Conservation at the nexus of niches: Multidimensional niche modeling to improve management of Prairie Chub

Abstract

ObjectiveA central challenge in applied ecology is understanding how organisms are spatially and temporally distributed and how management might be tailored to maintain or restore species distributions. The niche concept is central to understanding species distributions, but the diversity of niche definitions requires that multiple dimensions be considered. For example, the Grinnellian niche concept focuses on environmental conditions that allow species to persist, the Eltonian niche concept stresses the influence of biotic interactions, and the fundamental niche concept considers both abiotic and biotic environmental features to define spaces that organisms could occupy.MethodsWe combined abiotic (A), biotic (B), and movement (M) information (collectively, BAM model) to map the multidimensional niche of Prairie Chub Macrhybopsis australis, a regionally endemic freshwater fish currently under review for listing under the Endangered Species Act. We estimated A using remotely sensed environmental riverscape variables, B using the spatial distribution of a hybridization zone between Prairie Chub and Shoal Chub M. hyostoma, and M using data from a mark–recapture study.ResultThe BAM model estimated the spatial extent of multiple niches, including the Grinnellian (A; extent = 944 km of river), Eltonian (B; 2974 km), and fundamental niche (overlap of A + B; 645 km) niches. When A, B, and M components were combined, the estimated extent of the Prairie Chub niche was 645 km.ConclusionOur work shows that the realized, multidimensional niche of Prairie Chub includes medium to large rivers with high habitat connectivity in the upper–middle Red River basin upstream of the distribution of Shoal Chub. The current Prairie Chub distribution could be maintained by preventing further habitat fragmentation and maintaining the environmental gradient separating Prairie Chub from Shoal Chub. Expansion of the species distribution may be possible through restoration of longitudinal fluvial connectivity.

Avoiding a macabre future for Macrhybopsis—A special section on improving management and conservation of chubs

“…Wildhaber and Alberts (2023, this special section) expand basic ecological knowledge by linking trophic ecology and habitat selection for Sicklefin and Shoal chubs in the Missouri River. Steffensmeier et al (2023, this special section) develop a method for incorporating movement ecology into models describing the distribution of Prairie Chub in the Red River of the South. Perkin et al (2023b, this special section) study longitudinal variation in size distributions of Silver Chub in the Arkansas and Ohio River basins and provide implications for management of longitudinal connectivity.…”