Distribution patterns of fish communities with respect to environmental gradients in Korean streams

Stream development can generate environmental changes that impact fish communities. In temperate streams, the distribution of fish species is associated with environmental gradients. To analyze the relevant factors, large-scale exploration is required. Thus, to evaluate the distribution patterns of fish in Korea, sampling was conducted on a national scale at 720 sites over a 6-week period in 2009. A total of 124 fish species in 27 families were identified; Zacco platypus and Zacco koreanus of the Cyprinidae were the dominant and subdominant species, respectively. Of the species found, 46 (37.1%) were endemic and 4 (3.2%) exotic; of the latter, Micropterus salmoides and Lepomis macrochirus were widely distributed. Upon canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), both altitude and biological oxygen demand (BOD) were highly correlated with CCA axes 1 and 2, respectively. This explained 62.5% of the species–environment relationship. Altitude and stream order were longitudinally related to species distribution. The numbers of both total and endemic species gradually increased as streams grew in size to the fourth–fifth-order, and decreased in sixth-order, streams. Overall, fish communities were stable throughout the entire watershed, whereas some species showed site-specific occurrence patterns due to the paleogeomorphological characteristics of Korean peninsula. However, various anthropogenic activities may negatively affect fish communities. Therefore, both short- and long-term sustainable management strategies are required to conserve native fish fauna.

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Effect of the Human Utilization of Northern Snakehead (Channa argus Cantor, 1842) on the Settlement of Exotic Fish and Cladoceran Community Structure

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13052486 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 2486

Author(s):

Jong-Yun Choi ◽

Seong-Ki Kim

Keyword(s):

Community Structure ◽

Fish Species ◽

Micropterus Salmoides ◽

Lepomis Macrochirus ◽

Nakdong River ◽

Exotic Fish ◽

Carnivorous Fish ◽

Channa Argus ◽

The Nakdong River ◽

Exotic Fish Species

Empirical studies suggest that changes in the density of top predators, such as carnivorous fish, in freshwater food webs, strongly affect not only fish communities but also various primary and secondary consumers. Based on these findings, we explored how differences in the utilization of carnivorous fish (i.e., Northern Snakehead, Channa argus) by humans affected the fish and cladoceran community structure as well as the settlement of exotic fish species (i.e., Lepomis macrochirus and Micropterus salmoides) in 30 wetlands located in the upper and lower reaches of the Nakdong River. Our results show that in the mid–lower reaches of the Nakdong River, the density of C. argus was low, while high densities of L. macrochirus and M. salmoides were observed. Exotic fish species are frequently consumed by C. argus, leading to a low density of L. macrochirus and M. salmoides in the upper reaches, which supported a high density of C. argus. However, in the mid–lower reaches, the density of L. macrochirus was high because of the frequent collection of C. argus by fishing activities. The dominance of L. macrochirus significantly changed the structure of cladoceran communities. L. macrochirus mainly feeds on pelagic species, increasing the density of epiphytic species in the mid–lower reaches. The continued utilization of C. argus by humans induced a stable settlement of exotic fish species and strongly affected the community structures of primary consumers in the 30 wetlands. The frequency of C. argus collection has to be reduced to secure biodiversity in the mid–lower reaches of the Nakdong River, which will reduce the proportion of exotic fish species and increase the conservation of native fish.

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Large-scale patterns in species richness and composition of temperate riverine fish communities, south-eastern Australia

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf99061 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 51 (2) ◽

pp. 165 ◽

Cited By ~ 41

Author(s):

Peter C. Gehrke ◽

John H. Harris

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Large Scale ◽

Fish Communities ◽

Fish Fauna ◽

South Coast ◽

North Coast ◽

Large Spatial Scale ◽

River Types ◽

Eastern Australia ◽

Riverine Fish

Riverine fish in New South Wales were studied to examine longitudinal trends in species richness and to identify fish communities on a large spatial scale. Five replicate rivers of four types (montane, slopes, regulated lowland and unregulated lowland) were selected from North Coast, South Coast, Murray and Darling regions. Fishwere sampled during summer and winter in two consecutive years with standardized gear that maximized the range of species caught. The composition of fish communities varied among regions and river types, with little temporal variation. Distinct regional communities converged in montane reaches and diverged downstream. The fish fauna can be classified into North Coast, South Coast, Murray and Darling communities, with a distinct montane community at high elevations irrespective of the drainage division. Species richness increased downstream in both North Coast and South Coast regions by both replacement and the addition of new species. In contrast, species richness in the Darling and Murray regions reached a maximum in the slopes reaches and then declined, reflecting a loss of species in lowland reaches. The small number of species is typical of the freshwater fish faunas of similar climatic regions world-wide. Fish communities identified in this study form logical entities for fisheries management consistent with the ecosystem-focused, catchment-based approach to river management and water reform being adopted in Australia.

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Quantitative comparisons of the morphology and ultrastructure of erythrocyte nuclei from seven freshwater fish species

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z95-229 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 73 (10) ◽

pp. 1951-1959 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Charles H. Jagoe ◽

Dave A. Welter

Keyword(s):

Fish Species ◽

Yellow Perch ◽

Micropterus Salmoides ◽

Lepomis Macrochirus ◽

Nuclear Size ◽

Image Analysis System ◽

Cell Nuclei ◽

Homogeneous Population ◽

Differentiated Cells ◽

Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus Mykiss

Chromosome number and genomic DNA content vary widely among fish species, and ploidy can vary within species. This suggests that the size, shape, and morphological features of cell nuclei may also vary. Nucleated erythrocytes of fish are an easily sampled homogeneous population of differentiated cells ideal for inter- and intra-species comparisons. We collected blood samples from largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), chain pickerel (Esox niger), yellow perch (Perca flavescens), mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki), redeye bass (Micropterus coosae), and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and removed cytoplasm and nuclear membranes from blood cells. Individual nuclei were examined and measured using scanning electron microscopy and a computerized image analysis system, and inter- and intra-species differences evaluated by nested analysis of variance. Nuclear size and shape varied significantly among species. Isolated nuclei had conspicuous apertures or holes, and the number and size of these holes also varied significantly among species. Variations in nuclear size and structure within species were small compared with interspecies differences. Little is known of the ultrastructure of erythrocyte nuclei in lower vertebrates, but their structure differs considerably from that of other vertebrate non-erythroid cells, suggesting that the organization of their DNA and associated proteins may be different.

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Key Drivers Influencing the Presence and Absence of Micropterus salmoides and Their Effect on Native Fish Communities and Biotic Integrity

Water ◽

10.3390/w13233430 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (23) ◽

pp. 3430

Author(s):

Jung-Jae Kim ◽

Usman Atique ◽

Kwang-Guk An

Keyword(s):

Fish Species ◽

Largemouth Bass ◽

Micropterus Salmoides ◽

Fish Communities ◽

Biotic Integrity ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Native Fish ◽

Ecological Health ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Key Drivers

Invasive alien fish species (IAFS) influence recipient ecosystems in multiple ways, from altered native fish communities to poor ecological health and higher economic losses to control and eradication. We tested key drivers and connections between an IAFS (Micropterus salmoides) presence, absence, geomorphological, hydro-chemical, physical habitat, native fish assemblages, and large river basins biotic integrity during 2016–2019. A total number of 62,121 individuals (TNI) representing 74 fish species were observed, out of which 68 species (45,677 TNI) belonged to the Geum River (GR) basin, while 63 species (16,444 TNI) were from the Mankyong/Dongjin River (MDR) basin. The results illustrated a significant contrast based on stream order, catchment area, altitude, stream gradient, and width among the sites with and without largemouth bass. However, fluctuations in nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) were not affected by variations in pH, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, suspended solids, and river flow. The largemouth bass has emerged as the 8th largest fish population in the GR and swiftly occupies the MDR basin with a constancy value of 45.5. Native sensitive (r = −0.38), insectivore (r = −0.252), carnivores (r = −0.085), and TNI (r = −0.512) displayed a negative correlation with increasing largemouth bass abundance. Largemouth bass induced significant regime transformation in the carnivore species. A significant difference (p < 0.01) of biotic integrity was illustrated among the largemouth bass population sites. A conspicuous interplay between ‘poor’ ecological health (r = 0.33, p = 0.038, n = 41) sites and ‘fair–excellent’ (r = −0.38, p < 0.001, n = 622) sites as compared to the overall ecological health linked with largemouth bass abundance (r = −0.397, p < 0.001, n = 663) alluded to stronger impact of the IAFS. In conclusion, the largemouth bass has potentially altered the native fish assemblage and ecological health. Further, we conclude that rapidly shifting flow patterns supported by the expanding anthropogenic interventions (weirs and dam) are the most approving factors of impending fish invasions.

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A fauna de peixes nas bacias do norte do Espírito Santo, Brasil

SITIENTIBUS série Ciências Biológicas ◽

10.13102/scb118 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 27 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Luisa Maria Sarmento-Soares ◽

Ronaldo Fernando Martins-Pinheiro

Keyword(s):

Environmental Changes ◽

Sand Dunes ◽

Fish Fauna ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Biological Indicators ◽

Taxonomic Composition ◽

Semiarid Region ◽

Freshwater Species ◽

Espírito Santo ◽

Espirito Santo

The hydrographic basins of northern Espírito Santo comprises the systems of Itaúnas and São Mateus rivers. The present work is part of a series of studies on the fish fauna along Espírito Santo’s river basins. Forty-nine geo-referred points in rivers and rivulets of the area were evaluated, 20 in the Itaúnas basin and 28 in São Mateus basin. The environment and the taxonomic composition of the fish fauna were documented at every point, reporting a total of 83 species, including 47 freshwater species and 36 marine, belonging to 35 families and 11 orders. Among the freshwater fish species, the Siluriformes predominated, with 20 species, followed by the Characiformes, with 17 species. The Atlantic forest of northern Espírito Santo, known as “floresta de tabuleiros”, was originally composed of ombrophylous forest as well as swamps, coastal sand dunes, and mangroves. With the suppression of native forests, the region has suffered from desertification, and environmental conditions are similar to the northeastern semiarid region, where the run-off waters are dispersed or intermittent. The loss of environmental quality along river valleys is associated with the need to reestablish riverine aquatic conditions. Exotic species and risks of introductions need further studies in these areas. Rare or endangered species whose distributional range has diminished in response to environmental changes may function as biological indicators. Potentially new species are identified, and regional endemism and distribution patterns for freshwater fishes are discussed.

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Unraveling the effects of environmental drivers and spatial structure on benthic species distribution patterns in Eurasian-Arctic seas (Barents, Kara and Laptev Seas)

Polar Biology ◽

10.1007/s00300-020-02737-9 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 (11) ◽

pp. 1693-1705

Author(s):

Miriam L. S. Hansen ◽

Dieter Piepenburg ◽

Dmitrii Pantiukhin ◽

Casper Kraan

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Spatial Structure ◽

Large Scale ◽

Environmental Changes ◽

Spatial Scales ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Environmental Drivers ◽

Arctic Seas ◽

Faunal Distribution ◽

The Impact

Abstract In times of accelerating climate change, species are challenged to respond to rapidly shifting environmental settings. Yet, faunal distribution and composition are still scarcely known for remote and little explored seas, where observations are limited in number and mostly refer to local scales. Here, we present the first comprehensive study on Eurasian-Arctic macrobenthos that aims to unravel the relative influence of distinct spatial scales and environmental factors in determining their large-scale distribution and composition patterns. To consider the spatial structure of benthic distribution patterns in response to environmental forcing, we applied Moran’s eigenvector mapping (MEM) on a large dataset of 341 samples from the Barents, Kara and Laptev Seas taken between 1991 and 2014, with a total of 403 macrobenthic taxa (species or genera) that were present in ≥ 10 samples. MEM analysis revealed three spatial scales describing patterns within or beyond single seas (broad: ≥ 400 km, meso: 100–400 km, and small: ≤ 100 km). Each scale is associated with a characteristic benthic fauna and environmental drivers (broad: apparent oxygen utilization and phosphate, meso: distance-to-shoreline and temperature, small: organic carbon flux and distance-to-shoreline). Our results suggest that different environmental factors determine the variation of Eurasian-Arctic benthic community composition within the spatial scales considered and highlight the importance of considering the diverse spatial structure of species communities in marine ecosystems. This multiple-scale approach facilitates an enhanced understanding of the impact of climate-driven environmental changes that is necessary for developing appropriate management strategies for the conservation and sustainable utilization of Arctic marine systems.

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Impacts of Introduced Fishes (Carassius cuvieri, Micropterus salmoides, Lepomis macrochirus) on Stream Fish Communities in South Korea

Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment ◽

10.11614/ksl.2020.53.3.241 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 53 (3) ◽

pp. 241-254

Author(s):

Dae-Seong Lee ◽

Da-Yeong Lee ◽

Chang Woo Ji ◽

Ihn-Sil Kwak ◽

Soon-Jin Hwang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Korea ◽

Micropterus Salmoides ◽

Lepomis Macrochirus ◽

Fish Communities ◽

Stream Fish ◽

Introduced Fishes

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Status of Endemic Freshwater Fish Fauna Inhabiting Major Lakes of Turkey under the Threats of Climate Change and Anthropogenic Disturbances: A Review

Water ◽

10.3390/w13111534 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (11) ◽

pp. 1534

Author(s):

Daniela Giannetto ◽

Deniz Innal

Keyword(s):

Freshwater Fish ◽

Fish Species ◽

Native Species ◽

Fish Assemblages ◽

Fish Communities ◽

Fish Fauna ◽

Current Status ◽

Global Issue ◽

Freshwater Fish Fauna ◽

Endemic Fish

Due to its peculiar geographical position and its environmental heterogeneity, Turkey represents an important biodiversity hotspot for freshwater fish fauna. Unfortunately, native fish communities of Turkey, mainly from lentic ecosystems, have been massively altered in the past decades. Furthermore, these species, especially the endemic species, are now threatened by several human activities in addition to the global issue of climatic changes. The aim of this paper is to provide an updated review on the current status of endemic fish species from main lakes of Turkey including major threats affecting fish assemblages. By gathering data from the literature and authors’ personal observations, 62 endemic fish species were reported to occur in the considered 37 Turkish Lakes. The presence of non-native species, agriculture activities, climatic drought, and decreasing water level were found to be the threats that most affect the fish communities of the considered Turkish Lakes.

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Mercury, Lead, and Cadmium in the Muscles of Five Fish Species from the Mechraâ-Hammadi Dam in Morocco and Health Risks for Their Consumers

Journal of Toxicology ◽

10.1155/2021/8865869 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Mohammed Mahjoub ◽

Soufiane Fadlaoui ◽

Mohammed El Maadoudi ◽

Youssef Smiri

Keyword(s):

Trace Metals ◽

Atomic Absorption Spectrometry ◽

Atomic Absorption ◽

Health Risks ◽

Fish Species ◽

Graphite Furnace ◽

Micropterus Salmoides ◽

Lepomis Macrochirus ◽

Absorption Spectrometry ◽

Lead And Cadmium

This study aims to assess the degree of metal contamination (mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), and lead (Pb)) in the muscles of five species of fish Esox lucius, Sander lucioperca, Micropterus salmoides, Lepomis macrochirus, and Scardinius erythrophthalmus, from the Mechraâ-Hammadi Dam between July 2017 and May 2018, and to conduct a risk assessment for human consumers. Trace metals were determined by Graphite Furnace Atomic Absorption Spectrometry for the Pb and the Cd and by Cold Vapor Atomic Absorption Spectrometry for the Hg. The results gotten from the study of the muscles of the different fish species show that the higher mean amounts of Cd and Hg were determined in E. lucius, and the maximum mean levels of Pb were detected in S. erythrophthalmus. Results suggested that demersal fishes inhabiting near the sediments and piscivorous fishes with higher trophic level were likely to accumulate higher trace metal concentrations. The general order of bioaccumulation of the trace metals measured in the muscles of the fish species is as follows: Hg > Pb > Cd. Therefore, the bioaccumulation of Hg in fish studied is more important than that of Cd and Pb. Furthermore, these concentrations are higher in summer than in winter for all trace metals. All the values of the trace metals in the muscle tissues are below the maximum limits recommended by the European Community (EC) N° 1881/2006. However, estimation of noncarcinogenic health risks by the target hazard quotient indicated no obvious noncarcinogenic risks to humans that consume those fishes (THQ < 1). Results of THQ and maximum safe consumption indicated that Hg may cause more harm to human by fish consumption especially for E. lucius and S. lucioperca. Therefore, reduced intake of carnivorous fishes should be promoted as part of a healthier diet.

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Growth in encrusting cheilostome bryozoans: II. Circum-Atlantic distribution patterns

Paleobiology ◽

10.1017/s0094837300010010 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

pp. 304-321 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Scott Lidgard

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Environmental Gradients ◽

Distribution Patterns ◽

Two Dimensions ◽

Growth Patterns ◽

The North ◽

Upward Growth ◽

Third Dimension ◽

Environmental Limits ◽

Cheilostome Bryozoans

Differences in zooid skeletal ontogeny are strongly linked to the distribution of bryozoan species, even along such large-scale environmental gradients as depth and latitude. Three growth patterns broadly characterize zooid formation for encrusting cheilostome bryozoans: zooidal and intrazooidal budding, which facilitate growth in two dimensions at colony margins; and frontal budding, which also permits upward growth in the third dimension. Analyses of skeletal growth patterns of encrusting species present in 230 Recent assemblages from the North Atlantic, Mediterranean, North Sea, and Gulf of Mexico show that species with zooidal budding dominate overwhelmingly at lower latitudes and in shallower water, as assessed by percentages of species within assemblages. In contrast, patterns within moderately diverse fossil assemblages from North America indicate that within the geographic and environmental limits sampled, species with intrazooidal budding once dominated and probably originated in shallow, warm water environments. Intrazooidal budding now occurs with greater relative frequency among species from deeper and higher latitude assemblages. Patterns for frontal budding suggest a slight decrease with increasing depth, but no consistent relationship with latitude. These paleoenvironmental trends occur withn a putatively monophyletic clade and are markedly similar to onshore/offshore trends recognized in other groups of marine benthos, based on patterns of occurrence of supra-specific taxa and novel morphotypes. Results presented here are based on relative dominance of species within assemblages and thus provide a novel comparative test of these previously reported trends.

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