Phylogeny influences the relationships linking key ecological thermal metrics for North American freshwater fish species

Abstract

Habitat temperature is a major determinant of performance and activity in fish. We summarize published studies of 173 North American freshwater fish species to examine the interrelationships among thermal response metrics associated with three types of individual performance: growth (optimal growth temperature (OGT), final temperature preferendum (FTP)), survival (upper incipient lethal temperature (UILT), critical thermal maximum (CTMax)), and reproduction (optimum spawning temperature (OS), optimum egg development temperature (OE)). We found that all metrics were highly correlated, especially those associated with a specific performance type. Differences in thermal metrics were also significantly linked to traditional thermal guild classifications, spawning season, and strategy. We found an overall decline in correlation strength when we used phylogenetically independent contrasts to control for the effect of phylogeny. This decline was much greater for growth and survival metrics than for reproduction. This suggests that the role of evolutionary history in determining thermal sensitivity at the species level varies greatly across the range of performance types that can be used to characterize the behaviour of an individual.

Fish growth and degree-days I: selecting a base temperature for a within-population study

“…3b). Given that cisco exhibit optimal growth at 18.1°C and prefer 8.7 to 16.1°C (Hasnain et al 2013), this result is likely a statistical anomaly stemming from a relatively small sample size. Regardless, it appears that growth in this population is relatively poorly described by air temperature-derived DDs, and we wonder if this trend is evident in other populations and coldwater species.…”

Fish growth and degree-days II: selecting a base temperature for an among-population study

“…The temperature that optimizes growth falls between these thermal extremes and varies by species (Hasnain et al 2013) and consumption rates (Jobling 1994). Therefore, the amount of time that is spent both within the thermal limits of growth and near the thermal optimum (e.g., as a result of the annual temperature cycle) defines the thermal opportunity for growth.…”

Variations in water temperature and implications for trout populations in the Upper Schoharie Creek and West Kill, New York, USA

“…This indicates that chronic thermal stress may still be a problem at these cooler sites even if acute lethal stress is not. Additionally, water temperatures exceeded the optimal range (12.6 § 2.3 C) for growth of brown trout (Hasnain, et al 2013) for extensive periods at SCH1 and SCH7 (and all other sites) during both summers (Figure 2). …”

“…Although these streams are managed as trout fisheries, it is unclear if the condition and distribution of these species are limited by warm summer water temperatures. Water temperatures in parts of these rivers reportedly exceed lethal thermal limits for these species (»25 C, Wehrly et al 2007;Hasnain et al 2013) for unknown periods of time each summer. Continued development in the watershed and changes in riparian habitat from major flooding may in part be responsible for increasing water temperatures in the basin.…”