5 years of investigation. Studies <br />included in this program component are listed in Table 1. The core-research <br />effort is composed of four elements that will track 1 ife hfstory stages of <br />selected fishes throughout the year to examine spawning and recruitment; directly <br />assessing effects of the yearly and seasonal operation of FGD on annual <br />reproduction and recruitment of fishes in the Green River system. The four <br />elements include: 1) reproduction, 2) survival of age-O fish to fall, 3) <br />overwinter survival of young fish, and 4) links between recruitment of young fish <br />and recruitment to adult stocks. <br /> <br />ISMP provides for collection of adult and YOY fish, but concurrent, long- <br />term information on annual migrations and spawning success is also needed to <br />provide information on relationships between populations of native and nonnative <br />fishes and hydrologic events. Core studies were.designed to supply additional <br />information not available from ISMP. Studies within the core-research effort <br />include collection of long-term data on spring movements and migrations to <br />spawning locations, spawning, larval drift, and age-O and age-l r.ecruitment. <br />Data collected are important fn that they provide a consistent year-to-year index <br />of fish abundance and population structure against which environmental changes, <br />such as altered flows, can be measured. The core-research effort provides a tool <br />by which overan biologica1 responses of native and nonnative fishes to <br />recollll/lended f70ws can be measured. <br /> <br />Elements Core-Research Studies <br /> <br />Rearoduct i on . <br /> <br />Data gathered froal the Reproduction Element will provide information <br />necessary to determine: 1) relationships between relative <br />reproductive success of selected fishes and annual flo~regimes, 2) <br />a relative measure of larval Colorado squawfish input into <br />downstream nursery habitats (e.g., Jensen-Ouray area and Mineral <br />Bottom area), 3) timing of spawning of selected fishes and thus <br />timing of spring flow releases from FGD for enhancement of spawning <br />by desired fishes in the Green River, and 4) impacts of any <br />potentially catastrophic events in the drainage, such as the 1990 <br />oil spill in the Yampa River, on reproductive success of native and <br /> <br />Flaming Gorge Studies <br /> <br />11 <br />