Variability in movement dynamics of topminnow (Fundulus notatusandF. olivaceus) populations

Abstract

– Movement and dispersal patterns are key biological processes across a range of organisational levels. The Fundulus notatus species complex includes several species with similar ecological niches that exhibit broadly overlapping ranges. We conducted a mark–recapture study on two of the most widely distributed members of this species complex to improve our understanding of their movement and habitat use. A population of F. notatus was studied between June and August of 2008 and 2009 in Cahokia Creek, a small tributary of the Mississippi River in Illinois, along with a parallel study of Fundulus olivaceus between May and July of 2009 in Big Creek, a tributary of the Pascagoula River in Mississippi. Fish were recaptured approximately weekly, and habitat variables were measured. Estimated daily movement rates varied significantly both between locations and between years. Fundulus olivaceus in Big Creek moved <1 m per day, while F. notatus in Cahokia Creek in 2009 moved nearly 23 m per day. The distribution of movements was strongly leptokurtic in all three data sets. Differences in movement rates were attributed to significant differences in population size and habitat characteristics. Our data did not support the hypothesis that populations consist of distinct mobile and resident components. Instead, individual fish went through periods of little or no movement followed by extensive movement (consistent with the home range shift model of fish movement). We discuss the implications these results have for contact zone dynamics between these two species.

Personality-dependent spatial ecology occurs independently from dispersal in wild burbot (Lota lota)

“…Heterogeneity in fish movement has been documented elsewhere (Crook 2004;Alldredge et al 2011;Radinger and Wolter 2013). Our results, however, are among the first to document a spatially and temporally consistent spatial behavioral syndrome.…”

Ecological factors influencing movement of creek chub in an intermittent stream of the Ozark Mountains, Arkansas

“…distances >100 m past the nearest neighbour habitat. Recent studies suggest leptokurtic distribution is a result of movement plasticity of individuals responding to various ecological factors (Alldredge et al 2011) and not a movement response by distinct subgroups within a population (Skalski & Gilliam 2000;Fraser et al 2001;Rodriguez 2002). In the perineal Conasauga River, Georgia, Johnston (2000) found that the federally threatened blue shiner followed a pattern of patch to patch movement similar to most fishes and suggested they represent relatively discrete subpopulations connected by limited dispersal.…”

“…Directional movement of stream fishes has been associated with many different ecological cues (Davey & Kelly 2007;Copp et al 2010;Alldredge et al 2011). For instance, Hall (1972) found several fishes compensated for downstream larval drift by migrating upstream to spawn.…”

Movement patterns of southern redbelly dace, Chrosomus erythrogaster, in a headwater reach of an Ozark stream

“…The ability of individuals to move among habitat patches depends not only on individual behaviour (Smithson & Johnston ; Petty & Grossman ; Alldredge et al. ), but also the level of connectivity between habitats (Albanese et al. ).…”

“…However, recent studies have shown that individual fish exhibit plastic movement responses to various factors (Smithson & Johnston ; Petty & Grossman ; Alldredge et al. ).…”