Physical habitat structure in Danish lowland streams

We identified and characterized barriers to the upstream distribution by prickly sculpin (Cottus asper) and coastrange sculpin (Cottus aleuticus), based on their longitudinal distribution in 11 streams in the Puget Sound lowlands of Washington State. Eight streams had upstream limits associated with particular instream structures, and these were compared to distinguish features of barriers and non-barriers. In seven streams perch height greater than 15 cm resulted in a complete barrier. In one stream water velocity >4 m·s−1 created a partial barrier. Five of the eight barriers were one- or two-step fish ladders installed to facilitate upstream passage of Pacific salmon and trout. Water quality, physical habitat, and the presence of other fishes were not related to the presence or absence of sculpin species. Fish passage criteria in western North American streams are based on the swimming abilities of Pacific salmon and trout, without consideration for other, less motile native fishes. Structures installed to surmount previously identified impediments to upstream migration continue to inhibit sculpin movement, resulting in loss of upstream habitats for adults, with potential consequences to population size and trophic dynamics.

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Use of functional traits to assess changes in stream fish assemblages across a habitat gradient

Neotropical Ichthyology ◽

10.1590/1982-0224-20140185 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Mariela Domiciano Ribeiro ◽

Fabrício Barreto Teresa ◽

Lilian Casatti

Keyword(s):

Functional Traits ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Habitat Structure ◽

Trophic Ecology ◽

Fish Assemblages ◽

Habitat Degradation ◽

Species Traits ◽

Habitat Characteristics ◽

Physical Habitat ◽

Habitat Gradient

Abstract Functional traits are important for understanding the links between species occurrence and environmental conditions. Identifying these links makes it possible to predict changes in species composition within communities under specific environmental conditions. We used functional traits related to habitat use and trophic ecology in order to assess the changes in fish community composition between streams with varying habitat structure. The relationship between the species traits and habitat characteristics was analyzed using an RLQ ordination analysis. Although species were widely distributed in habitats with different structures, physical conditions did favor some species based on their functional characteristics. Eight functional traits were found to be associated with stream habitat structure, allowing us to identify traits that may predict the susceptibility of fish species to physical habitat degradation.

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Different levels of taxonomic resolution in bioassessment: a case study of oligochaeta in lowland streams

Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia ◽

10.1590/s2179-975x2012005000020 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 412-425 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Agustina Cortelezzi ◽

Laura Cecilia Armendáriz ◽

María Vanesa López van Oosterom ◽

Rosana Cepeda ◽

Alberto Rodrigues Capítulo

Keyword(s):

Habitat Type ◽

Environmental Indicators ◽

High Impact ◽

Habitat Characteristics ◽

Taxonomic Resolution ◽

Contamination Level ◽

Physical Habitat ◽

Test Species ◽

Lowland Streams ◽

Different Levels

AIM: This study evaluated the use of oligochaetes at different levels of taxonomic resolution as environmental indicators in Argentine lowland streams affected by different land uses. METHODS: Sampling sites were grouped based on the physicochemical and habitat characteristics (low-, moderate-, and high-impact disturbance). Collection of the oligochaetes samples was carried out seasonally in sediment and vegetation habitats. RESULTS: The increases in nutrients and organic matter produced elevated densities of the Oligochaeta, but when the disturbance also involved changes in the physical habitat or enhancements in toxic substances, the abundance decreased significantly to values even lower than those of non-impacted environments. The responses of Naidinae and Tubificinae were similar. The density of the Pristininae decreased with increasing impact, but those of the Enchytraeidae and Rhyacodrilinae increased at the most highly impacted sites. The Opistocystidae were not recorded in high-impact sites. Species richness and diversity (H') were lower in high-impact sites and even lower in sediments. Some species presented no restrictions in the habitat type or with the contamination level: Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, Dero furcatus, D. digitata, D. pectinata, Pristina longiseta, and P. aequiseta. Moreover, Trieminentia corderoi, Slavina appendiculata, and Aulodrilus pigueti exhibited the highest abundances at low-impact sites and were not registered in high-impact sites. CONCLUSIONS: The Oligochaeta show a relatively wide ecological valence through their extensive number of species. Although lower taxonomic levels can give information about environmental status, test-species' sensitivities to different types and degrees of contamination will be of utmost relevance to the evaluation of ecological quality.

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Physical habitat structure in marine ecosystems: the meaning of complexity and heterogeneity

Hydrobiologia ◽

10.1007/s10750-017-3160-0 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 797 (1) ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

L. R. S. Carvalho ◽

F. Barros

Keyword(s):

Habitat Structure ◽

Marine Ecosystems ◽

Physical Habitat

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Lakeshore and littoral physical habitat structure: A field survey method and its precision

Lake and Reservoir Management ◽

10.1080/10402381.2013.877543 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 30 (2) ◽

pp. 157-176 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Philip R. Kaufmann ◽

Robert M. Hughes ◽

John Van Sickle ◽

Thomas R. Whittier ◽

Curt W. Seeliger ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Habitat Structure ◽

Field Survey ◽

Survey Method ◽

Physical Habitat

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Disentangling the influences of habitat structure and limnological predictors on stream fish communities of a coastal basin, southeastern Brazil

Neotropical Ichthyology ◽

10.1590/s1679-62252014000100019 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 177-186 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Fabio Cop Ferreira ◽

André Teixeira da Silva ◽

Cristina da Silva Gonçalves ◽

Miguel Petrere Jr.

Keyword(s):

Habitat Structure ◽

Structural Characteristics ◽

Fish Communities ◽

Southeastern Brazil ◽

Stream Fish ◽

Physical Habitat ◽

Structural Factors ◽

Material Transfer ◽

Water Conductivity ◽

Sandy Substrate

In stream environments habitat structure and limnological factors interact regulating patterns of energy and material transfer and affecting fish communities. In the coastal basins of Southeastern Brazil, limnological and structural characteristics differ between clear and blackwaters streams. The former have a diversity of substrate types, higher water velocities, and lower water conductivity, while the latter have sandy substrate, tea-colored and acidic waters, and low water velocities. In this study, we verified the relative importance of habitat structure and limnological variables in predicting patterns of variation in stream fish communities. Eight first to third order streams were sampled in the coastal plain of Itanhaém River basin. We captured 34 fish species and verified that community structure was influenced by physical habitat and limnology, being the former more important. A fraction of the variation could not be totally decomposed, and it was assigned to the joint influence of limnology and habitat structure. Some species that were restricted to blackwater streams, may have physiological and behavioral adaptations to deal with the lower pH levels. When we examined only the clearwater streams, all the explained variation in fish community composition was assigned to structural factors, which express specific preferences for different types of habitats.

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