Correspondence Between Ecoregions and Spatial Patterns in Stream Ecosystems in Oregon

1988 ◽  
Vol 45 (7) ◽  
pp. 1264-1278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas R. Whittier ◽  
Robert M. Hughes ◽  
David P. Larsen
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Multivariate Analyses ◽  
Physical Habitat ◽  
Willamette Valley ◽  
Regional Patterns ◽  
Small Streams ◽  
Desert Regions ◽  
High Desert ◽  
Broad Scale

Multivariate analyses of biotic assemblages and physicochemical measures, species richness, diversity, and composition were used to evaluate the robustness of Omernik's ecoregion classification for small streams in the eight ecoregions of Oregon. Clearest differences were between the montane and nonmontane regions. For the three nonmontane regions, ordinations of fishes, macroinvertebrates, water quality, and physical habitat measures show the clearest differences, with the Willamette Valley ecoregion being consistently most unlike all other regions. Differences between the Columbia Basin and High Desert regions were clearest for water quality and physical habitat measures and fish assemblages. Differences among the montane regions were subtle. Of these regions, the East Cascade Slopes showed the greatest variability, as shown by the ranges of ordination scores for fishes, water quality, and physical habitat. Regional patterns in periphyton assemblages were markedly different from the patterns in the other groups of variables. Ecoregions can be used as a broad-scale geographic framework for classifying streams. This framework provides managers of lotic resources a useful alternative to river basins.

Historical Changes in Large River Fish Assemblages of the Americas

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Waste Treatment ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Large River ◽  
Low Flow ◽  
Physical Habitat ◽  
Willamette River ◽  
Habitat Alterations ◽  
The Past ◽  
Species Occurrences

<em>Abstract.</em>—The Willamette River is Oregon’s largest river, with a basin area of 29,800 km<sup>2</sup> and a mean annual discharge of 680 m<sup>3</sup>/s. Beginning in the 1890s, the channel was greatly simplified for navigation. By the 1940s, it was polluted by organic wastes, which resulted in low dissolved oxygen concentrations and floating and benthic sludge deposits that hindered salmon migration and boating. Following basin-wide secondary waste treatment and low-flow augmentation, water quality markedly improved, salmon runs returned, and recreational uses increased. However, water pollution remains a problem as do physical habitat alterations, flow modification, and alien species. Fish assemblages in the main-stem Willamette River were sampled systematically, but with different gear, in the summers of 1945, 1983, and 1999. In the past 53 years, tolerant species occurrences decreased and intolerant species occurrences increased. In the past 20 years, alien fishes have expanded their ranges in the river, and four native fish species have been listed as threatened or endangered. We associate these changes with improved water quality between 1945 and 1983, fish migrations, altered flow regimes and physical habitat structure, and more extensive sampling.

Landscape Influences on Stream Habitats and Biological Assemblages

2006 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Land Use ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Stream Water ◽  
Riparian Buffers ◽  
Physical Habitat ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Stream Water Quality ◽  
Agricultural Streams ◽  
And Function

<em>Abstract.</em>—Ecologists recognize that surrounding land use can influence the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems, but few studies have explicitly examined the relative effects of different types of land use on stream ecosystems. We quantified the relationships between different land uses (forested, urban, agricultural with or without riparian buffers) and stream physicochemical variables and resident fish assemblages in 21 southwestern Michigan streams. These streams were located within a single basin (Kalamazoo River) and ecoregion to minimize differences in natural landscape conditions. Streams responded to a gradient of land use, with forested streams having the least degraded water quality, physical habitat, and fish assemblages, and agricultural streams lacking buffers being the most degraded. Urban and agricultural streams with buffers displayed characteristics intermediate to forested and agricultural streams lacking buffers. In general, habitat complexity and water quality declined across this land-use gradient from forested to agricultural streams, whereas fish density, richness, and dominance by tolerant species increased along the land-use gradient. Although urban streams had lower percentages of altered land use (i.e., <40% urban) in their catchments compared to agricultural streams (i.e., >50% agriculture), both land uses appeared to have similar detrimental effects on streams suggesting higher per unit area impacts of urbanization on streams. The presence of forested riparian buffers along agricultural streams increased the complexity of instream habitat, but resulted in few benefits to fish assemblages, suggesting that stream water quality in altered landscapes may be constraining fish assemblages more than physical habitat.

scholarly journals Longitudinal patterns in fish and macrozoobenthos assemblages reflect degradation of water quality and physical habitat in the Bílina river basin

2010 ◽  
Vol 55 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 123-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Jurajda ◽  
Z. Adámek ◽  
M. Janáč ◽  
Z. Valová
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Physical Habitat ◽  
Elbe River ◽  
River Stretch ◽  
The Elbe River ◽  
Bílina River

The aim of this study was to provide the first account of fish and macroinvertebrate communities in a heavily degraded river basin in the Czech Republic. Fish and macrozoobenthos were surveyed at 18 sites in the Bílina River and 11 sites in tributary streams during June–July 2007. Fish were sampled by electrofishing and macrozoobenthos were collected by kick-sampling using a sweep net. The composition of macroinvertebrate assemblages in headwater and reference sites in the upper Bílina River indicated clean water with saprobic index (SI) 1.31–1.43 followed by a transitional stretch downstream the Kyjická reservoir (SI 2.05–2.32) and dramatic decline of water quality to SI 3.18 in the river stretch downstream of industrial and municipal pollution at Litvínov-Záluží. Despite several minor pollution sources on the subsequent downstream river stretch until its mouth into the Elbe River, the water quality indicators fluctuated in the range of lower betamesosaprobity (SI 2.06–2.58). Species richness and biodiversity indices followed a similar pattern as river saprobity. Twenty-three fish species were documented in the Bílina River basin. Chub (<I>Leuciscus cephalus</I>), gudgeon (<I>Gobio gobio</I>) and roach (<I>Rutilus rutilus</I>) were the most frequent species at the Bílina sites. Chub was the most numerous fish in the tributaries. Fish species richness in the longitudinal profile did not increase downstream in the Bílina mainstem, most likely because the presence of reservoirs and water pollution interrupted the river continuum pattern. Qualitative data on fish assemblages corresponded to the course of environmental stress. A sustainable fish community was documented only in the lowermost site in Ústí nad&nbsp;Labem near the confluence with the Elbe River. The Bílina River tributaries constitute potential refuges for fish in this basin.

From Catastrophe to Recovery: Stories of Fishery Management Success

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Rainbow Trout ◽  
Endangered Species ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Native Fish ◽  
Physical Habitat ◽  
Land Trusts ◽  
Municipal Governments ◽  
Willamette River ◽  
Nonnative Fish

<i>Abstract.</i>—Fish assemblages in the Willamette River basin (Oregon) were once substantially degraded by water pollution, channelization, dams, nonnative fish, and conversion of natural forest and savanna to agriculture and urbanization. Restoration actions have included basinwide waste treatment, physical habitat rehabilitation, recovery of the Oregon Chub <i>Oregonichthys crameri</i> to stable status, and stocking reductions of nonnative fish to protect native fish. State and federal sewage treatment regulations and funding, federal endangered species regulations and funding, and reduced funding and support for stocking nonnative trout led to those rehabilitated fish assemblages. Periodic fish and habitat monitoring has documented the following improvements in fish assemblages: (1) decreased occurrences of pollution-tolerant species and increased occurrences of pollution-sensitive species and native main-stem species, (2) increased number of abundant Oregon Chub populations, and (3) persistence of resident native Rainbow Trout <i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>. Notably, no known extinctions of native fish species have occurred in the Willamette River, water quality index scores in the lower river have improved from poor to fair, and water quality in the upper river remains good to excellent. In conclusion, enactment of laws and regulations for environmental protection and the collective actions of state and federal agencies, tribes, municipal governments, universities, land trusts and conservation groups, watershed councils, and private landowners have led to a substantially rehabilitated river. However, population and economic growth, climate change, nonnative fish, winter steelhead (anadromous Rainbow Trout) and spring Chinook Salmon <i>O. tshawytscha</i> listings, a superfund site, channel alterations, toxic substances, poor fish passage at dams, and altered flow regimes remain challenges. Four lessons learned are that (1) pollution control and improved water quality and flows are essential to the recovery and persistence of native fish populations, (2) recovery of endangered species is achievable but requires knowledge of their life history needs, (3) the greater ecological fitness of native stocks facilitates their persistence, and (4) research and monitoring, combined with public communication and collaboration, are essential for habitat and native fish assemblage rehabilitation.

scholarly journals Long-Term Ecological Health Assessment of a Restored Urban Stream Based on Chemical Water Quality, Physical Habitat Conditions and Biological Integrity

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung-Jae Kim ◽  
Usman Atique ◽  
Kwang-Guk An
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Good Condition ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Biotic Integrity ◽  
Urban Stream ◽  
Physical Habitat ◽  
Quality Factors ◽  
Restoration Measures ◽  
Chemical Water

We studied the chemical water quality, physical habitat and biotic integrity of an urban stream subjected to restoration measures in South Korea. We used the water pollution index (WPI), qualitative habitat evaluation index (QHEI) and index of biotic integrity (IBI) on the water quality, physical habitat and fish assemblage data respectively, during 2007–2016 in Gap Stream to evaluate the ecological health before and after restoration measures. The results revealed annual mean total phosphorus (TP) dramatically decreased by 13-fold for 10 years and the values of biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) also decreased by >50% over the time, indicating decrease in nutrient enrichment and organic matter pollution after restoration measures. In the meantime, biological health analyses using IBI indicated no major transformation in fish assemblages under restoration impact. However, the proportion of sensitive species increased, and tolerant species decreased after restoration. Gap stream is home to 50 distinct fish species. QHEI proposed that the physical habitat health was in ‘good’ condition during the study period. WPI showed the chemical water quality status remained ‘poor’ during and before restoration but improved to ‘fair-good’ condition in the ensuing years after restoration. The IBI results, however, indicated ‘very poor-poor’ biotic integrity irrespective of restoration measures. CHL-a and TP showed strong (r < 0.7) to moderately strong (r = 0.5–0.7) correlation with significantly important water quality factors. Spatially significant pattern change in TN and TP was obvious as measured levels were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in downstream than upstream. Principal component analysis successfully indicated the placement of water quality factors and indices used as in three distinct stream compartments. The higher pollutant levels in the downstream mainly linked to the nutrient-rich effluents from emerging from the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and industrial complexes operative in the stream catchment. Overall, restoration measures indicated minor impact on fish assemblages and physical habitat due to slow and steady improvement, however, water quality improved due to a decline of nutrients and chemicals downstream. This indicated a positive tendency of improvements in physical habitat and richness of fish assemblages in Gap Stream.

Habitat Elements in River Basin Management and Planning

1987 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 19-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edwin E. Herricks ◽  
Maria I. Braga
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
River Basin ◽  
River Basin Management ◽  
The United States ◽  
Physical Habitat ◽  
Basin Management ◽  
Habitat Analysis ◽  
Management Procedures ◽  
Habitat Simulation ◽  
Flow Quantity

Comprehensive river basin management mast move beyond narrowly focused programs dealing with water quantity or water quality. A more comprehensive approach to river basin management recognizes that both flow quantity and water quality can be summarized as habitat measures. A number of well developed physical habitat analysis and prediction procedures are presently available. Several computerized systems available from the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service (Habitat Suitability Index - HSI and PHysical HABitat SIMulation - PHABSIM) provide macrohabitat definition. We have developed a water quality based habitat component which operates effectively for general analysis. With an emphasis on site specific management in the United States, the macrohabitat definition procedures may not meet all river basin management and planning requirements. This paper reviews the results of research which characterizes microhabitat in streams and rivers and provides a valuable extension to basin management procedures.

scholarly journals Water quality drives the regional patterns of an algal metacommunity in interconnected lakes

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Sung Kim ◽  
Seok Hyun Ahn ◽  
In Jae Jeong ◽  
Tae Kwon Lee
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Community Assembly ◽  
River Flow ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Algal Community ◽  
Regional Patterns ◽  
Algal Communities ◽  
Species Sorting ◽  
Metacommunity Structure

AbstractThe metacommunity approach provides insights into how the biological communities are assembled along the environmental variations. The current study presents the importance of water quality on the metacommunity structure of algal communities in six river-connected lakes using long-term (8 years) monitoring datasets. Elements of metacommunity structure were analyzed to evaluate whether water quality structured the metacommunity across biogeographic regions in the riverine ecosystem. The algal community in all lakes was found to exhibit Clementsian or quasi-Clementsian structure properties such as significant turnover, grouped and species sorting indicating that the communities responded to the environmental gradient. Reciprocal averaging clearly classified the lakes into three clusters according to the geographical region in river flow (upstream, midstream, and downstream). The dispersal patterns of algal genera, including Aulacoseira, Cyclotella, Stephanodiscus, and Chlamydomonas across the regions also supported the spatial-based classification results. Although conductivity, chemical oxygen demand, and biological oxygen demand were found to be important variables (loading > |0.5|) of the entire algal community assembly, water temperature was a critical factor in water quality associated with community assembly in each geographical area. These results support the notion that the structure of algal communities is strongly associated with water quality, but the relative importance of variables in structuring algal communities differed by geological regions.

FISH DIVERSITY IN THE DOWNSTREAM REGION OF CIPANAS RIVER INDRAMAYU, WEST JAVA INDONESIA

Zoo Indonesia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Titin Herawati ◽  
Gema Wahyudewantoro ◽  
Yuli Andriani ◽  
Heti Herawati ◽  
Naomi Masnida Yunisia Siregar
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Census Data ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Upstream Region ◽  
Fish Diversity ◽  
West Java ◽  
Fish Collection ◽  
Java Sea ◽  
Downstream Area

Cipanas River is one river in West Java where its upstream region in Tampomas Mountain, Sumedang and it is emptied into the Java Sea, Indramayu. The study was aimed to investigate fish diversity in the downstream area of Cipanas River. The study was conducted by survey methods with census data collection techniques, taken place at 3 stations of Santing, Tempalong, and Cemara of Indramayu Regency. The parameters measured consisted water quality and fish assemblages. Water quality was measured referring to standard laboratory protocol, and fish collection was made by case net with different mesh sizes. The results showed that water quality conditions of the Cipanas River downstream was suitable for inhabiting fishes. There were as many as 548 individual fishes caught belonging to 21 species, 16 genera, and 14 families. Fish diversity was categorized as medium with 1.6 ≤ H ’≤ 2.2 indicating fairly good community structure, and the Evenness index was 0.81 ≤ E ≤ 0.86 to show highly evenly distributed.

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