Mark Jessop worked on several projects assessing salmonid populations for NOAA Fisheries from 2006 to 2008. He assisted on a project using DIDSON technology to monitor endangered salmon and steelhead populations. This involved deploying and testing sonar equipment as well as data analysis. Mr. Jessop also played a key role in a long-term steelhead population study involving tagging over 7,000 fish using PIT tags. Finally, he led field crews documenting the distribution of coho salmon at the southern extent of their range, which included surveys, training staff, and designing a database.
Population structure, fecundity and morphological characteristics of M. vollenhovenii were studied around Lower Volta River, Ghana subject to dirt of information on this prawn species around the study location. The most prominent morphological characteristics already documented for identification of this species was rostrum bearing 13-15 continuous teeth dorsally and 4-5 teeth on its ventral part. These morphological traits formed the principal components for identification in this study. Results showed that morphological traits on second pereiopods such as presence of spines, spinules, teeth borne within the fingers, and dense projections of setae-like features on telson and uropod were observed relevant for identification purposes. Other results revealed that maximum total length recorded in this study (150-155mm) was higher than total length ranges (≤125mm) documented for this species in earlier studies. Consequently, two adult’s classes of prawns were identified (old adult class 81-120mm; and young adults 31-80mm) and older class was observed to be more in catches than the younger prawns. Absolute fecundity revealed that oocytes estimation varied with respect to seasons, ages of prawns and body sizes of specimens examined. In conclusion, this study observed that M. vollenhovenii fishery is operating in a sustainable manner at the time of this study around the study location.
Great Lakes coastal wetlands exist in severely altered watersheds and landscapes that can result in degraded wetland conditions (e.g., monotypic vegetation, invasive species), and management actions required to maintain biologically diverse wetlands can be ecologically limiting (e.g., diked wetlands with minimal hydrologic exchange). We report on three GLRI-funded projects designed to improve coastal wetland ecosystems by restoring hydrologic connectivity, increasing fish passage, and enhancing wetland ecosystem functions and services. Biological monitoring is an integral component of each project and includes traditional and innovative research efforts focused on results with broad application across the Great Lakes basin.
Population structure, fecundity and morphological characteristics of M. vollenhovenii were studied around Lower Volta River, Ghana subject to dirt of information on this prawn species around the study location. The most prominent morphological characteristics already documented for identification of this species was rostrum bearing 13-15 continuous teeth dorsally and 4-5 teeth on its ventral part. These morphological traits formed the principal components for identification in this study. Results showed that morphological traits on second pereiopods such as presence of spines, spinules, teeth borne within the fingers, and dense projections of setae-like features on telson and uropod were observed relevant for identification purposes. Other results revealed that maximum total length recorded in this study (150-155mm) was higher than total length ranges (≤125mm) documented for this species in earlier studies. Consequently, two adult’s classes of prawns were identified (old adult class 81-120mm; and young adults 31-80mm) and older class was observed to be more in catches than the younger prawns. Absolute fecundity revealed that oocytes estimation varied with respect to seasons, ages of prawns and body sizes of specimens examined. In conclusion, this study observed that M. vollenhovenii fishery is operating in a sustainable manner at the time of this study around the study location.
Great Lakes coastal wetlands exist in severely altered watersheds and landscapes that can result in degraded wetland conditions (e.g., monotypic vegetation, invasive species), and management actions required to maintain biologically diverse wetlands can be ecologically limiting (e.g., diked wetlands with minimal hydrologic exchange). We report on three GLRI-funded projects designed to improve coastal wetland ecosystems by restoring hydrologic connectivity, increasing fish passage, and enhancing wetland ecosystem functions and services. Biological monitoring is an integral component of each project and includes traditional and innovative research efforts focused on results with broad application across the Great Lakes basin.
1. Mark Jessop – Full Projects List – NOAA Fisheries (2006 – 2008)
Mark Jessop
Staff Research Associate
Mr. Jessop was a staff research associate for two and a half years at the Southwest Fisheries Science
Center, in Santa Cruz, California. As a member of the salmon population analysis team, Mr. Jessop was
involved with several projects assessing salmonid population trends along the central California coast.
Mr. Jessop was an assistant project manager for a Dual Frequency Identification Sonar (DIDSON) project.
The goal of the project was to assess the feasibility of using DIDSON technology to monitor escapements
of small populations of ESA listed of coho salmon and steelhead. Mr. Jessop was involved sonar
deployments and testing in Scott Creek and Big Creek, California. Responsibilities included protocol
design, budgeting, project implementation, equipment operation and data analysis. Mr. Jessop also
developed a decision support tool for increasing the accuracy of DIDSON escapement counts and was the
co-author of two publications associated with this project.
Another project that Mr. Jessop played a key role in was a long-term study of the population dynamics of
steelhead in an undisturbed coastal watershed. The mark/recapture study involved the tagging and
tracking of over 7000 juvenile steelhead with both mobile and fixed location passive integrated
transponder (PIT) tag readers. Mr. Jessop installed and maintained three fixed (PIT tag) detection arrays,
and designed and constructed the custom mobile backpack mounted PIT tag readers used in the study.
Additional responsibilities included protocol design, project implementation, electrofishing, implanting
tags, equipment operation and data analysis.
Finally, Mr. Jessop lead multiple field crews on a study to document the distribution of coho salmon at
the southern extent of their natural range. Tasks included collaborating with senior scientists on protocol
design and project implementation, gaining permission to access private lands, snorkel surveys, and
providing juvenile salmonid identification training to all NOAA seasonal staff and the Santa Cruz water
department. Mr. Jessop also deigned a database to track survey results and property access permissions.