Authors: JessicaMassure and Jacquelyn Bacigalupi; MN DNR, Brainerd, MN USA Key words: Monitoring, Assessment, High Quality Waters, Remote, Index of Biological Integrity Abstract: Fish communities in Minnesota’s lakes have been impacted by various anthropogenic stressors, and to varying degrees. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR) created a lake fish index of biological integrity (FIBI) tool that has been used to identify impaired or vulnerable fish communities in lakes across the state. However, the FIBI was not suitable for Canadian Shield lakes as they are situated in a landscape with a limited stressor gradient. In addition, they typically have soft water, low species diversity and a unique geologic history. Further, they often have limited fish survey data due to difficult access and sampling conditions. However, there is a need to describe the fish community to monitor change from climate change, logging, mining, shoreline development, connectivity limitations, predator stocking, non-native fish species impacts (e.g. Smallmouth Bass), aquatic invasive species (e.g. Spiny Waterflea, Zebra Mussels), or other stressors. The goals of this study are to summarize existing fish species survey information and community and niche information on lakes, classify lakes into comparable groupings based on lake characteristics, identify data gaps, determine best sampling methods to fill data gaps, determine stressor gradients in the region, and ultimately create a lake fish biogeographical model for the region. The monitoring data and models developed will be used to protect these high-quality resources and identify restoration needs. We will be presenting the initial investigation of available fish community data and lake classifications.
