An ecological resilience index to improve conservation action for stream fish habitat

Stream fishes are increasingly threatened by consequences of climate change that will alter stream habitats. Conservation ecosystems be more effective if management actions retain or restore essential structures and functions promote ecosystem resilience to disturbance. This study developed a method for assessing the fish habitat in Michigan, USA. Three sub-indices comprising different components were derived using information on natural landscape features, human impacts heterogeneity. These combined into single overall index broadly characterize resilience. Mapping show based features varies across whereas reduced decreases from north south, corresponding patterns population density land use. Higher occurs Upper Northern Lower Peninsulas Michigan which have fewer impacts, although some resilient streams also occur Southern Peninsula, suggesting there opportunities every part state protecting streams. Resilience scores with modelled distributions species conservation importance locations where specific action would most improving this species. The assessment provides new supporting strategies relation expected changes caused change. It offers an approach can applied other regions.