The relative importance of local, lateral, and longitudinal variables on the development of habitat quality models for a river

Bouchard, Judith; Boisclair, Daniel

doi:10.1139/f07-140

Cited by 18 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 62 publications

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“…Similar results have been reported from studies in temperate regions (Wang et al, 2003;Johnson et al, 2007;Bouchard & Boisclair, 2007). We believe that our study scale contributed to this result.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

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Influence of environmental variables on stream fish fauna at multiple spatial scales

et al. 2016

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Effects of environmental variables at different spatial scales on freshwater fish assemblages are relatively unexplored in Neotropical ecosystems. However, those influences are important for developing management strategies to conserve fish diversity and water resources. We evaluated the influences of site-(in-stream) and catchment-scale (land use and cover) environmental variables on the abundance and occurrence of fish species in streams of the Upper Araguari River basin through use of variance partitioning with partial CCA. We sampled 38 1 st to 3 rd order stream sites in September 2009. We quantified site variables to calculate 11 physical habitat metrics and mapped catchment land use/cover. Site and catchment variables explained > 50% of the total variation in fish species. Site variables (fish abundance: 25.31%; occurrence: 24.51%) explained slightly more variation in fish species than catchment land use/cover (abundance: 22.69%; occurrence: 18.90%), indicating that factors at both scales are important. Because anthropogenic pressures at site and catchment scales both affect stream fish in the Upper Araguari River basin, both must be considered jointly to apply conservation strategies in an efficient manner.Os efeitos das variáveis ambientais em diferentes escalas espaciais sobre as assembleias de peixes de água doce ainda é um tema pouco explorado na região Neotropical. Entretanto é um assunto de extrema relevância, pois gera subsídios para definições de estratégias de manejo e conservação de ictiofauna e dos recursos hídricos. Nós avaliamos a influência de variáveis ambientais em escalas local (dentro do rio) e da paisagem (uso e cobertura do solo) na abundância e ocorrência das espécies de peixes de riachos da bacia do alto rio Araguari através da partição da variância usando CCA parcial. Um total de 38 riachos de até 3ª ordem foi amostrado em setembro de 2009. Nós quantificamos variáveis locais para calcular 11 métricas de hábitats físicos e mapeamos o uso e cobertura do solo. O conjunto de dados (variáveis locais e da paisagem) explicou mais de 50% da variação total nas espécies de peixes. Variáveis em escala local (abundância: 25,31%; ocorrência: 24,51%) explicaram levemente uma maior variação nas assembleias de peixes do que o uso e cobertura do solo (abundância: 22,69%; ocorrência: 18,90%), indicando que os fatores em ambas as escalas de estudo são importantes. Uma vez que a influência antrópica em diferentes escalas afeta as espécies de peixes em riachos da bacia do alto rio Araguari, ambas devem ser consideradas juntamente para a adoção de estratégias de conservação de uma forma racional. Keywords IntroductionStreams are hierarchically organized and spatially nested systems (Frissell et al., 1986 in which conditions at smaller spatial scales are constrained by processes at larger spatial scales (O'Neill et al., 1989). In other words, site conditions are influenced by regional conditions (Hildrew & Giller, 1994), and different variables may act at different scales (Willis & Whittaker, 2002). Some...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…However, contradictory results have been reported (e.g. Bouchard & Boisclair, 2007), including papers describing both catchment-and sitescale conditions with similar importance (e.g. Hughes et al, 2015).…”

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confidence: 99%

Influence of environmental variables on stream fish fauna at multiple spatial scales

et al. 2016

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“…Studies in Michigan and Wisconsin have shown that catchment-scale variables explain greater amounts of variation in stream biota than do local factors (Roth et al 1996;Allan et al 1997;Wang et al 1997, but other studies have shown that local and riparian conditions were better at explaining variation in stream biota (Lammert and Allan 1999;Stauffer et al 2000;Diana et al 2006;Bouchard and Boisclair 2008). Wang et al (2006) found that instream habitat explained more variation in fish assemblage measures than land use variables at all disturbance levels.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Catchment variables increased in relative importance as disturbance increased, but their importance never exceeded that of instream and reach variables. In a recent comparison of the relative strengths of local, riparian, and longitudinal variables in fish habitat quality models, Bouchard and Boisclair (2008) reported that 98% of the explanatory power was attributed to local instream variables. Our results showed (1) strong relationships between fish assemblages and physical habitat variables measured at a relatively small scale and (2) little or no improvement from addition of landscape variables at larger spatial scales.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physical Habitat and Fish Assemblage Relationships with Landscape Variables at Multiple Spatial Scales in Wadeable Iowa Streams

Rowe

Pierce

Wilton

2009

N American J Fish Manag

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Landscapes in Iowa and other midwestern states have been profoundly altered by conversion of native prairies to agriculture. We analyzed landscape data collected at multiple spatial scales to explore relationships with reach-scale physical habitat and fish assemblage data from 93 randomly selected sites on second-through fifthorder wadeable Iowa streams. Ordination of sites by physical habitat showed significant gradients of channel shape, habitat complexity, substrate composition, and stream size. Several landscape variables were significantly associated with the physical habitat ordination. Row crop land use was associated with fine substrates and steep bank angles, whereas wetland land cover and greater sinuosity and catchment land area were associated with complex channel and bank morphology and greater residual pool volume, woody debris, and canopy cover. Thirteen landscape variables were significant predictors of physical habitat variables in multiple linear regressions, with adjusted R 2 values ranging from 0.07 to 0.74. Inclusion of landscape variables with physical habitat variables in multiple regression models predicting fish assemblage metrics and a fish index of biotic integrity resulted in negligible improvements over models based on only physical habitat variables. Physical habitat in wadeable Iowa streams is strongly associated with landscape characteristics. Results of this study and previous studies suggest that (1) landscape factors directly influence physical habitat, (2) physical habitat directly influences fish assemblages, and (3) the influence of landscape factors on fish assemblages is primarily indirect. Understanding how landscape factors, such as human land use, influence physical habitat and fish assemblages will help managers make more informed decisions for improving Iowa's wadeable streams. 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. Abstract.-Landscapes in Iowa and other midwestern states have been profoundly altered by conversion of native prairies to agriculture. We analyzed landscape data collected at multiple spatial scales to explore relationships with reach-scale physical habitat and fish assemblage data from 93 randomly selected sites on second-through fifth-order wadeable Iowa streams. Ordination of sites by physical habitat showed significant gradients of channel shape, habitat complexity, substrate composition, and stream size. Several landscape variables were significantly associated with the physical habitat ordination. Row crop land use was associated with fine substrates and steep bank angles, whereas wetland land cover and greater sinuosity and catchment land area were associated with complex channel and bank morphology and greater residual pool volume, woody debris, and canopy cover. Thirteen landscape variables were significant predictors of physical habitat variables in multiple linear regressions, with adjusted R 2 values r...

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“…This is consistent with the habitat use of radio-tagged fish in late autumn in the River Aare, Switzerland, which indicated movements of about 300 m between day and night habitats covered during dusk and dawn (Huber & Kirchhofer 1997). As pointed out by Bouchard and Boisclair (2008), there are divergent results about the relative importance of the proximity of functional habitats in explaining fish densities, which could be related to the quantity and spatial arrangement of habitat patches in rivers.…”

Section: Relevance Of Metrics Of Supplementation and Complementationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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The relative importance of local, lateral, and longitudinal variables on the development of habitat quality models for a river

Cited by 18 publications

References 62 publications

Influence of environmental variables on stream fish fauna at multiple spatial scales

Influence of environmental variables on stream fish fauna at multiple spatial scales

Physical Habitat and Fish Assemblage Relationships with Landscape Variables at Multiple Spatial Scales in Wadeable Iowa Streams

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

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