Use of Reference-Site Fish Assemblages to Assess Aquatic Degradation in Pinelands Streams

Abstract

We compared species composition, relative abundances, and species richness of reference‐site fish assemblages to fish samples collected from Pinelands streams that displayed a range of water quality and watershed land‐use characteristics. We used detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) to relate community gradients to a complex watershed disturbance gradient characterized by increasing pH, specific conductance, and the percentage of developed and agricultural land in a drainage basin. Native species occurred across a range of conditions and dominated all sites. The major difference between reference‐site assemblages and those found in degraded streams was the occurrence of nonnative species at the degraded sites. Species whose occurrence within New Jersey is generally limited to the Pinelands were more frequently found at reference sites compared with disturbed sites, but these differences were not statistically significant. Based on relative abundance, only two native species displayed a clear affinity to either the disturbed or undisturbed end of the watershed gradient. Species richness did not clearly distinguish reference sites from degraded sites. Neither species composition nor species richness was related to stream size. Species composition based on presence/absence provided as good an estimate of Pinelands watershed disturbance as did relative abundance. The study demonstrates that ordination of presence/absence or relative abundance data using DCA provides a good measure of Pinelands watershed conditions. When evaluating assemblages found at both reference sites and degraded sites, our approach can provide at least part of the basis for developing regional metrics to assess the status of species‐poor fish communities or ranking biological samples based on inherent community attributes.

Development and validation of a Biotic Index for evaluation of environmental quality in the central region of Argentina

“…These results are in agreement with several authors who point out that species richness increases with the improvement of water quality conditions (Fausch et al, 1990;Oberdorff & Hughes, 1992;Lyons et al, 1995;Paller et al, 1996;Zampella & Bunnel, 1998;Kleynhans, 1999).…”

Composition and diversity patterns in metazoan parasite communities and anthropogenic disturbance in stream ecosystems

“…High acidity and low concentrations of dissolved solids characterize minimally disturbed streams in this region (Morgan and Good, 1988 ;Zampella, 1994). These ' reference ' streams typically support native fish communities (Zampella and Bunnell, 1998 ;Zampella et al 2001). However, in streams degraded by eutrophication resulting from upland agriculture and development, native fish communities are vulnerable to invasion by non-Pinelands species (Patrick et al 1998 ;Zampella and Bunnell, 1998).…”

“…Increased urbanization and changing agricultural practices from traditional farming to industrial style animal production is changing the landscape (Whal et al 1997 ;Mallin, 2000), and blackwater streams are more vulnerable to nutrient loading from agricultural and urban runoff than clear-water systems (Meyer, 1992 ;Mallin et al 2004). There is evidence that anthropogenically derived stressors have changed water chemistry and significantly impacted the composition of fish communities in these stream ecosystems (Zampella and Bunnell, 1998).…”

“…These ' reference ' streams typically support native fish communities (Zampella and Bunnell, 1998 ;Zampella et al 2001). However, in streams degraded by eutrophication resulting from upland agriculture and development, native fish communities are vulnerable to invasion by non-Pinelands species (Patrick et al 1998 ;Zampella and Bunnell, 1998). Patterns from various ecosystems suggest that as nutrients are added, species diversity often increases from very low to moderate levels with a rise in productivity (Mittelbach et al 2001).…”

Increased abundance of snails and trematode parasites of Fundulus heteroclitus (L.) in restored New Jersey wetlands

“…The grading process likely increases potential habitat for both pelagic (e.g., fish) and benthic (e.g., snails) organisms that may serve as hosts in trematode parasite life cycles. These newly established communities then attract wading birds (final/definitive hosts), thus enriching the wetland's trematode community (Zampella and Bunnell 1998;Huspeni and Lafferty 2004).…”