Spatial metrics and methods for riverscapes: quantifying variability in riverine fish habitat patterns

Pichon, Céline Le; Gorges, Guillaume; Baudry, Jacques; Goreaud, François; Boët, Philippe

doi:10.1002/env.948

Cited by 28 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 58 publications

(47 reference statements)

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“…The effect of the spatial structure of habitat on the presence and abundance of fish was tested using different spatial metrics described in Le Pichon, Gorges, Bo€ et, et al (2006) and Le Pichon et al (2009). For this study, a set of conceptually meaningful spatial metrics was selected: (1) longitudinal distances between patches or between samples and patches, (2) area-based proximity indices and distance-weighted metrics, and (3) proportions of habitat in a squared window centered on each sample.…”

Section: Spatial Metricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In daytime, feeding habitat patches are not the predominant choice because both species are generally using resting habitats (Le Pichon, unpublished data). Feeding patch structure is different at median discharge (70 m 3 /s) with a decreasing number of patches and an increasing distance between patches (Le Pichon et al 2009). Also, at seasonal scale, the spatial distribution of foragers could be strongly influenced by behavioral differences.…”

Section: Patterns Of Species Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In an adjacent artificial segment of the same floodplain (same length), the total area of the feeding habitat was reduced to 2.6% (divided by eight) of the channel area (Le Pichon et al 2009). In this artificial segment, managers will attempt to restore a minimal amount or a complex of feeding habitat patches by reducing the distance to reach a feeding habitat patch.…”

Section: Implications For Conservation and Restorationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This could prove especially useful in evaluating the level of access to complementary habitats necessary to ensure the long-term survival of endangered species (White & Rahel 2008). In one previous study, complementation and supplementation were quantified using metrics such as longitudinal distance to the nearest patch and habitat patch proximity index, modified for rivers from Gustafson and Parker (1994) by Le Pichon et al (2009). More recently, Flitcroft et al (2012) performed an analysis of the proximity and connectivity of fish habitats using GIS to calculate network distances representing the spatial structure of juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Using a continuous riverscape survey to examine the effects of the spatial structure of functional habitats on fish distribution

Pichon¹,

Talès²,

Gorges³

et al. 2015

Journal of Freshwater Ecology

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To fill the gap between microhabitat and landscape scale habitat models for freshwater fish, it is becoming increasingly common practice to adopt a continuous view of riverscapes, thus allowing a better understanding of the processes in place at the river management level (segments of 1À100 km). The aim of this study was to test the effects of the spatial structure of habitat on fish distribution at this scale. Inferred habitat relationships were generated using spatial metrics adapted from landscape ecology. These were calculated for two species of multi-habitat cyprinid fish in a 25-km long segment of the Seine River. A spatially continuous survey was then designed to acquire fish sampling data relating to the riverscape. Explanatory models were devised to quantify the extent to which environmental and spatial variables could describe fish distribution patterns. Spatially continuous sampling of feeding habitats at dawn and dusk provided greater understanding of the spatial distribution of common barbel (Barbus barbus, L.) and nase (Chondrostoma nasus, L.). Fish observations were aggregated longitudinally in neighboring feeding habitat patches, with the highest abundance found in patches with the best local conditions. The species were present for large feeding patches, as well as for a higher proximity index for those patches. This result emphasized the importance of the supplementation of feeding habitats. By quantifying spatial habitat relationships using spatial metrics, it was possible to identify the best suited configuration of functional habitats to the needs of shoals. At present, most conservation work focuses on restoring local habitats. There is also growing interest in large-scale fish management, which has been encouraged by the advent of metapopulation theory. This study highlights the need for greater work at a third, intermediate scale that is no less significant: restoring daily and seasonal movements between functional habitats.

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Section: Spatial Metricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Patterns Of Species Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Implications For Conservation and Restorationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Using a continuous riverscape survey to examine the effects of the spatial structure of functional habitats on fish distribution

Pichon¹,

Talès²,

Gorges³

et al. 2015

Journal of Freshwater Ecology

Self Cite

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show abstract

“…These methods need to be adapted for wildlife species in different environments (Le Pichon et al, 2009).…”

Section: Landscape Metrics Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A free and open source programming library for landscape metrics calculations

Zaragozí

Belda

Linares

et al. 2012

Environmental Modelling & Software

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Landscape metrics are used in a wide range of environmental studies such as land use change and land degradation studies, soil erosion and runoff predictions, management of hunting communities, and strategic planning for environmental management, to name but a few. Due to their utility for a variety of applications, there are many indices and software packages that have been designed to provide calculations and analysis of landscape structure patterns in categorical maps. With the purpose of making a profound comparison between the most used tools (Fragstats, V-Late, PA4…), we examined their advantages and disadvantages in order to create a list of common features that need to be incorporated into this type of software. We believe that an API without limitations on data input is necessary, capable of calculating vector or raster metrics and very extensible. This API should make it possible not only to build third party applications in easily, but would also make it possible to add new metrics and research into new paradigms related to traditional landscape metrics. We have started to develop a proposal based on open standards, which is FOSS. We have called this API Land-metrics DIY (Do It Yourself). It can calculate almost 40 landscape metrics from geometry provided by an ESRI Shapefile, but we are working to complete its contents as we explain in this article.

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Simulating riparian disturbance: Reach scale impacts on aquatic habitat in gravel bed streams

Davidson

Eaton

2015

Water Resour. Res.

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Large wood governs channel morphology, as well as the availability of in‐stream habitat, in many forested streams. In this paper, we use a stochastic, physically based model to simulate wood recruitment and in‐stream geomorphic processes, in order to explore the influence of disturbance history on the availability of aquatic habitat. Specifically, we consider the effects of fire on a range of stream sizes by varying the rate of tree toppling over time in a simulated forest characterized by a tree height of 30 m. We also consider the effects of forest harvesting with various riparian buffer sizes, by limiting the lateral extent of the riparian stand. Our results show that pulsed inputs of wood increase the availability and variability of physical habitat in the postfire period; reach‐averaged pool area and deposit area double in small streams, while side channels increase by over 50% in intermediate‐sized channels. By contrast, forest harvesting reduces the availability of habitat within the reach, though the effects diminish with increasing buffer size or stream width; in laterally stable streams the effects are minimal so long as buffer width is large enough for key pieces to be recruited to the reach. This research emphasizes the importance of natural disturbance in creating and maintaining habitat heterogeneity and shows that scenario‐based numerical modeling provides a useful tool for assessing the historical range of variability associated with natural disturbance, as well as changes in habitat relevant to fish. It can be also used to inform forest harvesting and management.

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Spatial metrics and methods for riverscapes: quantifying variability in riverine fish habitat patterns

Cited by 28 publications

References 58 publications

Using a continuous riverscape survey to examine the effects of the spatial structure of functional habitats on fish distribution

Using a continuous riverscape survey to examine the effects of the spatial structure of functional habitats on fish distribution

A free and open source programming library for landscape metrics calculations

Simulating riparian disturbance: Reach scale impacts on aquatic habitat in gravel bed streams

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