scholarly journals Species-Richness Responses to Water-Withdrawal Scenarios and Minimum Flow Levels: Evaluating Presumptive Standards in the Tennessee and Cumberland River Basins

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1334
Author(s):  
Lucas J. Driver ◽  
Jennifer M. Cartwright ◽  
Rodney R. Knight ◽  
William J. Wolfe
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Reference Conditions ◽  
River Basins ◽  
Water Withdrawal ◽  
Management Decisions ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Minimum Flow ◽  
Resource Managers ◽  
Cumberland River

Water-resource managers are challenged to balance growing water demand with protecting aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity. Management decisions can benefit from improved understanding of water-withdrawal impacts on hydrologic regimes and ecological assemblages. This study used ecological limit functions for fish groups within the Tennessee and Cumberland River basins to predict species richness responses under simulated constant-rate (CR) and percent-of-flow (POF) withdrawals and for different minimum flow level protections. Streamflow characteristics (SFC) and richness were generally less sensitive to POF withdrawals than CR withdrawals among sites, fish groups, and ecoregions. Species richness generally declined with increasing withdrawals, but responses were variable depending on site-specific departures of SFCs from reference conditions, drainage area, fish group, ecoregion, and minimum flow level. Under POF withdrawals, 10% and 20% daily flow reductions often resulted in loss of <1 species and/or ≤5% richness among fish groups. Median ecological withdrawal thresholds ranged from 3.5–31% for POF withdrawals and from 0.01–0.92 m3/s for CR withdrawals across fish groups and ecoregions. Application of minimum flow level cutoffs often resulted in damping effects on SFC and richness responses, indicating that protection of low streamflows may mitigate hydrologic alteration and fish species richness loss related to water withdrawals. Site-specific and regionally summarized responses of flow regimes and fish assemblages under alternative withdrawal strategies in this study may be useful in informing water-management decisions regarding streamflow allocation and maintaining ecological flows.

Cyprinid distributions in Northeast U.S.A. lakes: evidence of regional-scale minnow biodiversity losses

1997 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 1593-1607 ◽  
Author(s):  
T R Whittier ◽  
D B Halliwell ◽  
S G Paulsen
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
New England ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Median Number ◽  
Southern New England ◽  
Sample Data ◽  
Golden Shiner ◽  
Northern New England

Fish assemblages were sampled in 195 randomly selected lakes in the northeastern United States during the summers of 1991-1994. Most lakes in northern Maine had three to seven minnow species, constituting 40-80% of species in each lake. Lakes in New Jersey, southern New York, and southern New England rarely had minnows, other than golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas). Lakes in the Adirondacks and the remainder of northern New England had intermediate numbers. We examined minnow native ranges and autecology and evaluated species richness related to littoral predators and human disturbance. Sample data suggested alteration in the minnow assemblages over much of the region. The most consistent factor related to minnow species richness was the presence of littoral predators. Median number of minnow species was two in lakes lacking predators and zero in lakes with predators. Non-native predators, especially Micropterus spp., have been introduced throughout the Northeast; 69% of the sampled lakes had non-native predators. In the absence of predators, minnow species declined with increased human activity in the watershed and along lake shorelines. Only in northern Maine did lake minnow assemblages seem relatively intact.

scholarly journals Are General Circulation Models Ready for Operational Streamflow Forecasting for Water Management in the Ganges and Brahmaputra River Basins?

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Safat Sikder ◽  
Xiaodong Chen ◽  
Faisal Hossain ◽  
Jason B. Roberts ◽  
Franklin Robertson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Management ◽  
River Basins ◽  
Hydrologic Model ◽  
Streamflow Forecasting ◽  
Management Decisions ◽  
Brahmaputra River ◽  
Ganges Basin ◽  
Monthly Scale ◽  
Brahmaputra Basin ◽  
The Ganges

Abstract This study asks the question of whether GCMs are ready to be operationalized for streamflow forecasting in South Asian river basins, and if so, at what temporal scales and for which water management decisions are they likely to be relevant? The authors focused on the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna basins for which there is a gridded hydrologic model calibrated for the 2002–10 period. The North American Multimodel Ensemble (NMME) suite of eight GCM hindcasts was applied to generate precipitation forecasts for each month of the 1982–2012 (30 year) period at up to 6 months of lead time, which were then downscaled according to the bias-corrected statistical downscaling (BCSD) procedure to daily time steps. A global retrospective forcing dataset was used for this downscaling procedure. The study clearly revealed that a regionally consistent forcing for BCSD, which is currently unavailable for the region, is one of the primary conditions to realize reasonable skill in streamflow forecasting. In terms of relative RMSE (normalized by reference flow obtained from the global retrospective forcings used in downscaling), streamflow forecast uncertainty (RMSE) was found to be 38%–50% at monthly scale and 22%–35% at seasonal (3 monthly) scale. The Ganges River (regulated) experienced higher uncertainty than the Brahmaputra River (unregulated). In terms of anomaly correlation coefficient (ACC), the streamflow forecasting at seasonal (3 monthly) scale was found to have less uncertainty (&gt;0.3) than at monthly scale (&lt;0.25). The forecast skill in the Brahmaputra basin showed more improvement when the time horizon was aggregated from monthly to seasonal than the Ganges basin. Finally, the skill assessment for the individual seasons revealed that the flow forecasting using NMME data had less uncertainty during monsoon season (July–September) in the Brahmaputra basin and in postmonsoon season (October–December) in the Ganges basin. Overall, the study indicated that GCMs can have value for management decisions only at seasonal or annual water balance applications at best if appropriate historical forcings are used in downscaling. The take-home message of this study is that GCMs are not yet ready for prime-time operationalization for a wide variety of multiscale water management decisions for the Ganges and Brahmaputra River basins.

scholarly journals Ichthyofauna sampled with tadpoles in northeastern Maranhão state, Brazil

Check List ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 1550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Matavelli ◽  
Aldenise Martins Campos ◽  
João do Vale ◽  
Nivaldo Magalhães Piorski ◽  
Paulo Dos Santos Pompeu
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
River Basins ◽  
Fish Diversity ◽  
Estuarine Ecosystems ◽  
Lotic Habitats ◽  
Freshwater Habitats ◽  
High Fish ◽  
Study Species

The Neotropic region has high fish diversity associated with freshwater habitats. However, for Maranhão state, most publications on the ichthyofauna concentrate on coastal or estuarine ecosystems. In this study, species of fish were sampled in lentic and lotic habitats in Cerrado areas (Cerradão phytophysiognomy) and in restinga areas (Atlantic Forest phytophysiognomy) in northeastern Maranhão state between January and July 2010. Thirteen species from 10 families and 6 orders were captured. Species richness was highest for the orders Characiformes and Gymnotiformes. Our results are the first records of the ichthyofauna of coastal drainage areas of northeastern Maranhão state, contributing to the understanding of the biodiversity of the Munim and Parnaíba River basins, and suggest the existence of a community that shares elements with those of the Amazon and Caatinga biomes.

How does the taxonomic status of allopatric populations influence species richness within African cichlid fish assemblages?

2003 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin J. Genner ◽  
Ole Seehausen ◽  
Daniel F.R. Cleary ◽  
Mairi E. Knight ◽  
Ellinor Michel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Cichlid Fish ◽  
Taxonomic Status ◽  
African Cichlid ◽  
Allopatric Populations

Relation between species richness and stream slope in riffle fish assemblages is dependent on spatial scale

2016 ◽  
Vol 99 (8-9) ◽  
pp. 603-612 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mateus Camana ◽  
Renato Bolson Dala-Corte ◽  
Fernando Gertum Becker
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Spatial Scale ◽  
Fish Assemblages

Effects of Urbanization on Stream Ecosystems

2005 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Endemic Species ◽  
Largemouth Bass ◽  
Fish Assemblage ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Habitat Alterations ◽  
Intensity Index ◽  
Specialist Species

<em>Abstract.</em>—We examined fish assemblage responses to urban intensity gradients in two contrasting metropolitan areas: Birmingham, Alabama (BIR) and Boston, Massachusetts (BOS). Urbanization was quantified by using an urban intensity index (UII) that included multiple stream buffers and basin land uses, human population density, and road density variables. We evaluated fish assemblage responses by using species richness metrics and detrended correspondence analyses (DCA). Fish species richness metrics included total fish species richness, and percentages of endemic species richness, alien species, and fluvial specialist species. Fish species richness decreased significantly with increasing urbanization in BIR (<em>r </em>= –0.82, <EM>P </EM>= 0.001) and BOS (<em>r </em>= –0.48, <EM>P </EM>= 0.008). Percentages of endemic species richness decreased significantly with increasing urbanization only in BIR (<em>r </em>= – 0.71, <EM>P </EM>= 0.001), whereas percentages of fluvial specialist species decreased significantly with increasing urbanization only in BOS (<em>r </em>= –0.56, <EM>P </EM>= 0.002). Our DCA results for BIR indicate that highly urbanized fish assemblages are composed primarily of largescale stoneroller <em>Campostoma oligolepis</em>, largemouth bass <em>Micropterus salmoides</em>, and creek chub <em>Semotilus atromaculatus</em>, whereas the highly urbanized fish assemblages in BOS are dominated by yellow perch <em>Perca flavescens</em>, bluegill <em>Lepomis macrochirus</em>, yellow bullhead <em>Ameiurus natalis</em>, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed <em>L. gibbosus</em>, brown bullhead <em>A. nebulosus</em>, and redfin pickerel <em>Esox americanus</em>. Differences in fish assemblage responses to urbanization between the two areas appear to be related to differences in nutrient enrichment, habitat alterations, and invasive species. Because species richness can increase or decrease with increasing urbanization, a general response model is not applicable. Instead, response models based on species’ life histories, behavior, and autecologies offer greater potential for understanding fish assemblage responses to urbanization.

scholarly journals A Hydrologic Landscapes Perspective on Groundwater Connectivity of Depressional Wetlands

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian P. Neff ◽  
Donald O. Rosenberry ◽  
Scott G. Leibowitz ◽  
Dave M. Mushet ◽  
Heather E. Golden ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Water ◽  
Water Table ◽  
Conceptual Knowledge ◽  
Groundwater Discharge ◽  
Depressional Wetlands ◽  
Hydrologic Connectivity ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Depressional Wetland ◽  
Resource Managers ◽  
Flow Through

Research into processes governing the hydrologic connectivity of depressional wetlands has advanced rapidly in recent years. Nevertheless, a need persists for broadly applicable, non-site-specific guidance to facilitate further research. Here, we explicitly use the hydrologic landscapes theoretical framework to develop broadly applicable conceptual knowledge of depressional-wetland hydrologic connectivity. We used a numerical model to simulate the groundwater flow through five generic hydrologic landscapes. Next, we inserted depressional wetlands into the generic landscapes and repeated the modeling exercise. The results strongly characterize groundwater connectivity from uplands to lowlands as being predominantly indirect. Groundwater flowed from uplands and most of it was discharged to the surface at a concave-upward break in slope, possibly continuing as surface water to lowlands. Additionally, we found that groundwater connectivity of the depressional wetlands was primarily determined by the slope of the adjacent water table. However, we identified certain arrangements of landforms that caused the water table to fall sharply and not follow the surface contour. Finally, we synthesize our findings and provide guidance to practitioners and resource managers regarding the management significance of indirect groundwater discharge and the effect of depressional wetland groundwater connectivity on pond permanence and connectivity.

scholarly journals Seascape context modifies how fish respond to restored oyster reef structures

2019 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 1131-1139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben L Gilby ◽  
Andrew D Olds ◽  
Christopher J Henderson ◽  
Nicholas L Ortodossi ◽  
Rod M Connolly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Oyster Reef ◽  
Pivotal Role ◽  
Oyster Reefs ◽  
Total Abundance ◽  
Fish Recruitment ◽  
Abundance And Diversity ◽  
Species Specific

Abstract The seascape context of coastal ecosystems plays a pivotal role in shaping patterns in fish recruitment, abundance, and diversity. It might also be a principal determinant in structuring the recruitment of fish assemblages to restored habitats, but the trajectories of these relationships require further testing. In this study, we surveyed fish assemblages from 14 restored oyster reefs and 14 control sites in the Noosa River, Queensland, Australia, that differed in the presence or absence of seagrass within 500 m, over four periods using baited cameras. Fish assemblages at oyster reefs differed from those at control sites, with higher species richness (1.4 times) and more individuals of taxa that are harvested by fishers (1.8 times). The presence or absence of seagrass nearby affected the abundance of a key harvestable fish species (yellowfin bream Acanthopagrus australis) on oyster reefs, but not the overall composition of fish assemblages, species richness, or the total abundance of harvestable fishes overall. These findings highlight the importance of considering species-specific patterns in seascape utilization when selecting restoration sites and setting restoration goals, and suggest that the effects of restoration on fish assemblages might be optimized by focusing efforts in prime positions in coastal seascapes.

Influence of some physico-chemical variables on wild fish richness beneath sea-cage fish farms in the Aegean Sea, Turkey

2020 ◽  
Vol 100 (7) ◽  
pp. 1171-1179
Author(s):  
Okan Akyol ◽  
Aytaç Özgül ◽  
F. Ozan Düzbastılar ◽  
Halil Şen ◽  
José M. Ortiz de Urbina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Wild Fish ◽  
Light Transmittance ◽  
Fish Farms ◽  
Physico Chemical ◽  
Sea Cage ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Cage Fish

AbstractThis study aims to determine the relationship between physico-chemical variables on a seasonal basis and wild fish assemblages beneath sea-cage fish farms. Assemblages of wild fish were counted monthly on two separate days at each of six fish farms between August 2015 and July 2017, by six rapid visual counts (RVC) in 5 minutes with scuba by two divers. Seawater samples were simultaneously taken by a Nansen bottle during the RVC from the fish farm barge. SST (°C), salinity (ppm), dissolved oxygen (mg l−1) and pH were measured by YSI multiparameter, while Secchi disk was also used for light transmittance. Wild fish species richness went up with increasing temperature and salinity in the Izmir region, however, this stopped at about 26°C and about 39 ppm. Wild fish richness increased when the DO was at a level of 7 mg l−1 and the pH at about 7.9 in Izmir. Between 10 and 20 m, light transmittance showed greater wild fish species richness in Izmir region. In contrast, the wild fish species richness of the Muğla region fluctuated more. In terms of wild fish species richness, these fluctuations increased with salinity and DO, while they decreased with SST, pH and light transmittance. However, the range of variation of the recorded physico-chemical variables is rather narrow. The results of the correlation matrix indicate that the relationship between wild fish species richness and pH and SST was statistically significant in Izmir region (P < 0.05).

Predicting fish species richness and habitat relationships using Bayesian hierarchical multispecies occupancy models

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 602-610
Author(s):  
Shannon White ◽  
Evan Faulk ◽  
Caleb Tzilkowski ◽  
Andrew Weber ◽  
Matthew Marshall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Fish Community ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Occupancy Models ◽  
Imperfect Detection ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Bayesian Hierarchical ◽  
Recreation Area ◽  
Species Occupancy

Understanding how stream fishes respond to changes in habitat availability is complicated by low occurrence rates of many species, which in turn reduces the ability to quantify species–habitat relationships and account for imperfect detection in estimates of species richness. Multispecies occupancy models have been used sparingly in the analysis of fisheries data, but address the aforementioned deficiencies by allowing information to be shared among ecologically similar species, thereby enabling species–habitat relationships to be estimated for entire fish communities, including rare species. Here, we highlight the utility of hierarchical multispecies occupancy models for the analysis of fish community data and demonstrate the modeling framework on a stream fish community dataset collected in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, USA. In particular, we demonstrate the ability of the modeling framework to make inferences at the species-, guild-, and community-levels, thereby making it a powerful tool for understanding and predicting how environmental variables influence species occupancy probabilities and structure fish assemblages.

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