Evidence for the Concepts of Home Range and Territory in Stream Fishes

Gerking, Shelby D.

doi:10.2307/1930901

“…Although we cannot estimate maximum movement distances for our marked fish, our results do not support the long-held view of restricted fish movement first proposed by Gerking (1953Gerking ( , 1959. Since his seminal work, research on fish movement has overwhelmingly supported the idea that stream fishes are restricted to relatively small areas (see review by Gowan et al 1994).…”

Section: General Patterns Of Movementcontrasting

confidence: 82%

Effects of riffle length on the short-term movement of fishes among stream pools

Lonzarich¹,

Lonzarich²,

Warren³

2000

Journal canadien des sciences halieutiques et aquatiques

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Recent research has suggested that the within-habitat dynamics of fish populations and assemblages can be affected by the spatial distribution of habitats within streams. In this study, we determined the extent to which pool isolation (length of riffles connecting adjacent pools) influenced fish movement in two Arkansas streams. We marked individuals from 12 pools assigned to two treatment categories: pools separated by long riffles (>50 m) and those separated by short riffles (~10 m). Repeatedly snorkeling pools for 3 days in 1995 and 1997, we discovered substantial emigration (>20%) and significant effects of riffle length. Total emigration from short-riffle pools was three times higher (29%) than movement from long-riffle pools (10%). Further, marked fish in short-riffle pools moved upstream and downstream with equal frequency, whereas fish in long-riffle pools moved twice as often downstream. Collectively, these results indicate significant effects of habitat spacing on short-term movement patterns by fish. In streams, where fish are distributed within a mosaic of habitats of varying quality, such movements may allow individuals to assess spatial variability in resource conditions (e.g., food, predators). Because land-use activities can alter habitat spacing, these findings have important implications for fish conservation in degraded streams. R6sumC: Des recherches r6centes semblent montrer que la dynamique des populations et des assemblages de poissons au sein des habitats peut Ctre influencCe par la r&partition spatiale des habitats dans les tours d'eau. Dans la prCsente Ctude, nous avons dCtermin6 dans quelle mesure l'isolement des fosses (longueur des radiers reliant des fosses contigu&s) influait sur le dkplacement des poissons dans deux tours d'eau de I'Arkansas. Nous avons marquC les individus pr6levCs dans 12 fosses rCparties en deux catkgories exp6rimentales : fosses sCpar6es par des radiers longs (>50 m) et fosses &par&es par des radiers courts (20%) et des effets significatifs 1iCs ?I la longueur des radiers. L'Cmigration totale des fosses 2 radiers courts Ctait trois fois plus grande (29%) que les dkplacements des poissons des fosses t i radiers longs (10%). De plus, les poissons marques dans les fosses g radiers courts se dCpla$aient verb l'amont et vers l'aval avec une frkquence &gale, tandis que les poissons des fosses 2 radiers longs se dCplaCaient deux fois plus souvent vers l'aval. Collectivement, ces rksultats indiquent que l'espacement des habitats a des effets significatifs sur les patrons de dkplacement ?I court terme des poissons. Dans les tours d'eau, oh les poissons sont rCpartis dans une mosa'ique d'habitats de qualit variable, de tels dkplacements peuvent permettre aux individus d'Cvaluer la variabilitk spatiale de 1'Btat des ressources (p. ex. la nourriture, les prhdateurs). fitant donnC que les activitCs...

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“…These numbers are remarkable, given that most studies report significantly less movement over much longer periods of time. For example, in an 18 month study, Hill and Grossman (1987) estimated that the home range size of three small warmwater fish species was less than 20 m. Specific home range estimates for smallmouth bass and longear sunfish are slightly higher, ranging from 30 to 100 m (Gerking 1953;Berra and Gunning 1972). Mundahl and Ingersoll (1989) estimated that central stoneroller moved an average of only 35 m in 1 month.…”

Section: General Patterns Of Movementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Under such conditions, differences in water depth and current between pools and riffles may affect the degree to which pool-dwelling fishes traverse riffles to access neighboring pools. Gerking (1953) was probably the first to discuss this possibility when he proposed that long riffles separating adjacent pool habitats could act as behavioral barriers to movement and that fishes within individual pools could be viewed as discrete populations. Matthews et al (1994) also speculated that riffles act as size-selective barriers to movement and affect pool as-0 2000 NRC Canada .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of riffle length on the short-term movement of fishes among stream pools

Lonzarich¹,

Lonzarich²,

Warren³

2000

Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci.

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Recent research has suggested that the within-habitat dynamics of fish populations and assemblages can be affected by the spatial distribution of habitats within streams. In this study, we determined the extent to which pool isolation (length of riffles connecting adjacent pools) influenced fish movement in two Arkansas streams. We marked individuals from 12 pools assigned to two treatment categories: pools separated by long riffles (>50 m) and those separated by short riffles (~10 m). Repeatedly snorkeling pools for 3 days in 1995 and 1997, we discovered substantial emigration (>20%) and significant effects of riffle length. Total emigration from short-riffle pools was three times higher (29%) than movement from long-riffle pools (10%). Further, marked fish in short-riffle pools moved upstream and downstream with equal frequency, whereas fish in long-riffle pools moved twice as often downstream. Collectively, these results indicate significant effects of habitat spacing on short-term movement patterns by fish. In streams, where fish are distributed within a mosaic of habitats of varying quality, such movements may allow individuals to assess spatial variability in resource conditions (e.g., food, predators). Because land-use activities can alter habitat spacing, these findings have important implications for fish conservation in degraded streams. R6sumC: Des recherches r6centes semblent montrer que la dynamique des populations et des assemblages de poissons au sein des habitats peut Ctre influencCe par la r&partition spatiale des habitats dans les tours d'eau. Dans la prCsente Ctude, nous avons dCtermin6 dans quelle mesure l'isolement des fosses (longueur des radiers reliant des fosses contigu&s) influait sur le dkplacement des poissons dans deux tours d'eau de I'Arkansas. Nous avons marquC les individus pr6levCs dans 12 fosses rCparties en deux catkgories exp6rimentales : fosses sCpar6es par des radiers longs (>50 m) et fosses &par&es par des radiers courts (20%) et des effets significatifs 1iCs ?I la longueur des radiers. L'Cmigration totale des fosses 2 radiers courts Ctait trois fois plus grande (29%) que les dkplacements des poissons des fosses t i radiers longs (10%). De plus, les poissons marques dans les fosses g radiers courts se dCpla$aient verb l'amont et vers l'aval avec une frkquence &gale, tandis que les poissons des fosses 2 radiers longs se dCplaCaient deux fois plus souvent vers l'aval. Collectivement, ces rksultats indiquent que l'espacement des habitats a des effets significatifs sur les patrons de dkplacement ?I court terme des poissons. Dans les tours d'eau, oh les poissons sont rCpartis dans une mosa'ique d'habitats de qualit variable, de tels dkplacements peuvent permettre aux individus d'Cvaluer la variabilitk spatiale de 1'Btat des ressources (p. ex. la nourriture, les prhdateurs). fitant donnC que les activitCs...

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“…Gerking (1953), studying the stream fishes, stated that many animals in their breeding conditions had no such attraction as a home site, which implied a nest, a burrow or some other attraction, and yet confined their movements to restricted areas. And then he redefined the home range as the area over which the animal normally travelled.…”

Section: Home Site and «Club"mentioning

confidence: 99%

Underwater Observations and Experiments on Pair Formation and Related Behaviours of the Apogonid Fish, Apogon Notatus (Houttuyn)

Usuki¹

1977

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Abstract(!) Underwater observations and experiments on pair formation in Apogon notatus were conducted almost every morning in June to July, 1976 in a rocky region north of the Seto Marine Biological Laboratory. (2) Experiments manifested that homing of this fish at least in the rocky region can be referred to the "pharotaxis". But homing in the sandy area remains still unexplained. (3) The usual sex recognition of this fish is thought to be based primarily on the differences in behavioural patterns between the sexes, while the mate identification in paired fish is supposed to be closely related to their determined attitude at the nest site. (4) Defended space, or individual space of paired fish is regarded as territory from the viewpoints of territory definition and its functional significance. (5) The smaller aggregations formed mostly in the season of pair formation is comparable with "the club" of the herring gull, Larus argentatus, from the viewpoint of animal sociology. As the aggregated fish maintain their restricted area for the time, the term "home site" may be used in explaining the behaviours of this fish. This seemingly accords with the results of studies on other fishes.

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Evidence for the Concepts of Home Range and Territory in Stream Fishes

Cited by 190 publications

References 19 publications

Effects of riffle length on the short-term movement of fishes among stream pools

Effects of riffle length on the short-term movement of fishes among stream pools

Effects of riffle length on the short-term movement of fishes among stream pools

Underwater Observations and Experiments on Pair Formation and Related Behaviours of the Apogonid Fish, Apogon Notatus (Houttuyn)

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