Distribution, abundance, and diversity of stream fishes under variable environmental conditions

Abstract

The effects of stream size and flow regime on spatial and temporal variability of stream fish distribution, abundance, and diversity patterns were investigated. Assemblage variability and species richness were each significantly associated with a complex environmental gradient contrasting smaller, hydrologically variable stream localities with larger localities characterized by more stable flow regimes. Assemblages showing the least variability were the most species-rich and occurred in relatively large, stable environments. Theory suggests that species richness can be an important determinant of assemblage variability. Although this appears to be true in our system, we suggest that spatial and temporal heterogeneity in the environment largely determines both assemblage richness and variability, providing a more parsimonious explanation for the diversity–variability correlation. Changes in species richness of local assemblages across time were coordinated across the landscape, and assemblages formed spatially and temporally nested subset patterns. These results suggest an important link between local community dynamics and community-wide occurrence. At the species level, mean local persistence was significantly associated with regional occurrence. Thus, the more widespread a species was, the greater its local persistence. Our results illustrate how the integrity of local stream fish assemblages is dependent on local environmental conditions, regional patterns of species distribution, and landscape continuity.

Habitat associations of a semi-arid fish community in a karst spring-fed stream

“…Species labels follow the first three letters of genus and species. Despite previous suggestion for lack of species segregation in the Devils River (Harrell, 1978), Devils River fishes demonstrated patterns in habitat use and distribution that are typical of stream fish assemblages (Taylor et al, 2006). Among environmental factors, current velocity, depth, and vegetation explained the largest percent of the variation in fish occurrence and distribution.…”

Response by fish assemblages to an environmental flow release in a temperate coastal Australian river: A paired catchment analysis

“…Variability within and between fish assemblages has been associated with gradients of flow variability in many rivers throughout the world (Gehrke et al, 1995;Gehrke et al, 1999;Cattanéo, 2005;Taylor et al, 2006). Maintenance of natural flow characteristics is critical to conserve the natural variability of the aquatic ecosystems to maintain important ecological processes (Bunn and Arthington, 2002).…”

Effects of Habitat Disturbance on Fish Community Structure in a Gravel-Bed Stream, Korea

“…하천 생태계에서 어류의 종다양성과 군집구조는 물리화학적 서식지 환경에 영향을 받기 때문에 (Poff et al, 1997;Taylor et al, 2006), 어류와 환경 사이 의 관계를 규명하는 것이 하천 생태계의 보전과 관리 에 필수적이다 (Wilhaber et al, 2000). 어류 군집구 조에 영향을 미치는 물리 환경 요인으로서 유속, 수 심, 하상 재질, 식생 등이 중요하다 (Gorman and Karr, 1978;Angermeier and Karr, 1983;Poff and Allan, 1995;Rowe et al, 2009), 이러한 물리적 서식지 환 경은 고도와 하상 경사와 밀접한 관계를 가진다 (Maret et al, 1997).…”

“…이들 환경 요인은 개별적 또는 복합적으로 어류 군집 구조에 영향을 미친다 (Jackson et al, 2001;Taylor et al, 2006). (Karr, 1981;Davis, 1995).…”

“…그러므로 하천이 상류 로 갈수록 하폭이 좁아지고 하천 경사가 높아지면서 종풍부도와 다양도가 감소하는 경향을 가진다 (Jackson et. al., 2001;Taylor et al, 2006;Murray and Innes, 2009 …”