Habitat relationships with fish assemblages in minimally disturbed Great Plains regions

Fischer, John R.; Paukert, Craig P.

doi:10.1111/j.1600-0633.2008.00311.x

Cited by 57 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 46 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…We found that local environmental input determined population dynamics of the primary species, which has been found in other study systems (e.g., Bisson et al 2001, Wang et al 2006, Fischer and Paukert 2008. For stream macroinvertebrates, ecoregions appear to explain a large portion of the variation in several metrics of taxonomic composition, but that variation in total density is more attributable to local factors (Li et al 2001, Mykra et al 2004).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Work Element B: 157. Sampling in Fish-Bearing Reaches [Variation in Productivity in Headwater Reaches of the Wenatchee Subbasin], Final Report for PNW Research Station.

Polivka¹,

Bennett²

2009

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

We studied variation in productivity in headwater reaches of the Wenatchee subbasin for multiple field seasons with the objective that we could develop methods for monitoring headwater stream conditions at the subcatchment and stream levels, assign a landscapescale context via the effects of geoclimatic parameters on biological productivity (macroinvertebrates and fish) and use this information to identify how variability in productivity measured in fishless headwaters is transmitted to fish communities in downstream habitats. In 2008, we addressed this final objective.In collaboration with the University of Alaska Fairbanks we found some broad differences in the production of aquatic macroinvertebrates and in fish abundance across categories that combine the effects of climate and management intensity within the subbasin (ecoregions). From a monitoring standpoint, production of benthic macroinvertebrates was not a good predictor of drifting macroinvertebrates and therefore might be a poor predictor of food resources available to fish. Indeed, there is occasionally a correlation between drifting macroinvertebrate abundance and fish abundance which suggests that headwater-derived resources are important. However, fish in the headwaters appeared to be strongly food-limited and there was no evidence that fishless headwaters provided a consistent subsidy to fish in reaches downstream.Fish abundance and population dynamics in first order headwaters may be linked with similar metrics further down the watershed. The relative strength of local dynamics and inputs into productivity may be constrained or augmented by large-scale biogeoclimatic control. Headwater streams are nested within watersheds, which are in turn nested within ecological subregions; thus, we hypothesized that local effects would not necessarily be mutually exclusive from large-scale influence. To test this we examined the density of primarily salmonid fishes at several spatial and temporal scales within a major sub-basin of the Columbia River and associations of density with ecoregion and individuals drainages within the sub-basin. We further examined habitat metrics that show positive associations with fish abundance to see if these relationships varied at larger spatial scales.We examined the extent to which headwater fish density and temporal variation in density were correlated between the headwaters and the main tributaries of the sub-basin, and the influence of ecoregion influence on density differences, particularly at wider temporal scales. Finally, we examined demographic parameters such as growth and emigration to determine whether density-dependence differs among ecoregions or whether responses were more strongly influenced by the demography of the local fish population.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Work Element B: 157. Sampling in Fish-Bearing Reaches [Variation in Productivity in Headwater Reaches of the Wenatchee Subbasin], Final Report for PNW Research Station.

Polivka¹,

Bennett²

2009

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The influence of instream physical habitat features (e.g., depth and substrate composition) on food, refuge, and spawning habitat availability is easy to conceptualize, and their influence on fish assemblages is well studied (Fischer and Paukert 2008;Rowe et al 2009b). Thus, many studies have used instream habitat variables to explain the distribution or abundance of fish species (e.g., Hubert and Rahel 1989;Quist et al 2005;Rashleigh et al 2005).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat Associations of Fish Species of Greatest Conservation Need at Multiple Spatial Scales in Wadeable Iowa Streams

Sindt

Quist

Pierce

2012

N American J Fish Manag

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Fish and habitat data were collected from 84 wadeable stream reaches in the Mississippi River drainage of Iowa to predict the occurrences of seven fish species of greatest conservation need and to identify the relative importance of habitat variables measured at small (e.g., depth, velocity, and substrate) and large (e.g., stream order, elevation, and gradient) scales in terms of their influence on species occurrences. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to predict fish species occurrences, starting with all possible combinations of variables (5 large-scale variables, 13 small-scale variables, and all 18 variables) but limiting the final models to a maximum of five variables. Akaike's information criterion was used to rank candidate models, weight model parameters, and calculate model-averaged predictions. On average, the correct classification rate (CCR = 80%) and Cohen's kappa (κ = 0.59) were greatest for multiple-scale models (i.e., those including both largescale and small-scale variables), intermediate for small-scale models (CCR = 75%; κ = 0.49), and lowest for large-scale models (CCR = 73%; κ = 0.44). The occurrence of each species was associated with a unique combination of large-scale and small-scale variables. Our results support the necessity of understanding factors that constrain the distribution of fishes across spatial scales to ensure that management decisions and actions occur at the appropriate scale. RightsWorks produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted. AbstractFish and habitat data were collected from 84 wadeable stream reaches in the Mississippi River drainage of Iowa to predict the occurrences of seven fish species of greatest conservation need and to identify the relative importance of habitat variables measured at small (e.g., depth, velocity, and substrate) and large (e.g., stream order, elevation, and gradient) scales in terms of their influence on species occurrences. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to predict fish species occurrences, starting with all possible combinations of variables (5 large-scale variables, 13 small-scale variables, and all 18 variables) but limiting the final models to a maximum of five variables. Akaike's information criterion was used to rank candidate models, weight model parameters, and calculate model-averaged predictions. On average, the correct classification rate (CCR = 80%) and Cohen's kappa (κ = 0.59) were greatest for multiple-scale models (i.e., those including both large-scale and small-scale variables), intermediate for small-scale models (CCR = 75%; κ = 0.49), and lowest for large-scale models (CCR = 73%; κ = 0.44). The occurrence of each species was associated with a unique combination of large-scale and small-scale variables. Our results support the necessity of understanding factors that constrain the distribution of fishes across spatial scales to ensure that management decisions and actio...

show abstract

“…Physico-chemical (e.g., temperature, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and pH) (Araújo et al, 2009), and other environmental variables such as landscape features (Angermeier & Winston, 1999), pool/riffle distribution and dimensions, and the amount of available cover can correlate strongly with fish assemblages (Schlosser, 1982;Brown, 2000;Fischer & Paukert, 2008;Rowe et al, 2009a). The concentration of dissolved oxygen, temperature, water velocity, and substrate composition have also been shown to deterministically affect fish assemblage structure in tropical floodplain systems (Daga et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat characteristics and environmental parameters influencing fish assemblages of karstic pools in southern Mexico

2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Fish assemblage structure was evaluated and compared among 36 karstic pools located within protected areas of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve (southern Mexico) and unprotected adjacent areas beyond the Reserve. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (MDS), indicator species analysis (ISA), and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) were used to identify which environmental factors reflected local influences and to evaluate the correlation of these variables with fish assemblages structure. Thirty-one species were encountered in these karstic pools, some for the first time within the Reserve. These aquatic environments were separated into three groups based on physico-chemical characteristics. Although CCA identified significant associations between several fish species (based on their relative abundance) and environmental variables (K, NH4, NO3, and conductivity), the most abundant species (Astyanax aeneus, Poecilia mexicana, and Gambusia sexradiata) occur in most pools and under several environmental conditions. Baseline data on fish diversity along with a continued monitoring program are essential in order to evaluate the conservation status of fish assemblages and their habitats, as well as to measure the influence of anthropogenic impacts on pristine habitats such as the karstic pools of the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve.A estrutura da assembleia de peixes foi avaliada e comparada entre 36 poços cársticos localizados dentro de áreas protegidas da Reserva da Biosfera Calakmul (sul do México) e nas áreas desprotegidas adjacentes à Reserva. A análise multidimensional não-métrica (MDS), a análise da espécies indicadora (ISA) e a análise de correspondência canônica (CCA) foram utilizadas para identificar as variáveis ambientais localmente mais importantes e para avaliar a correlação destas com a estrutura das assembleias de peixes. Trinta e uma espécies foram amostradas nos poços cársticos, algumas das quais representam o primeiro registro para a Reserva. Os poços foram separados em três grupos de acordo com as suas características físico-químicas. Embora a CCA tenha possibilitado a identificação de associações significativas entre várias espécies (baseado na abundância relativa das espécies) e as variáveis ambientais (K, NH4, NO3 e condutividade), as espécies mais abundantes (Astyanax aeneus, Poecilia mexicana e Gambusia sexradiata) ocorreram na maioria dos poços em diferentes condições ambientais. A obtenção de dados de base sobre padrões de diversidade, associado a implantação de programas de monitoramento, são essenciais para a avaliação do estado de conservação das assembleias de peixes e seus habitats, assim como para proporcionar informações sobre a influência de impactos antropogênicos sobre habitats prístinos, tais como os poços cársticos da Reserva da Biosfera Calakmul.

show abstract

Habitat relationships with fish assemblages in minimally disturbed Great Plains regions

Cited by 57 publications

References 46 publications

Work Element B: 157. Sampling in Fish-Bearing Reaches [Variation in Productivity in Headwater Reaches of the Wenatchee Subbasin], Final Report for PNW Research Station.

Work Element B: 157. Sampling in Fish-Bearing Reaches [Variation in Productivity in Headwater Reaches of the Wenatchee Subbasin], Final Report for PNW Research Station.

Habitat Associations of Fish Species of Greatest Conservation Need at Multiple Spatial Scales in Wadeable Iowa Streams

Habitat characteristics and environmental parameters influencing fish assemblages of karstic pools in southern Mexico

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About