Decision support for aquatic restoration based on species‐specific responses to disturbance

McKenna, James E.; Riseng, Catherine M.; Wehrly, Kevin E.

doi:10.1002/ece3.9313

Cited by 2 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…Overlay of those data on the study area provided an association of disturbance conditions with observed fish assemblages. However, cause and effect were not established here, and different species respond in different ways to environmental disturbances; some may thrive at high disturbance, while others are intolerant of even little disturbance (McKenna et al 2022). Mooneye, especially the population trapped between dams in the Oswegatchie River, may be most sensitive.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Several of our T&E species occupy habitat in those areas, and although these species are considered intolerant of disturbance (Halliwell et al 1999), their highest abundances were associated with moderate disturbance values. Responses of fish abundances to disturbance vary widely by species, with some being intolerant of very low disturbance levels, but many thriving at higher levels (McKenna et al 2022). The association of Lake Sturgeon and Eastern Sand Darter with a wide range of disturbance conditions may reflect those preferences or could indicate that a critical disturbance factor is missing from the index for these species.…”

Section: Potential Threats To Threatened and Endangered Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluation of Threatened, Endangered, and Rare Fish Species and Communities of the St. Lawrence River and Its Tributaries in the United States

McKenna

David²

2023

Northeastern Naturalist

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Biodiversity is responsible for important ecological processes like productivity and ecosystem stability, and rare species are a major component of biodiversity. Rarity increases a species' vulnerability to disturbances and also makes them difficult to study. Globally, species of freshwater systems are some of the most threatened, and evaluation of rare freshwater species and their habitats is needed to help preserve natural flexibility and ecological function. We conducted an analysis of full fish communities of the upper St. Lawrence River and its major US tributaries, with the goals of determining species locations and abundances, associated environmental conditions, the distribution of distinct fish assemblages across the landscape (with emphasis on communities supporting rare species), and potential threats. From 2009 to 2015, the US Geological Survey (USGS) and Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) worked together using standardized methods to collect community samples within 4 different aquatic realms (shallow and deep lentic, and small and large lotic systems) and determine species-specific fish abundances, frequencies of occurrence, and associated habitat signatures and spatial distributions. Distinct fish assemblages and associated habitat conditions were objectively identified by multivariate and hypothesis-testing methods. We used a geographic information system (GIS) to spatially associate habitat, biotic, and landscape attributes within each stream reach throughout the study area, facilitating quantification of distribution patterns. Comparisons with historical data provided estimates of loss or gain of threatened and endangered species (T&E) colonies. We developed a disturbance index to highlight potential threats to aquatic species. More than 140,000 fishes of 87 species were collected from a total of 1140 sample sites, covering 278 stream reaches, including the endangered Notropis anogenus (Pugnose Shiner), and threatened Hiodon tergisus (Mooneye), Etheostoma pellucidum (Eastern Sand Darter), and Acipenser fulvescens (Lake Sturgeon). We identified 50 distinct fish assemblages differing in species composition, abundance, and/or diversity, but only 13 of those assemblages included a T&E species. The rareness, extent, and patchiness of fish assemblages created a mosaic of fish communities across the landscape, from headwaters to the mainstem of the St. Lawrence River. Comparisons with historic surveys showed a stable number of T&E species colonies or an increase for some species. The geographic distribution of multimetric disturbance index values showed where combinations of disturbances to fish habitats might affect rare fish species and aquatic communities in the region. The species-habitat associations and fish assemblage distributions can be used for evaluation of species, communities, or habitats that may need protection or restoration.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Section: Potential Threats To Threatened and Endangered Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Threatened, Endangered, and Rare Fish Species and Communities of the St. Lawrence River and Its Tributaries in the United States

McKenna

David²

2023

Northeastern Naturalist

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“…2015; McKenna et al. 2022). Habitat conditions are likely key to recovery, and both the natural ability of some habitats to support Silver Chub and the extent of anthropogenic disturbance differ throughout this species' range (Kinney 1954; Dunn et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A more recent study identified multimetric disturbance gradients to which Great Lakes fish abundances respond (McKenna et al. 2022). That work filtered out the effects of natural environmental conditions to develop species‐specific models of fish abundance in response to anthropogenic disturbances throughout the Great Lakes, including models for Silver Chub.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Conservation decision support for Silver Chub habitat in Lake Erie

McKenna

2023

N American J Fish Manag

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ObjectiveConservation and restoration of aquatic species is difficult, especially for rare species, because their habitats are typically disturbed, obscuring the natural ability of the habitat to support each species. The Lake Erie population of Silver Chub Macrhybopsis storeriana struggles to sustain itself in a habitat disturbed by a wide spectrum of anthropogenic factors. Application of multiple model predictions can provide indications of conservation or restoration opportunities for this species.MethodsA combination of models that predict the best potential for Lake Erie habitat to support Silver Chub and the effects of anthropogenic disturbances on that population were used to identify habitat conditions throughout the western aquatic lake unit.ResultAs many as 76 combinations of best habitat potential and disturbance conditions were present, but the best opportunities occurred in <12% of the study area. Some of the best protection opportunities were farthest offshore, and extensive areas of least disturbed habitat for restoration were near the southern and western shores. The location‐specific model predictions provide fine‐scale decision support for Silver Chub habitat protection or restoration.ConclusionThe approach applied here may help identify compatibilities among species to achieve the desirable fish community for Lake Erie and reconcile conflicting management actions.

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Decision support for aquatic restoration based on species‐specific responses to disturbance

Cited by 2 publications

References 63 publications

Evaluation of Threatened, Endangered, and Rare Fish Species and Communities of the St. Lawrence River and Its Tributaries in the United States

Evaluation of Threatened, Endangered, and Rare Fish Species and Communities of the St. Lawrence River and Its Tributaries in the United States

Conservation decision support for Silver Chub habitat in Lake Erie

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