Project #UR132
Project Number: UR132
Project Title: Investigating the Performance of Pheromone-Baited Trapping Techniques Using a Management Strategy Evaluation Hodel
Faculty Sponsor: Heather Dawson
Department: Biology
Telephone:
E-Mail: hdawson@umflint.edu
Proposed Starting Date: 06/27/12
Proposed Ending Date: 08/31/12
Student in mind: Yes
Number of hours to work per week: 11-15 hours
Project Description: A management strategy evaluation (MSE) model has been developed to compare alternative management strategies for sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) control in the Great Lakes. THis is a realistic decision model which has been used previously to effectively evaluate how to allocate budgetary resources between certain management actions. We propose to modify the MSE model to develop a tool to assess the utility of integrating pheromone-based trapping-for-control tactics within the current Integrated Management of Sea Lamprey strategy. A male pheromone compound was identified and shown to lure up to 60% of females into traps in controlled field environments. This research led to management-scale tests of the male pheromone as bait in trapping systems operated by sea lamprey control agents. We propose to define a set of implementable pheromone-enhanced trapping strategies for model-based evaluation, assess the expected costs and benefits of deploying those strategies, and determine the conditions necessary for a cost-effective pheromone-enhanced trapping strategy. A student will be responsible for conducting model simulations to achieve the research objectives.
Student Tasks & Responsibilities: Learning the model Performing model simulations Saving model output Data entry and analysis
Minimum Student Qualifications: The student should have an interest in fisheries or wildlife research, and interest in math/modeling/programming, attention to detail, and skill in Microsoft Office software including Access.