Slow Recovery of Headwater-Stream Fishes Following a Catastrophic Poisoning Event

Abstract Accidental spills of chemicals and other pollutants can decimate populations of stream-dwelling species. Recovery from such accidents can be relatively fast and complete when the affected stream reaches can be recolonized from upstream and downstream sources. However, faunal recoveries from accidental spills that extirpate populations from entire headwater streams have not been extensively documented, and understanding resilience of headwater-stream biota is relevant for assessing threats to at-risk species. We assessed recovery of fish populations in a 5.7-km-long headwater stream in the southeastern United States following a complete, or nearly complete, fish-kill caused by a chemical spill near the source of the stream. We sampled for fishes at five stream locations, two downstream and three upstream from a perched, culverted road-crossing located 2.4 km upstream from the stream mouth, over a period of 18.5 mo following the poisoning event. We observed 11 fish species, representing ≤65% of the fish species expected based on occurrences in nearby tributary streams. In postpoisoning sampling, only three of these taxa were observed upstream of the culvert; all 11 species, including the federally threatened Cherokee Darter Etheostoma scotti, were found downstream of the culvert but were mostly represented by a few, large individuals. In contrast, dead individuals of at least eight taxa including the Cherokee Darter were observed upstream of the culvert at the time of the fish-kill. These observations provide evidence of slow recovery of a headwater fish fauna, and especially upstream of a barrier to fish movement, where the recolonization sources are primarily downstream. Additional case studies may reveal whether this result applies generally to headwater streams. Slow recovery could make species that primarily inhabit or maintain greatest abundances in headwaters, including multiple at-risk fishes, particularly vulnerable to the threat of accidental spills that result in local population extirpation.

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Headwater stream fish fauna from the Upper Paranapanema River basin

Biota Neotropica ◽

10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2015-0145 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 16 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Mauricio Cetra ◽

George Mendes Taliaferro Mattox ◽

Fabio Cop Ferreira ◽

Rayssa Bernardi Guinato ◽

Fernando Vieira Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

River Basin ◽

Fish Species ◽

Fish Communities ◽

Fish Fauna ◽

Dry Season ◽

Headwater Stream ◽

Paraná River ◽

Stream Fish ◽

Parana River ◽

Paraná River Basin

Abstract The Paraná River basin has about 600 fish species. In the Upper Paraná, 310 fish species were recorded, with 52 species were registered in the streams and headwaters of the Paranapanema River. The aim of this study was to characterize the stream fish communities in the Upper Paranapanema River basin. Samplings were conducted with electrofishing during the dry season in the year of 2014. The collection effort consisted of 30 streams stretches. As a result, 41 species of stream fish were recorded in the Upper Paranapanema River basin, distributed in 26 genera, 11 families and 7 orders. Thirty-nine percent of the species can be considered rare, 41% intermediate and 20% common. We captured approximately eight species by stream stretch and the estimated richness (Schao2) was 40 ± 6 species. Around 40% of the individuals had less than 50 mm in length.

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Advancing improvement in riverine water quality caused a non-native fish species invasion and native fish fauna recovery

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-93751-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Łukasz Głowacki ◽

Andrzej Kruk ◽

Tadeusz Penczak

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Fish Species ◽

Native Species ◽

Interference Competition ◽

Fish Fauna ◽

Species Traits ◽

Native Fish ◽

Biological Degradation ◽

Species Invasion ◽

Prussian Carp

AbstractThe knowledge of biotic and abiotic drivers that put non-native invasive fishes at a disadvantage to native ones is necessary for suppressing invasions, but the knowledge is scarce, particularly when abiotic changes are fast. In this study, we increased this knowledge by an analysis of the biomass of most harmful Prussian carp Carassius gibelio in a river reviving from biological degradation. The species' invasion followed by the invasion's reversal occurred over only two decades and were documented by frequent monitoring of fish biomass and water quality. An initial moderate improvement in water quality was an environmental filter that enabled Prussian carp’s invasion but prevented the expansion of other species. A later substantial improvement stimulated native species’ colonization of the river, and made one rheophil, ide Leuciscus idus, a significant Prussian carp’s replacer. The redundancy analysis (RDA) of the dependence of changes in the biomass of fish species on water quality factors indicated that Prussian carp and ide responded in a significantly opposite way to changes in water quality in the river over the study period. However, the dependence of Prussian carp biomass on ide biomass, as indicated by regression analysis and analysis of species traits, suggests that the ecomorphological similarity of both species might have produced interference competition that contributed to Prussian carp’s decline.

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Inhabitat status and gastric contents of invasive fish species and the effect on fish fauna at three reservoirs in National Parks of Korea

Korean Journal of Ichthyology ◽

10.35399/isk.33.2.5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 84-94

Author(s):

Seung-Chul Park ◽

Kwang Yeol Lee ◽

Kwang-Seek Choi ◽

Mee-Sook Han ◽

Myeong-Hun Ko

Keyword(s):

National Parks ◽

Fish Species ◽

Fish Fauna ◽

Invasive Fish ◽

Gastric Contents

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Analysis of reproductive biology and spawning season of the pink ear emperor Lethrinus lentjan, from marine ecosystem

Zoologia (Curitiba) ◽

10.3897/zoologia.37.e48475 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 37 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Elsayed M. Younis ◽

Nasser A. Al-Asgah ◽

Abdel-Wahab A. Abdel-Warith ◽

Mohamed H. Gabr ◽

Fozi S. Shamlol

Keyword(s):

Fish Species ◽

Gonadosomatic Index ◽

Marine Ecosystem ◽

Local Population ◽

Spawning Season ◽

Monthly Basis ◽

Population Sampling ◽

Maturation Rate ◽

Maturation Index ◽

One Year

A total of 593 samples of Lethrinus lentjan (Lacepede, 1802) were collected from the Red Sea, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to study their productive biology and spawning season of the local population. Sampling was carried out on a monthly basis for a period of one year. The monthly sex ratios indicated that females were dominant throughout the study period, with an overall male:female sex ratio of 1:7.98, although males were larger than females. The highest monthly performance maturation index (PMI), as well as the male and female gonadosomatic index (GSI) and ovarian maturation rate (OMR) were observed in February and March. Histological examination of the gonads confirmed the process of sexual transformation in this fish species, wherein individuals mature first as female, and then change sex to male (protogynous hermaphroditism). Histological sections also showed that the sexual maturation of males of L. lenjtan comprised three main stages, while the sexual development of females could be classified into four main stages. Extended spawning in the form of batches released during different months throughout the year were recorded for this fish species, with the main spawning season in February and March, and an additional, shorter spawning season in September.

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Present and past status of fish fauna of river Basantar, an important tributary of the river Ravi, in Samba district, Jammu (J&K)

Journal of Applied and Natural Science ◽

10.31018/jans.v4i1.235 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 123-126 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Arti Sharma ◽

S. P. S. Dutta

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Fish Species ◽

Fish Fauna ◽

Fish Diversity ◽

Anthropogenic Pressure

Icthyofaunal study of river Basantar, an important tributary of river Ravi in Samba district, Jammu (J&K) has revealed the existence of 35 fish species belonging to 5 orders, 10 families and 25 genera. There is dominance of Cypriniformes (18 spp.) followed by Siluriformes (10 spp.), Perciformes (4 spp.), Synbrachiformes (2 spp.) and Osteoglossiformes (1 sps.). Present record of 35 fish species when compared with the earlier report of 59 fish species reveals a decline in fish diversity and is caused by environmental factors and anthropogenic pressure.

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The fishes of the Bolaman Stream, Northern Turkey

AQUATIC RESEARCH ◽

10.3153/ar21004 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 38-54

Author(s):

Serkan Saygun

Keyword(s):

Black Sea ◽

Fish Species ◽

Fish Fauna ◽

The Black Sea ◽

Fish Samples ◽

First Time ◽

Squalius Cephalus

In this study, the fish species inhabiting the Bolaman Stream drains to the Black Sea from the Fatsa coast (Ordu Province, Turkey) was reported for the first time. The study was caught out non-periodically by sampling from seven stations in the Bolaman Stream between July 2017 and November 2018. Fish samples were captured with an electroshock device. With this study, it was determined that the fish fauna of the Bolaman Stream is represented by 10 species in five families (Acheilognothidae, Cyprinidae, Gobiidae, Leuciscidae, and Salmonidae). These species were as follows, respectively Rhodeus amarus, Barbus tauricus, Capoeta banarescui, Neogobius fluviatilis, Ponticola turani, Alburnus derjugini, Squalius cephalus, Vimba vimba, Alburnoides fasciatus, and Salmo coruhensis.

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Fish fauna of small streams of the Catua-Ipixuna Extractive Reserve, state of Amazonas, Brazil

Check List ◽

10.15560/5.2.154 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 154 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Renildo Ribeiro de Oliveira ◽

Marcelo Salles Rocha ◽

Maeda Batista dos Anjos ◽

Jansen Zuanon ◽

Lúcia H. Rapp Py-Daniel

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Fish Species ◽

Fish Fauna ◽

Conservation Unit ◽

Extractive Reserve ◽

Small Streams ◽

Total Fish ◽

Amazonas State ◽

Solimões River ◽

Hydrographic Network

This study was conducted in an Amazonas state conservation unit, the Catuá-Ipixuna Extractive Reserve (Catuá-Ipixuna RESEX). The main purpose was to provide an ichthyological survey of its small streams, all them tributaries of the Solimões River. Nine small streams (up to 4 m width and 1 m depth) were sampled in September 2006. A total of 1,525 specimens were captured, belonging to 78 species, 24 families and eight orders. Eight species had higher abundances and represented altogether 61.4 % of all collected specimens (Hemigrammus belotii, Microphilypnus amazonicus, Physopyxis ananas, Apistogramma agassizii, Elachocharax pulcher, Apistogramma cf. cruzi, Gladioglanis conquistador and Copella nigrofasciata). Based on the high number of singletons and doubletons present in our samples, as well as the estimated number of species for those streams (106 spp.), we believe that the total fish species richness present in the Catuá-Ipixuna Extractive Reserve may be considerably higher than indicated by our samples. This seems especially true when considering the dimensions of the Catuá-Ipixuna RESEX and the dense hydrographic network present in the area.

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Change in the rocky reef fish fauna of the iconic Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve in north-eastern New Zealand over 4 decades

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf18037 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 69 (10) ◽

pp. 1496

Author(s):

David R. Schiel ◽

Tony Ayling ◽

Michael J. Kingsford ◽

Christopher N. Battershill ◽

J. Howard Choat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reef Fish ◽

Fish Species ◽

Marine Reserve ◽

Fish Fauna ◽

Rocky Reef ◽

Long Term Effects ◽

Before And After ◽

Negative Effect ◽

Reef Fish Species

Marine reserves exhibit increases in targeted fish species, but long-term effects on biodiversity are poorly understood. Factors other than reserve status may affect decadal changes, including environmental change. We examined the fish fauna at the iconic Poor Knights Islands over 4 decades (1974–2016) before and after implementation of a no-take marine reserve in 1998. We document a substantial increase in commercially and recreationally targeted Chrysophrys auratus, which was virtually absent before 1994 but by 2016 had reached up to 11 fish per 500m2 (220 per hectare). There were also large changes to the fish community, including the decline of subtropical and coastal wrasses, some species with no change and others that increased significantly. Many declines occurred >20 years before the arrival of abundant C. auratus, suggesting the changes do not represent a trophic cascade. Furthermore, this normally benthic-feeding fish has adopted a mid-water foraging behaviour targeting planktivorous fish. The increase in C. auratus appears to be linked both to reserve status and catch regulations in the wider region. Overall, the data point to long-term environmental fluctuations from the late 1970s having a negative effect on the abundance of more than half the reef fish species at these islands.

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Historical Changes in Large River Fish Assemblages of the Americas

Historical Changes in Large River Fish Assemblages of the Americas ◽

10.47886/9781888569728.ch28 ◽

2005 ◽

Keyword(s):

Fish Species ◽

Fish Assemblages ◽

Sewage Treatment ◽

Fish Fauna ◽

Large River ◽

Water Volume ◽

Mean Width ◽

Minas Gerais State ◽

The World ◽

Annual Discharge

Abstract.—The Rio das Velhas is a tributary of the Rio São Francisco, one of Brazil’s largest rivers. It is the Rio São Francisco’s second most important tributary in water volume (mean annual discharge of 631 m3/s), with a drainage area of 27,867 km2, length of 761 km, and mean width of 38 m. Like many other rivers around the world, it became heavily polluted in the 1900s. The Rio das Velhas is the most polluted river of Minas Gerais state because the basin contains approximately 4.5 million people. Unlike other Brazilian rivers, its fish fauna was studied from 1850 to 1856. Fifty-five fish species were recorded; 20 of them were first described at that time, when there were previously no more than 40 known species in the entire São Francisco basin. Recent fish collections, approximately 150 years later, indicate 107 fish species, but some may be locally extinct. There are good prospects of rehabilitating this fauna because of the connectivity of the Rio das Velhas with the São Francisco main stem, its well-preserved tributaries, and increased investments in sewage treatment.

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Effect of introduced species and habitat alteration on the occurrence and distribution of euryhaline fishes in fresh- and brackish-water habitats on Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao (South Caribbean)

Contributions to Zoology ◽

10.1163/18759866-07701006 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 77 (1) ◽

pp. 45-51 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

H. Hulsman ◽

R. Vonk ◽

M. Aliabadian ◽

A.O. Debrot ◽

V. Nijman

Keyword(s):

Fish Species ◽

Poecilia Reticulata ◽

Fish Fauna ◽

Hierarchical Cluster ◽

First Record ◽

Dry Season ◽

Indigenous Species ◽

Wet Season ◽

Netherlands Antilles ◽

Induced Changes

We conducted an ichthyological survey during the dry season of 2006 on the semi-arid islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao to provide information on species composition, richness and distribution in natural and non-natural aquatic habitats. The dry season species assemblages (N = 9 species) comprised less species than the wet seasons, and these data refine our knowledge of the indigenous fish fauna and its refuge localities during phases of drought and ensuing high salinity. A hierarchical cluster analysis reveals that the three islands have different species compositions with Curaçao being the most diverse, probably due to its having the most habitats and freshwaters present throughout the year. Species richness was unrelated to salinity and species diversity was highest in canalised streams. In the dry season fewer amphidromous species are present than in the wet season. We found no significant effect of human-induced changes on the presence or absence of fish species in the Netherlands Antilles. The presence of exotic species (including Xiphophorus helleri on Aruba, a first record for this island, and Oreochromis mossambicus and Poecilia reticulata occurring on all three islands) did not have a clear effect on the presence of indigenous species, nor did human alteration of the habitats have an influence on the occurrence of fish species.

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