Assessing the effect of fish size on species distribution model performance in southern Chilean rivers

Zamorano, Daniel; Labra, Fabio A.; Villarroel, Marcelo; Lacy, Shaw Nozaki; Mao, Luca; Olivares, Marcelo A.; Peredo-Parada, Matías

doi:10.7717/peerj.7771

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 45 publications

(73 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In the Silala River, it is most likely that the rainbow trout arrived in the Chilean reach from upstream reaches, where several attempts to install aquaculture sites were made in the past (e.g., DIREMAR, 2013). However, it is interesting to note in Figure 11 that the length‐to‐weight ratio of the rainbow trout in the Silala is remarkably similar to the length‐to‐weight ratio of rainbow trout derived using several datasets from central Chile (e.g., Mao et al, 2017; Zamorano et al, 2019) and several Environmental Assessment Impact reports (gathered from http://sea.gob.cl; Lacy et al, 2017). Indeed, the regression curves obtained with fish captured in the Silla River are very similar to those obtained using data from Central Chile and data from Chilean Environmental Assessment Impact reports (Figure 11).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 63%

The geomorphological and ecological functioning of the Silala River

Mao

2023

WIREs Water

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Perennial rivers in desert regions are relevant environments that tend to concentrate most ecosystem services and values, but are not as studied as much as intermittent and ephemeral rivers. This article reports on the main morphological and ecological features of the Silala River, a narrow permanent river in the arid region of Antofagasta, in the north of Chile. The study was motivated by the dispute between Chile and Bolivia concerning the status of the Silala as an international watercourse. Field surveys of sediment transport using traps and marked sediments (colored and tagged clasts) revealed that finer sediments are moved in higher percentages and for longer distances than coarser sediment fractions, which corroborates the size‐selective nature of sediment dynamics in the river. The stream features the typical step/pool‐plane bed morphology that is to be expected in an alluvial river with the given boundary conditions of slope, grain size of sediments, and lateral confinement. Furthermore, the Morphological Quality Index (MQI) classifies the river as featuring overall good morphological conditions and the river hosts an abundant population of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Although this is a non‐native species, their presence shows that the general conditions of the river (availability of food and presence of aquatic habitats) are able to sustain a population of resident fish. Overall, the morphological forms, geomorphic processes, and ecological features of the Silala River are typical of an alluvial stream with a permanent flow regime.This article is categorized under: Science of Water > Water and Environmental Change Human Water > Rights to Water Science of Water > Hydrological Processes Water and Life > Nature of Freshwater Ecosystems

show abstract

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 63%

The geomorphological and ecological functioning of the Silala River

Mao

2023

WIREs Water

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Although SDMs have had many successful applications in ecology, evolutionary biology and conservation biology, their accuracy and transferability vary depending on species characteristics (Randin et al 2006, Guisan et al 2007, Poyry et al 2008, Hanspach et al 2010, Yates et al 2018, McCune et al 2020, Tessarolo et al 2021). Several ecological traits are known to affect SDM results, including body size (França and Cabral 2016, Zamorano et al 2019), life span (Hanspach et al 2010, McCune et al 2020), growth rate and successional status (Guisan et al 2007), habitat specialization (Guisan and Hofer 2003, Marshall et al 2015, Regos et al 2019) or dispersal ability (McCune et al 2020). Whether such traits positively or negatively impact model accuracy remains, however, an area of debate.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological and biological indicators of the accuracy of species distribution models: lessons from European bryophytes

et al. 2023

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The predictive power of species distribution models (SDMs) varies substantially among species depending on their ecological and life‐history traits, but which of these traits are the most relevant and how they influence species ‘predictability' remains an area of debate. Here, we address these questions in bryophytes. SDMs employing macroclimatic, topographic and edaphic predictors were calibrated for 411 species in Europe and externally evaluated using an independent dataset. Regression models were implemented to determine whether species characteristics, including life‐history traits, ecological preference and niche breadth, determine the accuracy of SDMs. Variation in SDM accuracy among species was significantly explained by species characteristics, supporting the hypothesis that the strength of species–environment correlations is affected by characteristics of the species themselves. The percent variance of SDM accuracy explained by species traits, however, substantially varied between 9 and 57% depending on the evaluation metrics used. The lower correlation observed between species traits and MaxKappa and the Boyce index than with area under the curve (AUC) and MaxTSS suggests that the former are less suitable than the latter for determining species ‘predictability' based on their traits. SDM accuracy decreased from species restricted to pristine habitats to species thriving in eutrophic habitats with high levels of human disturbance. The widespread distribution of man‐made habitats in fact opens the door for the spread of now ubiquitous species, even in environments that would primarily not be suitable for them. Such species, likely to occur anywhere, reach very high to full occupancy rates, thereby decreasing the accuracy of models aiming at predicting their distributions. The fact that AUC and MaxTSS were higher for species from pristine habitats is important in a conservation context, as ubiquitous species from eutrophic, disturbed environments are precisely the ones of lower conservation relevance.

show abstract

“…Species distribution modelling is often difficult for small fish because landscape variables may not be adequately mapped or available at scales that relate to use by fish with small home ranges (Zamorano et al, 2019). This will be true for Olympic mudminnow, because the habitat suitability model demonstrated moderate AUC and TSS values, indicating only a 'fair' predictive capability.…”

Section: Iucn Criteria and Status Assessmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

A stakeholder‐supported conservation assessment for a data‐limited species: Olympic mudminnow (Novumbra hubbsi)

Kuehne

Hayes

Tyson

et al. 2021

Aquatic Conservation

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

1. Olympic mudminnow (Novumbra hubbsi) is the only endemic freshwater fish species in Washington State and is limited to south-western and northern coastal wetlands there. Population decline has led to its listing as state 'Sensitive', while recent genetic analysis has identified north coast populations as a sub-group of potential concern because of historical isolation and low level of occurrence.Substantial knowledge gaps about the species have made further assessment of conservation status difficult and hampered proactive conservation measures.2. This article describes a three-tiered approach to evaluate conservation status, comprising: (i) a set of high-priority research questions identified by experts and stakeholders to advance conservation knowledge; (ii) a habitat suitability model to identify environmental factors related to the presence and absence of the species; and (iii) synthesis of information from that suitability model and other research to evaluate status using IUCN Red List criteria. Together these components provide an initial research agenda to guide future management and monitoring.3. Evidence for an elevated conservation status of Olympic mudminnow across its entire range is mixed, with knowledge about changes in distribution and population over time lacking in many places. The case for enhanced conservation status is strongest for the genetically distinct populations along the northern coast, where suitable habitat is limited and populations highly disjointed.4. Development of a monitoring network that would detect changes in distribution and abundance of key populations is a central requirement for the conservation of the species, which is threatened by the effects of climate, land use change and invasive species.5. Involving stakeholders in conservation planning at early stages allows development of robust, practical research questions based on shared data and diverse expertise. This is particularly valuable where species knowledge is highly constrained. These elements produce confidence in implementing research and management actions that are more likely to gain wide acceptance and increase knowledge of conservation status and needs over time.

show abstract

Assessing the effect of fish size on species distribution model performance in southern Chilean rivers

Cited by 4 publications

References 45 publications

The geomorphological and ecological functioning of the Silala River

The geomorphological and ecological functioning of the Silala River

Ecological and biological indicators of the accuracy of species distribution models: lessons from European bryophytes

A stakeholder‐supported conservation assessment for a data‐limited species: Olympic mudminnow (Novumbra hubbsi)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About