The effects of turbidity and an invasive species on foraging success of rosyside dace (Clinostomus funduloides)

Abstract

Summary 1. Habitat degradation and biological invasions are important threats to fish diversity worldwide. We experimentally examined the effects of turbidity, velocity and intra‐ and interspecific competition on prey capture location, reactive distance and prey capture success of native rosyside dace (Clinostomus funduloides) and invasive yellowfin shiners (Notropis lutipinnis) in Coweeta Creek, North Carolina, U.S.A. 2. Increased turbidity and velocity produced significant decreases in the number of prey captured forward of the fish’s location. It is possible that this represents an increase in the amount of energy expended per prey captured. 3. We used Akaike’s Information Criterion (AIC) to evaluate competing explanatory models for reactive distance (10 generalised linear models, GLM) and prey capture success (9 generalised linear mixed models, GLMM). 4. Reactive distance decreased by 12% with an increase from 2 to 4 conspecifics, whereas a 10 NTU increase in turbidity reduced reactive distance by 9%. Capture success was affected by velocity, dominance and competition, and varied among species. A 6 cm s−1 increase in velocity produced a 28% decline in capture probability; however, dominant fish were 3.2 times more likely to capture a prey item than non‐dominant fish. Yellowfin shiners only were 0.62 times as likely to capture a prey item as rosyside dace. Both intra‐ and interspecific competition reduced capture probability, and fish in high density intraspecific or interspecific trials were 0.46 times and 0.44 times as likely to capture prey, respectively, as fish in two fish intraspecific trials. 5. These results suggest behavioural variables are as important as physical factors in determining reactive distance and capture probability by these minnows.

Fish activity as determined by gillnet catch: A comparison of two reservoirs of different turbidity

“…These differences were most likely caused by earlier decrease and later increase of light intensity in turbid water at sunset and sunrise, respectively. Activity peaks lasted longer in the turbid reservoir, which could be explained by the higher general activity of fish in a turbid environment (Andersen et al, 2008;Hazelton and Grossman, 2009). Also, it could be connected to a shift in diel activity pattern in varying water temperatures, as observed by Hautala (2008).…”

“…We supposed together with others (Jacobsen et al, 2004;Andersen et al, 2008;Hazelton and Grossman, 2009) that fish would be more active under turbid conditions. Identification of prey in the turbid water is more difficult and increased activity can compensate for this situation (see Andersen et al, 2008).…”

Influence of habitat dynamics on the distribution and abundance of the federally threatened Santa Ana Sucker, Catostomus santaanae, in the Santa Ana River

“…Sedimentation alters streams in part by homogenizing habitats; as interstitial spaces fill in pool-riffle complexes dissolve into sandy runs (Rabeni and Jacobson 1999). High turbidity, resulting from fine sediment influx, can also decrease prey capture efficiency (Hazelton and Grossman 2009). In addition, sedimentation can degrade spawning habitat for fishes that lay eggs in interstitial locations.…”

Environmental correlates of the abundance and distribution of Belonesox belizanus in a novel environment

“…SRS, TSL, and WCA datasets were combined for analyses because they overlapped in time period, sampling method, and researcher collecting the data. Akaike's Information Criterion adjusted for small sample size (AIC c ) was used to assess the relative importance of competing candidate models for explaining B. belizanus density in the three different datasets (Burnham and Anderson 2002;Hazelton and Grossman 2009;Mickle et al 2009). Separate AIC c analyses were performed on each dataset because each differed on types of variables measured (i.e., Southern Red Mangrove dataset had no pH data; the Rocky Glades dataset had monthly and yearly record of all variables excluding salinity).…”