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Crichton BRJ, Hickford MJH, McIntosh AR, Schiel DR. Predicting biomass of resident kōkopu (Galaxias) populations using local habitat characteristics. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0261993. [PMID: 36917579 PMCID: PMC10013890 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
With the global decline of freshwater fishes, quantifying the body size-specific habitat use of vulnerable species is crucial for accurately evaluating population health, identifying the effects of anthropogenic stressors, and directing effective habitat restoration. Populations of New Zealand's endemic kōkopu species (Galaxias fasciatus, G. argenteus, and G. postvectis) have declined substantially over the last century in response to anthropogenic stressors, including habitat loss, migratory barriers, and invasive species. Despite well-understood habitat associations, key within-habitat features underpinning the reach-scale biomass of small and large kōkopu remain unclear. Here, we investigated whether the total biomass of large (> 90 mm) size classes of each kōkopu species and the composite biomass of all small (≤ 90 mm) kōkopu were associated with components of the physical environment that provided refuge and prey resources across fifty-seven 50-m stream reaches. Because kōkopu are nocturnal, populations were sampled by removal at night using headlamps and hand-nets until reaches were visually depleted. Based on Akaike's information criterion, greater large banded kōkopu biomass was most parsimoniously explained by greater pool volume and forest cover, greater large giant kōkopu biomass by greater bank cover and pool volume, and greater large shortjaw kōkopu biomass by greater substrate size and pool volume. In contrast, greater composite small kōkopu biomass was best explained by smaller substrate size, reduced bank cover, and greater pool volume. Local habitat associations therefore varied among kōkopu species and size classes. Our study demonstrates the importance of considering the ontogenetic shift in species' habitat use and provides an effective modelling approach for quantifying size-specific local habitat use of stream-dwelling fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben R J Crichton
- Marine Ecology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.,Freshwater Ecology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Michael J H Hickford
- Marine Ecology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand.,National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Angus R McIntosh
- Freshwater Ecology Research Group, School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - David R Schiel
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Christchurch, New Zealand
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Rossi GJ, Power ME, Carlson SM, Grantham TE. Seasonal growth potential of
Oncorhynchus mykiss
in streams with contrasting prey phenology and streamflow. Ecosphere 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.4211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel J. Rossi
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management University of California at Berkeley Berkeley California USA
| | - Mary E. Power
- Department of Integrative Biology University of California at Berkeley Berkeley California USA
| | - Stephanie M. Carlson
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management University of California at Berkeley Berkeley California USA
| | - Theodore E. Grantham
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management University of California at Berkeley Berkeley California USA
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Aquatic Biological Diversity Responses to Flood Disturbance and Forest Management in Small, Forested Watersheds. WATER 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/w13192793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We examined riparian system responses to an extreme rainfall event on 1–4 December 2007, in eleven small watersheds (mean area—13.2 km2) from 2008–2016 at debris flow, high flood, and low flood reaches (all extended overbank flows). Macroinvertebrate responses followed expected outcomes after extreme disturbance including increasing chironomids and other multi-voltine species. A core assemblage of twenty abundant and common species-maintained populations even after debris flow (likely by recolonizing quickly) with total richness during project of 253 including 183 rare species (<0.01 total abundance) supporting an annual turnover of species from 22 to 33%. Primary disturbance changes to habitat were declines in shade and in-channel wood at all reaches, more strongly at debris flow reaches. Macroinvertebrate communities across disturbance intensities became increasingly similar after the storm. Combined effects of the flood reducing channel complexity and previous logging decreasing in-channel wood recruitment from riparian systems, limits habitat complexity. Until this feature of forested watershed streams returns, there appears to be a ceiling on reach scale aquatic biological diversity.
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Matte JO, Fraser DJ, Grant JWA. Mechanisms of density dependence in juvenile salmonids: prey depletion, interference competition, or energy expenditure? Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jean‐Michel O. Matte
- Department of Biology Concordia University 7141 Sherbrooke Street W. Montreal QuebecH4B 1R6Canada
| | - Dylan J. Fraser
- Department of Biology Concordia University 7141 Sherbrooke Street W. Montreal QuebecH4B 1R6Canada
| | - James W. A. Grant
- Department of Biology Concordia University 7141 Sherbrooke Street W. Montreal QuebecH4B 1R6Canada
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Wilkinson CL, Chua KWJ, Fiala R, Liew JH, Kemp V, Hadi Fikri A, Ewers RM, Kratina P, Yeo DCJ. Forest conversion to oil palm compresses food chain length in tropical streams. Ecology 2020; 102:e03199. [PMID: 32969053 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.3199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2019] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
In Southeast Asia, biodiversity-rich forests are being extensively logged and converted to oil palm monocultures. Although the impacts of these changes on biodiversity are largely well documented, we know addition to samples we collected in 201 little about how these large-scale impacts affect freshwater trophic ecology. We used stable isotope analyses (SIA) to determine the impacts of land-use changes on the relative contribution of allochthonous and autochthonous basal resources in 19 stream food webs. We also applied compound-specific SIA and bulk-SIA to determine the trophic position of fish apex predators and meso-predators (invertivores and omnivores). There was no difference in the contribution of autochthonous resources in either consumer group (70-82%) among streams with different land-use type. There was no change in trophic position for meso-predators, but trophic position decreased significantly for apex predators in oil palm plantation streams compared to forest streams. This change in maximum food chain length was due to turnover in identity of the apex predator among land-use types. Disruption of aquatic trophic ecology, through reduction in food chain length and shift in basal resources, may cause significant changes in biodiversity as well as ecosystem functions and services. Understanding this change can help develop more focused priorities for mediating the negative impacts of human activities on freshwater ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare L Wilkinson
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117558, Singapore
| | - Kenny W J Chua
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117558, Singapore
| | - Roswitha Fiala
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University London, London, E1 4DQ, UK
| | - Jia H Liew
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117558, Singapore.,School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Victoria Kemp
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University London, London, E1 4DQ, UK
| | - Arman Hadi Fikri
- Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, Kota Kinabalu, 88400, Malaysia
| | - Robert M Ewers
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London-Silwood Park, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, SL5 7PY, UK
| | - Pavel Kratina
- School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University London, London, E1 4DQ, UK
| | - Darren C J Yeo
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117558, Singapore.,Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, 2 Conservatory Drive, Singapore, 117377, Singapore
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