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Pinto U, Svozil D, Wright A, Powell M, Scanes P. Forgotten fish habitats: Developing a conceptual framework for evaluating intermittent waterways and flood channels as native fish habitats: Insights from two freshwater catchments in Australia. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2024; 370:122296. [PMID: 39244935 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 08/24/2024] [Accepted: 08/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Abstract
The ability to correctly identify Potential Key Fish Habitats (PKFH) before undertaking development assessments or stream restoration projects is a critical step for determining appropriate management interventions and offset strategies to minimize damage to all life stages of fish. However, there are no rapid, low-cost tools that can be universally utilised to identify PKFH in perennial streams and ephemeral streams in particular. We propose a conceptual framework for developing a rapid field appraisal based on a range of physical fish habitat-supporting features. Four steps are involved in developing the framework: 1) understand fish habitat features using published literature and sub-set model selection using actual data, 2) collect field data, 3) develop the conceptual framework, and 4) classify sites. We tested eight fish habitat-supporting features in the assessment and proposed a decision tree that guided the rapid appraisals at 104 ephemeral sites in southeast Australia. Out of 104 sites, 86% were identified as PKFH, 10% as likely key fish habitats and 4% as unlikely key fish habitats. The rapid field appraisal is cost-effective, simple to implement and does not require expert knowledge of fish habitats. Despite some limitations in the conceptual framework, this appraisal has great potential as a screening technique for PKFH in freshwater streams, particularly ephemeral streams in Australia and other overseas jurisdictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uthpala Pinto
- Science and Insights Division, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, The Environment and Water, Lidcombe, New South Wales, 1825, Australia.
| | - Daniel Svozil
- Surface Water Science, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, The Environment and Water, Newcastle, New South Wales, 2300, Australia
| | - Aaron Wright
- Conservation Policy and Programs Division, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, The Environment and Water | Climate Change Cluster, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, New South Wales, 2007, Australia
| | - Megan Powell
- Science and Insights Division, NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, The Environment and Water, Lidcombe, New South Wales, 1825, Australia; School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, New South Wales, 2109, Australia
| | - Peter Scanes
- Healthy Waters, 21 Northmead Ave, Northmead, New South Wales, 2152, Australia
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Xue R, Zhang K, Liu X, Jiang B, Luo H, Li M, Mo Y, Liu C, Li L, Fan L, Chen W, Cheng L, Chen J, Chen F, Zhuang D, Qing J, Lin Y, Zhang X. Variations of methane fluxes and methane microbial community composition with soil depth in the riparian buffer zone of a sponge city park. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 339:117823. [PMID: 37129967 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Riparian buffers benefit both natural and man-made ecosystems by preventing soil erosion, retaining soil nutrients, and filtering pollutants. Nevertheless, the relationship between vertical methane fluxes, soil carbon, and methane microbial communities in riparian buffers remains unclear. This study examined vertical methane fluxes, soil carbon, and methane microbial communities in three different soil depths (0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, and 10-15 cm) within a riparian buffer of a Sponge City Park for one year. Structural equation model (SEM) results demonstrated that vertical methane fluxes varied with soil depths (λ = -0.37) and were primarily regulated by methanogenic community structure (λ = 0.78). Notably, mathematical regression results proposed that mcrA/pmoA ratio (R2 = 0.8) and methanogenic alpha diversity/methanotrophic alpha diversity ratio (R2 = 0.8) could serve as valid predictors of vertical variation in methane fluxes in the riparian buffer of urban river. These findings suggest that vertical variation of methane fluxes in riparian buffer soils is mainly influenced by carbon inputs and methane microbial abundance and community diversity. The study's results quantitatively the relationship between methane fluxes in riparian buffer soils and abiotic and biotic factors in the vertical direction, therefore contributing to the further development of mathematical models of soil methane emissions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru Xue
- College of Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China; Limnology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University, Uppsala, 75236, Sweden
| | - Ke Zhang
- Department of Municipal Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611830, China; Sichuan Higher Education Engineering Research Center for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation of Village Construction, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611830, China
| | - Xiaoling Liu
- Department of Information Engineering, Sichuan Water Conservancy Vocational College, Chengdu, 611231, China
| | - Bing Jiang
- Dujiangyan Campus, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611830, China
| | - Hongbing Luo
- College of Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China; Department of Municipal Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611830, China; Sichuan Higher Education Engineering Research Center for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation of Village Construction, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611830, China.
| | - Mei Li
- School of Urban and Rural Construction, Chengdu University, Chengdu, 610106, China
| | - You Mo
- Department of Municipal Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611830, China; Sichuan Higher Education Engineering Research Center for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation of Village Construction, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611830, China
| | - Cheng Liu
- Dujiangyan Campus, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611830, China
| | - Lin Li
- Department of Municipal Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611830, China
| | - Liangqian Fan
- Department of Municipal Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611830, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Municipal Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611830, China
| | - Lin Cheng
- Department of Municipal Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611830, China
| | - Jia Chen
- Department of Municipal Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611830, China
| | - Fenghui Chen
- Department of Municipal Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611830, China
| | - Daiwei Zhuang
- Department of Municipal Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611830, China
| | - Jing Qing
- Department of Municipal Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611830, China
| | - Yuanmao Lin
- Department of Municipal Engineering, College of Civil Engineering, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611830, China
| | - Xiaohong Zhang
- College of Environmental Sciences, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China
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Dominici-Arosemena A, Angulo A, Osorio-Ugarte H, Ortega-Samaniego Q, Fraiz A, Guerrel A, Arauz E, Montiel J, Medina B, Rodriguez-Arriati Y, Gonzalez Y, Pardo J, Urriola K, Ramos-Merchante A. Range extension of Isthmoheros tuyrensis, a threatened species of fish (Cichlidae) in Panama: including new ecological and morphological data. JOURNAL OF THREATENED TAXA 2023. [DOI: 10.11609/jott.7950.15.2.22611-22622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2023] Open
Abstract
There are two endemic species of Cichlidae in southern Central America, both found in the Pacific Slope of Eastern Panama (PSEP). One is Isthmoheros tuyrensis, which until now was presumed to be distributed in the Darien Province and the Bayano River basin. Information on distribution and ecology of I. tuyrensis is relatively scarce. In this investigation we report a new range extension for the species and provide additional morphological and ecological data. Fish were sampled using electrofishing and cast nets, in three river basins of the Panama District (Matasnillo, Juan Díaz, and Pacora) from August–September (rainy season) of 2020, February–March (dry season), and April (transition season) of 2021. Fish diversity, water quality, and physical parameters were gathered within the upper, middle, and lower portions of the three basins. This study focused on the localities where specimens of I. tuyrensis were found (i.e., Pacora river basin). The presence of the species in localities with significant anthropogenic threats results in a potential barrier for distribution, along with the possibility of extirpation due to heavy pollution – in particular from the rivers on the western side of Panama City. In addition, we note an increase in urban threat from the east of the city due to expanded development and agricultural activities. I. tuyrensis, the virtually unknown “Aveinte” in Spanish or the “Isthmian Hero”, is listed as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s Red List and inhabits some river basins lacking effective protection, being the only endemic fish species located in an urban basin in the Pacific of Mesoamerica. The information on distribution, morphology, and ecology provided here will contribute to a better understanding of the species’ biology and will aid the creation and implementation of management and conservation measures.
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Characteristics of Plant Community and Its Relationship with Groundwater Depth of the Desert Riparian Zone in the Lower Reaches of the Ugan River, Northwest China. WATER 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/w14101663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
The vegetation in the desert riparian zone represents a critical barrier in the maintenance of the ecosystem’s balance. However, in recent years, the vegetation degradation of the riparian zone has seriously hindered economic development and ecological environment conservation. Based on a field investigation and literature, the mechanisms of vegetation degradation in the lower reaches of the Ugan River are discussed in this study through the analysis of plant coverage, diversity, substitution rate, distribution pattern, grey correlation analysis, and the relationship with groundwater depth. The results showed that the vegetation coverage in this region is relatively low when the water depth exceeds 4 m. Furthermore, the Shannon–Wiener index, the Simpson index, and the Pielou index all decreased with increases in water depth. Woody plants are the main species maintaining the ecological balance of the region with an aggregation distribution pattern. The degradation of vegetation is the result of the lack of water sources and the intense water consumption caused by human activities (especially agricultural). To promote ecological balance and vegetation restoration, the relative optimal water depth range should be maintained within 2 to 5 m as well as proper control of human activities. In addition, the degraded vegetation can gradually be restored using point and surface (i.e., flowering in the center and spreading to the surrounding areas). The results can provide a scientific basis for vegetation restoration and ecological conservation in the lower reaches of China’s Ugan River.
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Walker RH, Ashton MJ, Cashman MJ, Fanelli RM, Krause KP, Noe GB, Maloney KO. Time marches on, but do the causal pathways driving instream habitat and biology remain consistent? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 789:147985. [PMID: 34323823 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Stream ecosystems are complex networks of interacting terrestrial and aquatic drivers. To untangle these ecological networks, efforts evaluating the direct and indirect effects of landscape, climate, and instream predictors on biological condition through time are needed. We used structural equation modeling and leveraged a stream survey program to identify and compare important predictors driving condition of benthic macroinvertebrate and fish assemblages. We used data resampled 14 years apart at 252 locations across Maryland, USA. Sample locations covered a wide range of conditions that varied spatiotemporally. Overall, the relationship directions were consistent between sample periods, but their relative strength varied temporally. For benthic macroinvertebrates, we found that the total effect of natural landscape (e.g., elevation, longitude, latitude, geology) and land use (i.e., forest, development, agriculture) predictors was 1.4 and 1.5 times greater in the late 2010s compared to the 2000s. Moreover, the total effect of water quality (e.g., total nitrogen and conductivity) and habitat (e.g., embeddedness, riffle quality) was 1.2 and 4.8 times lower in the 2010s, respectively. For fish assemblage condition, the total effect of land use-land cover predictors was 2.3 times greater in the 2010s compared to the 2000s, while the total effect of local habitat was 1.4 times lower in the 2010s, respectively. As expected, we found biological assemblages in catchments with more agriculture and urban development were generally comprised of tolerant, generalist species, while assemblages in catchments with greater forest cover had more-specialized, less-tolerant species (e.g., Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera taxa, clingers, benthic and lithophilic spawning fishes). Changes in the relative importance of landscape and land-use predictors suggest other correlated, yet unmeasured, proximal factors became more important over time. By untangling these ecological networks, stakeholders can gain a better understanding of the spatiotemporal relationships driving biological condition to implement management practices aimed at improving stream condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard H Walker
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center at the Leetown Research Laboratory, Kearneysville, WV, USA.
| | - Matthew J Ashton
- Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Monitoring and Non-Tidal Assessment Division, Annapolis, MD, USA
| | - Matthew J Cashman
- U.S. Geological Survey, Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Water Science Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Rosemary M Fanelli
- U.S. Geological Survey, South Atlantic Water Science Center, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Kevin P Krause
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center at the Leetown Research Laboratory, Kearneysville, WV, USA
| | - Gregory B Noe
- U.S. Geological Survey, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, Reston, VA, USA
| | - Kelly O Maloney
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center at the Leetown Research Laboratory, Kearneysville, WV, USA
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Soo CL, Nyanti L, Idris NE, Ling TY, Sim SF, Grinang J, Ganyai T, Lee KSP. Fish biodiversity and assemblages along the altitudinal gradients of tropical mountainous forest streams. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16922. [PMID: 34413385 PMCID: PMC8376917 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96253-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of the fundamental aspects of ecology such as the patterns of fish species distribution and biodiversity in the forest streams is the first and basic step to develop effective conservation strategies. Yet, studies on altitudinal changes of fish composition and assemblages in Bornean forest streams are scarce despite being one of the hotspots of biodiversity conservation. Hence, surveys on freshwater fish composition along the altitudinal gradients of the Baleh River Basin in Sarawak, Borneo were conducted from April 2014 to August 2015. The Baleh River Basin was divided into seven altitudinal groups with a total of 72 stations. Group elevation ranged from 53 to 269 m above sea level. The fish samples and environmental parameters were taken concurrently during samplings. A total of 3565 specimens belonging to six orders, 14 families, and 76 species were found in the present study. The most dominant family in the Baleh River Basin was Cyprinidae (74.4%), followed by Gastromyzontidae (16.2%) while the most dominant species was Tor tambra (12.9%), followed by Lobocheilos ovalis (12.3%). Fish abundance significantly higher at high altitude sites than those at low altitude sites except for Mengiong River which has the lowest fish abundance despite with high elevation. Species richness was found significantly lower in midstream segment. Noticeable altitudinal gradient of fish assemblages was observed along the Baleh River except a discontinuity at the midstream segment which is attributable to the poorer quality inflow from the Mengiong River coupled with the meandering feature of the segment. Fish abundance was significantly and positively correlated with elevation, water pH and conductivity while negatively correlated with turbidity. Anthropogenic activities in the Baleh River Basin had altered the environmental variables thus disrupted the altitudinal gradient of fish assemblages. This phenomenon is apparent when the Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) revealed that the first axis (CCA1) explained 42.5% of the variation and has positive loading on dissolved oxygen (DO) and negative loading on water conductivity; whereas CCA2 explained 37.5% of the variation and positively loaded on elevation, water pH, and DO. The results demonstrated that Gastromyzon fasciatus preferred more oxygenated water than Protomyzon sp., G. sp 1, and G. punctulatus although they are all from Gastromyzontidae family that inhabiting high altitude sites. Barbonymus schwanenfeldii was also found most abundant with elevated dissolved oxygen value. On the other hand, Rasbora volzii and R. hosii inhabiting lower altitude sites with less oxygenated and more acidic water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Lin Soo
- grid.265727.30000 0001 0417 0814Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Malaysia
| | - Lee Nyanti
- grid.412253.30000 0000 9534 9846Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak Malaysia
| | - Nur Ezaimah Idris
- grid.412253.30000 0000 9534 9846Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak Malaysia
| | - Teck-Yee Ling
- grid.412253.30000 0000 9534 9846Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak Malaysia
| | - Siong-Fong Sim
- grid.412253.30000 0000 9534 9846Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak Malaysia
| | - Jongkar Grinang
- grid.412253.30000 0000 9534 9846Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak Malaysia
| | - Tonny Ganyai
- Research and Development Department, Sarawak Energy Berhad, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak Malaysia
| | - Karen-Suan-Ping Lee
- Research and Development Department, Sarawak Energy Berhad, 93050 Kuching, Sarawak Malaysia
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Vieira TB, Brasil LS, da Silva LCN, Tejerina‐Garro FL, de Aquino PDPU, Pompeu PS, de Marco P. Elements of fish metacommunity structure in Neotropical freshwater streams. Ecol Evol 2020; 10:12024-12035. [PMID: 33209267 PMCID: PMC7663076 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.6804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of the mechanisms underlying patterns of species co-occurrence is a way to identify which process(es) (niche, neutral, or both) structure metacommunities. The current paper had the goal of identifying patterns of co-occurrence in Neotropical stream fish and determining which processes structure the fish metacommunity, and identifying any gradients underlying this structure. Results indicated that the metacommunity formed by the species pool was structured by a pattern of nested co-occurrence (hyperdispersed species loss) and a mass-effect mechanism. However, a set of core species, displaying a Clementsian pattern, was structured by a species-sorting mechanism. Both, hyperdispersed species loss and the Clementsian patterns point to a discrete set of communities within the metacommunity. These communities could be isolated by the water physicochemical conditions or morphological characteristics of the stream channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiago Bernardi Vieira
- Laboratório de Ictiologia de AltamiraFaculdade de Ciências BiológicasUniversidade Federal do ParáAltamiraParáBrazil
| | | | - Liriann Chrisley N. da Silva
- Laboratório de Ictiologia de AltamiraFaculdade de Ciências BiológicasUniversidade Federal do ParáAltamiraParáBrazil
| | - Francisco Leonardo Tejerina‐Garro
- Centro de Biologia AquáticaEscola de Ciências Agrárias e BiológicasPontifícia Universidade Católica de GoiásGoiâniaGoiásBrazil
- Programa de Pós‐Graduação em SociedadeTecnologia e Meio ambienteUniEVANGÉLICAAnápolisGoiásBrazil
| | | | - Paulo S. Pompeu
- Departamento de BiologiaUniversidade Federal de LavrasLavrasMinas GeraisBrazil
| | - Paulo de Marco
- Departamento de EcologiaInstituto de Ciências BiológicasUniversidade Federal de Goiás Campus IIGoiâniaGoiásBrazil
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