Questions on Habitat Preference

Bartholow, John M.; Slauson, William L.; Parsons, Bradford G.; Hubert, Wayne A.

doi:10.1577/1548-8675-10.3.362

Cited by 6 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…The derivation of habitat suitability criteria has been the subject of numerous studies and there is no clear consensus on a single method of determination (e.g., Bartholow et al 1990). Beecher (1995) compared habitat use and preference frequency curves in a computer model and concluded that preference curves were superior to habitat use curves, but noted the difficulty in defining depth and velocity preferences independently when the two variables are often correlated.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In‐stream habitat suitability criteria for feeding inanga (Galaxias maculatus)

Jowett

2002

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research

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Inanga (Galaxias maculatus Jenyns) are the basis of an important recreational and commercial freshwater fishery that has declined over the past 100 years, probably because of habitat degradation in developed areas. Maintenance of suitable stream flows for inanga is one means of protecting the fishery. Observations of habitat use by drift-feeding inanga were made in three streams. Most feeding inanga were stationary in the current taking food items from the drift and sometimes from the surface. Drift-feeding locations were related to current patterns and water velocity, with inanga feeding at locations where the current concentrated food, and where water velocities were sufficiently low to allow the fish to hold position. The mean feeding velocity did not vary significantly between streams, although the range of velocities used did. Optimum feeding velocities were 0.03-0.07 m s-1 , and were comparable with brown trout (Salmo trutta) feeding velocities, when adjusted for the differences in fish size. Depth use was very different between streams and this was attributed to the variation in available habitat. Depths greater than 0.3 m were optimum, with some use of depths between 0.1 and 0.3 m. It is suggested that inanga suitability criteria are dictated by biological factors, such as swimming ability and bio-energetic requirements, rather than the river the fish is living in and that it is necessary to collect habitat use and availability data in a wide range of stream types to define optimal habitat and suitability criteria for generalised application.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

In‐stream habitat suitability criteria for feeding inanga (Galaxias maculatus)

Jowett

2002

New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research

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“…This issue has received considerable attention in the literature (e.g. Baker and Coon, 1997;Baldridge and Amos, 1981;Bartholow and Slauson, 1990;Beecher, 1995;DeGraff and Bain, 1986;Groshens andOrth, 1994, Jowett, 2002;Mäki-Petäys et al, 2002;Parsons and Hubert, 1988;Thomas and Bovee, 1993). Other workers have argued that, since many of the factors influencing fish habitat vary locally, site-specific HSIs are required to representatively model habitat in a stream (Heggenes, 1990;Moyle and Baltz, 1985;Nestler et al, 1989).…”

Section: Habitat Suitability Indicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These adjusted the utilization data (above) according to the availability of the respective depth and velocity classes in the streams. The availability of depths and velocities was quantified using a total of 612 random point measurements (Girnock Burn, n ¼ 210; Clunie Water, n ¼ 187; Burn of Sheeoch, n ¼ 215) at locations over spawning-calibre sediment (following Bartholow and Slauson, 1990). These data were collected over the same period that depths and velocities were measured at redd locations and therefore captured the range of hydrological (and thus hydraulic) conditions under which spawning occurred.…”

Section: Habitat Suitability Indicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

PHABSIM modelling of Atlantic salmon spawning habitat in an upland stream: testing the influence of habitat suitability indices on model output

et al. 2005

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This paper reports the findings of research designed to assess the ability of PHABSIM to predict Atlantic salmon Salmo salar spawning habitat in the Girnock Burn, a tributary of the River Dee in northeast Scotland. It used an 18-year spawning data record to assess: (a) the ability of PHABSIM to predict between-year differences in the availability of habitat at the study site; (b) the ability of PHABSIM to predict patterns of relative suitability across the site; and (c) the influence of different Habitat Suitability Indices (HSIs) on the model's predictions with respect to (a) and (b).Predictions of between-year and within-site habitat availability based on 'utilization' and 'preference' HSIs developed in the Dee catchment corresponded significantly (chi-squared and regression tests, P < 0.05) with the use of the site by spawning fish. However, predictions based on utilization HSIs developed in streams in southern England did not correspond significantly with patterns of site use. Results of the study indicate that PHABSIM is capable of predicting Atlantic salmon spawning habitat in upland streams such as the Girnock, but that the use of appropriate HSIs is critical.

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“…Measurements were taken immediately upstream of the redd pot over undisturbed sediment within 24 hours of redd completion (data were omitted where flows changed between the time of redd completion and measurement). The availability of depths and velocities was quantified using a total of 488 random point measurements at locations with suitable spawning sediment (following Bartholow and Slauson, 1990). Water velocity and depth data were used to construct electivity indices (Vanderploeg and Scavia, 1979).…”

Section: Phabsimmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing discharge use by spawning Atlantic salmon: A comparison of discharge electivity indices and PHABSIM simulations

Gibbins

Moir

Webb³

et al. 2002

River Research & Apps

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The locations used by spawning Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in a reach of the Girnock Burn, Scotland, were monitored over three successive years. Reach discharge was estimated for each spawning observation using a conversion factor applied to continuous flow data from a gauge located in the catchment. Data on the availability and use of different discharges were used to construct a discharge electivity index for the reach. The index was compared to output from a Physical HABitat SIMulation (PHABSIM) model of the reach.Spawning fish used relatively high discharges, with the highest electivity value being for a discharge approximately three times the reach median flow. The electivity index and the PHABSIM weighted usable area (WUA) versus discharge curve were similar across the low flow range and both suggested similar optimum discharges for spawning (1.1 and 1.4 m 3 s −1 respectively). However, electivity values suggested unsuitable conditions were reached at discharges greater than 1.4 m 3 s −1 whereas PHABSIM predicted relatively high WUA values at discharges up to 2 m 3 s −1 . Electivity indices provide an insight into discharge selection that is not dependent on hydraulic simulations or assumptions about microhabitat (depth, velocity, substrate) preferences. Moreover, they can be used to assess discharge suitability in hydraulically complex streams where the one-dimensional hydraulic models used by PHABSIM may be inappropriate. However, unlike PHABSIM, they cannot be used to predict the suitability of flows outside observed discharge ranges and so are limited in their application. Further work is required to refine the methodology and assess its transferability to other streams. Nonetheless, indices may represent a useful tool that can be used to complement other methods of assessing instream flow needs.

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Questions on Habitat Preference

Cited by 6 publications

References 2 publications

In‐stream habitat suitability criteria for feeding inanga (Galaxias maculatus)

In‐stream habitat suitability criteria for feeding inanga (Galaxias maculatus)

PHABSIM modelling of Atlantic salmon spawning habitat in an upland stream: testing the influence of habitat suitability indices on model output

Assessing discharge use by spawning Atlantic salmon: A comparison of discharge electivity indices and PHABSIM simulations

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