Fish assemblage shifts in an Ozark river over 80 years amidst a mosaic of forest regeneration and persistent pasture

Morrill, Daniel P.; Connolly, Matthew H.; Adams, Ginny L.; Adams, Sally

doi:10.1111/eff.12683

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 100 publications

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“…We then represented temporal change in community composition as the length of the vector in the 2‐dimensional NMS space between the first and second sampling period for each site, and we evaluated the convex hull of the ordination space defined for time periods and thermal sensitivity levels. Prior studies have used this approach to address similar research questions (Matthews & Matthews, 2016; Morrill et al, 2022). We used functions in the R package “vegan” version 2.6‐2 (Oksanen et al, 2022) to fit the NMS model.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stabilising effects of karstic groundwater on stream fish communities

Hitt

Rogers

Kessler

et al. 2023

Ecology of Freshwater Fish

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Although groundwater exchange processes are known to modulate atmospheric influences on stream temperature and flow, the implications for ecological stability are poorly understood. Here, we evaluated temporal change in stream fish communities across a gradient of groundwater influence defined by karst terrain (carbonate parent materials) within the Potomac River basin of eastern North America. We surveyed 12 sites in 2022 that had been sampled 29–30 years previously with similar methods. We also collected stream temperature data from each site and used the regression slope of the air‐water temperature relationship to index stream thermal sensitivity and groundwater exchange processes. Sites in karst terrain exhibited strong groundwater controls on stream temperature, and fish communities were more stable over time in these locations than elsewhere. However, stream thermal sensitivity was a stronger predictor of species persistence than the spatial distribution of karst terrain in contributing areas, highlighting the ecological importance of local variation in groundwater discharge processes. The presence of calcium precipitates (marl) in stream substrates was associated with low thermal sensitivity and ecological stability over time, and we suggest such visible features may be a useful indicator of climate change refugia in stream ecosystems.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stabilising effects of karstic groundwater on stream fish communities

Hitt

Rogers

Kessler

et al. 2023

Ecology of Freshwater Fish

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Cryptic tolerant fish species and their potential effect on index of biotic integrity (IBI) scores

Hilburn

Freeman

Lawson

et al. 2023

Ecological Indicators

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Environmental correlates with fish assemblage change and biotic homogenization across 40 years in an Ozark, Gravel‐Bed river basin

Gavrielides,

Adams,

Adams

et al. 2024

Ecology of Freshwater Fish

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Fish assemblages in freshwater ecosystems are becoming more homogenous from multiple abiotic, environmental, and physicochemical variables at different scales. Historical fish collections (1976–1977) by Billy Michael Johnson and Dr. Johnson K. Beadles were compared to contemporary fish collections (2018–2019) in tributaries of the Eleven Point River basin in Arkansas to examine patterns of fish assemblage change. Fish assemblage change variables were compared to pasture land use/land cover (LULC) at multiple scales and in‐stream habitat variables to understand relationships and discover potential correlates suggesting biotic homogenization. Fish assemblages in the Eleven Point River basin of Arkansas have experienced significant spatiotemporal changes, and LULC change and habitat alterations may have influenced this process. Increased tolerant species and decreased intolerant species at sites contributed to biotic homogenization, particularly in pool habitats. Surprisingly, expansion of some intolerant fishes was also observed that tend to occupy riffles. Sites with high percentages of pasture LULC at finer spatial scales typically had more homogenised fish assemblages. We hypothesized gravel aggradation from local pasture land use has degraded pools and increased riffle habitat, resulting in homogenised fish assemblages in the Eleven Point River basin over the study period. Few studies link LULC, in‐stream habitat, and biotic homogenization when examining fish assemblage change over time, and these dynamics can be particularly complex in upland streams experiencing gravel aggradation. Similar research in other upland, gravel‐bed river systems would provide a broad understanding of the presented environmental associations.

show abstract

Fish assemblage shifts in an Ozark river over 80 years amidst a mosaic of forest regeneration and persistent pasture

Cited by 3 publications

References 100 publications

Stabilising effects of karstic groundwater on stream fish communities

Stabilising effects of karstic groundwater on stream fish communities

Cryptic tolerant fish species and their potential effect on index of biotic integrity (IBI) scores

Environmental correlates with fish assemblage change and biotic homogenization across 40 years in an Ozark, Gravel‐Bed river basin

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