7. Conclusions
The remarkable insights gained in 60 years of ecohydrological monitoring
and research in the Girnock catchment underline the value of such
interdisciplinary, long-term observatories. Of particular importance
are: (1) The unrivalled value of the detailed process data for both
scientific understanding and underpinning evidence for assessment and
management tools. (2) The ability of such sites to test major management
actions through detailed process understanding, these have included
previous stocking assessments and the potential to assess future
management actions such as enhancing riparian woodlands. However, this
work needs to be undertaken in a carefully controlled manner to ensure
the integrity and interpretability of the long-term data for other
purposes. (3) The need for detailed data and process understanding to
parameterise models; both to integrate knowledge, and underpin
assessment and management. These including adult and juvenile assessment
methods and salmon life cycle models as advocated under the Missing
Salmon Alliance’s “Likely Suspects” framework. (4.) The need for very
detailed monitoring sites where processes are understood so we can more
reliably understand and predict the cumulative effects of future climate
and land use change. Though these requirements and consequent benefits
are widely recognised within the scientific community (e.g. Tetzlaff et
al., 2017), maintenance of funding for such research sites is a constant
and significant challenge. Academic funding agencies often prefer short
term hypothesis-driven research and it is not uncommon for long-term
place-based studies to be erroneously disparaged as “mindless
monitoring” or “case studies” as noted by Burt (1995). Of course, the
published track record of research at the Girnock shows obvious added
value results from being able to contextualise short-term
hypothesis-driven research at data-rich long-term sites. It is therefore
to be hoped that central public funding continues to support the basic
research infrastructure and core monitoring at the Girnock and
elsewhere, as alternative funding sources are rare and Government is
uniquely placed to sustain and curate such long-term data collection.
Indeed, the exceptional knowledge generated from the Girnock emphasises
the value of collaboration between Government and research organisations
which can bring contrasting but complimentary resources and perspectives
with associated benefits for research and innovation. The commitment to
maintaining such research will be crucial in creating process-based
evidence for understanding how freshwater ecosystems evolve in response
to looming climatic and other (e.g. land use) environmental change. This
will help communicate issues to stakeholders and underpin the evolution
of management strategies that might ameliorate adverse impacts and
conserve important ecosystems that sustain iconic species such as
Atlantic salmon.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CS is grateful to The Leverhulme Trust the Fellowship entitled
“Atlantic Salmon as environmental sentinels.” DT thanks IGB for
support. We all thank the many technicians, PhDs, post-docs and senior
scientists who have built the body of knowledge on the Girnock and its
salmon. In particular, we thank Alan Youngson who first invited our
involvement in the work and his generous encouragement and stimulation.