Distributions of Small Nongame Fishes in the Lower Yellowstone River

Duncan, Michael B.; Bramblett, Robert G.; Zale, Alexander V.

doi:10.1674/amid-175-01-01-23.1

Cited by 9 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…Runoff sampling was conducted in 2010–2012 and base flow sampling was conducted in 2009–2011; equal numbers of reference and stabilised river bends were sampled each year. All sampling was conducted with fyke nets, which efficiently target small‐bodied fish in shoreline habitats in the lower Yellowstone River (Duncan et al ., , ). Each river bend was sampled three times with fyke nets: once during early runoff, once during late runoff and once during base flow (Fig.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…High habitat quality underpins a diverse and robust small‐bodied nongame fish assemblage in the study area (Duncan, Bramblett & Zale, ). The vast majority of small‐bodied fish are native (99% of catch, Duncan et al ., ). Moreover, several native cyprinid species remain abundant throughout the lower Yellowstone River while experiencing declines in both distribution and abundance in other large rivers (Duncan, Bramblett & Zale, ).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparative use of side and main channels by small‐bodied fish in a large, unimpounded river

et al. 2016

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Summary Ecological theory and field studies suggest that lateral floodplain connectivity and habitat heterogeneity provided by side channels impart favourable habitat conditions for lotic fishes, especially fluvial fishes dependent on large patches of shallow, slow velocity habitats for some portion of their life cycle. However, anthropogenic modification of large, temperate floodplain rivers has led to extensive channel simplification and side‐channel loss. Highly modified rivers consist of simplified channels in contracted, less dynamic floodplains. Most research examining the seasonal importance of side channels for fish assemblages in large rivers has been carried out in heavily modified rivers, where side‐channel extents are substantially reduced from pre‐settlement times, and has often overlooked small‐bodied fishes. Inferences about the ecological importance of side channels for small‐bodied fishes in large rivers can be ascertained only from investigations of large rivers with largely intact floodplains. The Yellowstone River, our study area, is a rare example of one such river. We targeted small‐bodied fishes and compared their habitat use in side and main channels in two geomorphically distinct types of river bends during early and late snowmelt runoff, and autumn base flow. Species compositions of side and main channels differed throughout hydroperiods concurrent with the seasonal redistribution of the availability of shallow, slow current‐velocity habitats. More species of fish used side channels than main channels during runoff. Additionally, catch rates of small fishes were generally greater in side channels than in main channels and quantitative assemblage compositions differed between channel types during runoff, but not during base flow. Presence of and access to diverse habitats facilitated the development and persistence of diverse fish assemblages in our study area. Physical dissimilarities between side and main channels may have differentially structured the side‐ and main‐channel fish assemblages during runoff. Patches of shallow, slow current‐velocity (SSCV) habitats in side channels were larger and had slightly slower water velocities than SSCV habitat patches in main channels during runoff, but not during base flow. Our findings establish a baseline importance of side channels to riverine fishes in a large, temperate river without heavy anthropogenic modification. Establishing this baseline contributes to basic fluvial ecology and provides empirical justification for restoration efforts that reconnect large rivers with their floodplains.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparative use of side and main channels by small‐bodied fish in a large, unimpounded river

et al. 2016

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“…Channel slope, substrate (Koch et al 1977;Bramblett and White 2001), water temperature (White and Bramblett 1993), and water clarity (A. M. Reinhold, unpublished data) shift longitudinally in the study area. Concomitant with these abiotic trends, the fish assemblage structure (White and Bramblett 1993) exhibits strong longitudinal trends (Reinhold 2014;Duncan et al 2016). Throughout the study area, cyprinids and catostomids are common.…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Nevertheless, large-bodied fishes were occasionally captured with fyke nets, bag seines, or otter trawls, and small-bodied fishes were occasionally captured with electrofishing or trammel nets. Otter trawls were only deployed in segments 4 and 5 because they effectively capture Sicklefin and Sturgeon chubs (Duncan et al 2012) and the ranges of these species did not include segments 1-3 (Duncan et al 2016). Fyke nets, bag seines, and boat electrofishing were used to sample fish along shorelines.…”

Section: Fish Samplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatially Dependent Responses of a Large‐River Fish Assemblage to Bank Stabilization and Side Channels

et al. 2017

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The alteration of rivers by anthropogenic bank stabilization to prevent the erosion of economically valuable lands and structures has become commonplace. However, such alteration has ambiguous consequences for fish assemblages, especially in large rivers. Because most large, temperate rivers have impoundments, it can be difficult to separate the influences of bank stabilization structures from those of main‐stem impoundments, especially because both stabilization structures and impoundments can cause side‐channel loss. Few large rivers are free flowing and retain extensive side channels, but the Yellowstone River (our study area) is one such river. We hypothesized that in this river (1) bank stabilization has changed fish assemblage structure by altering habitats, (2) side‐channel availability has influenced fish assemblage structure by providing habitat heterogeneity, and (3) the influences of bank stabilization and side channels on fish assemblages were spatially scale dependent. We developed a spatially explicit framework to test these hypotheses. Fish assemblage structure varied with the extent of bank stabilization and the availability of side channels; however, not all assemblage subsets were influenced. Nevertheless, bank stabilization and side channels had different and sometimes opposite influences on the fish assemblage. The effects of side channels on fish were more consistent and widespread than those of bank stabilization; the catches of more fishes were positively correlated with side‐channel availability than with the extent of bank stabilization. The influences of bank stabilization and side channels on the relative abundances of fish also varied, depending on species and river bend geomorphology. The variation in river morphology probably contributed to the assemblage differences between stabilized and reference river bends; stabilized alluvial pools were deeper than reference alluvial pools, but the depths of stabilized and reference bluff pools did not differ. The strengths of the relationships among fish assemblages, bank stabilization, and side channels were spatially scale dependent; optimum spatial scales ranged from less than 200 m to 3,200 m up‐ and downstream, suggesting that bank stabilization and side channels influenced fish assemblages across multiple spatial scales. Received October 7, 2016; accepted January 23, 2017 Published online July 31, 2017

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Riverine turtles select habitats maintained by natural discharge regimes in an unimpounded large river

Tornabene

Jaeger

Bramblett

et al. 2019

River Research & Apps

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Turtle populations are imperiled worldwide, but limited ecological information from unaltered systems hampers science-based management and conservation of some species, especially riverine turtles such as the spiny softshell (Apalone spinifera). We therefore investigated movements and spatial habitat selection of 54 A. spinifera in 633 river kilometres (rkm) of the least-altered river in the conterminous United States-the Yellowstone River in Montana-from 2005 to 2009. Movement rates and home ranges were smaller than in fragmented, altered river systems because nesting and overwintering habitats were common and in close proximity. Habitat selection also differed. A. spinifera in the Yellowstone River overwintered in unaltered bluff pools and summered in complex reaches with side channels, islands, and diverse habitats. However, those in the highly altered Missouri River used deep alluvial pools for overwintering and flooded, inundated, or backwatered tributary mouths in spring and summer. Importantly, selected habitats in both rivers were functionally similar, including complex river reaches (with multiple channels, islands, and diverse habitats) and natural pool types. Unfortunately, these are the very habitats that are limited in rivers affected by dams, bank stabilization, and channelization. Therefore, preservation of natural and diverse riverine habitats-and the fluvial dynamics that maintain them-may enhance conservation of A. spinifera in large rivers.

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Distributions of Small Nongame Fishes in the Lower Yellowstone River

Cited by 9 publications

References 70 publications

Comparative use of side and main channels by small‐bodied fish in a large, unimpounded river

Comparative use of side and main channels by small‐bodied fish in a large, unimpounded river

Spatially Dependent Responses of a Large‐River Fish Assemblage to Bank Stabilization and Side Channels

Riverine turtles select habitats maintained by natural discharge regimes in an unimpounded large river

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