Ecological correlates of fish movement in a network of Virginia streams

Abstract

Identifying factors that influence fish movement is a key step in predicting how populations respond to environmental change. Using mark–recapture (four species) and trap capture (eight species) data, we examined relationships between three attributes of movement and 15 ecological variables. The probability of emigrating from a reach was positively related to intermittency (one species) and body size (one species) and negatively related to distance from the mainstem creek (two species) and habitat complexity (one species). The number of fish moving upstream through traps was positively related to increases in flow (five species), day length (three species), and water temperature (two species); the number moving through downstream traps was positively associated with increases in flow (three species). Distance moved was greater for fish moving through unsuitable reaches (one species). Floods have a pervasive effect on fish movement, and human activities that affect flows will have widespread implications. The importance of other factors varies interspecifically, which may translate into variation in persistence and colonization rates. For example, species that exhibit reach fidelity in complex habitats may increase movement if habitats are homogenized. These species may suffer population declines because of the cost of increased movement and may ultimately be replaced by ecological generalists.

Fish movement in an Atlantic Forest stream

“…These results indicate that species differ in their movement patterns, as already shown in many other studies (e.g. Skalski, Gilliam, 2000;Albanese et al, 2004;Roberts, Angermeier, 2007;Breen et al, 2009). The longest distance registered in this study was performed by an individual of A. tajasica that moved approximately 1,500 m. Awaous tajasica is an estuarine Gobiidae species that normally move upstream into freshwater environments (Loebmann, Vieira, 2005).…”

“…Short distance movements (local) are generally related to changes in resources availability (Albanese et al, 2004), like food or refuge (Gowan, Fausch, 2002;Gowan, 2007), predation risk (Roberts, Angermeier, 2007), or to abiotic conditions like salinity, stream flow Romão et al, 2017), and dissolved oxygen (Branco et al, 2016). Local movements can also be related to ontogeny, being an important life-history trait for several species (Winemiller, Jepsen, 1998).…”

Coarse-scale movement patterns of a small-bodied fish inhabiting a desert stream

“…Studies assessing relationships between length and movement distances have mixed results (Albanese et al 2004;Belica and Rahel 2007;Roberts and Angermeier 2007;Albanese et al 2009). In an experimental study assessing emigration of C. macularius, McMahon and Tash (1988) documented that small male fish were more likely to emigrate compared to large and/or female fish.…”

“…Specifically, potential benefits (e.g., improved abiotic conditions and reduced competition) of movement are countered by risks or barriers to movement (e.g., predation and habitat connectivity), both of which vary by species and life history state (Albanese et al 2004;Davey and Kelly 2007;Roberts and Angermeier 2007). Studies that estimate movement can help determine the importance of connectivity in aquatic systems (Johnston 2000;Fausch et al 2009) as well as increase understanding of species' life history (e.g., Goforth and Foltz 1998;Roberts and Angermeier 2007).…”

Patrones de desplazamiento de peces nativos en el Río San Pedro (cuenca del Río Valdivia, Chile)

“…Entre los factores que infl uyen en el tipo y magnitud de los desplazamientos que efectúan los peces de agua dulce están el tamaño corporal, factor de condición y tasa de crecimiento (Beamish 1978, Albanese et al 2004, Lauder 2005. Las especies nativas de sistemas continentales chilenos, se caracterizan por ser de pequeño tamaño (<30 cm de longitud) (Vila et al 1999), por lo que generalmente se les indica como de baja capacidad de movimiento.…”