scholarly journals Using empirical and simulated data to study the influence of environmental heterogeneity on fish species richness in two biogeographic provinces

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Massicotte ◽  
Raphael Proulx ◽  
Gilbert Cabana ◽  
Marco Rodriguez
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Habitat Heterogeneity ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Simulated Data ◽  
Aquatic Communities ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Heterogeneous Habitats ◽  
Biogeographic Provinces

Loss of species richness in aquatic ecosystems is occurring rapidly and many factors, including habitat heterogeneity, have been suggested to affect the diversity of aquatic communities. We used fish community data (> 200 species) from extensive surveys conducted in two biogeographic provinces (extent > 1000 km) in North America to test the hypothesis that fish species richness is greater in more heterogeneous habitats (grain < 10 km2). Our tests are based on samples collected at nearly 800 stations over a period of five years. Using a set of environmental variables routinely measured by monitoring programs and a random placement model of community assembly, we demonstrate that fish species richness in coastal ecosystems is associated locally with the spatial heterogeneity of environmental variables but not with their magnitude. The observed effect of heterogeneity on species richness was substantially greater than that generated by simulations. Our modeling framework opens avenues for targeted conservation of habitat heterogeneity at broader temporal and spatial scales.

scholarly journals Using empirical and simulated data to study the influence of environmental heterogeneity on fish species richness in two biogeographic provinces

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Massicotte ◽  
Raphael Proulx ◽  
Gilbert Cabana ◽  
Marco Rodriguez
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Habitat Heterogeneity ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Simulated Data ◽  
Aquatic Communities ◽  
Modeling Framework ◽  
Heterogeneous Habitats ◽  
Biogeographic Provinces

Loss of species richness in aquatic ecosystems is occurring rapidly and many factors, including habitat heterogeneity, have been suggested to affect the diversity of aquatic communities. We used fish community data (> 200 species) from extensive surveys conducted in two biogeographic provinces (extent > 1000 km) in North America to test the hypothesis that fish species richness is greater in more heterogeneous habitats (grain < 10 km2). Our tests are based on samples collected at nearly 800 stations over a period of five years. Using a set of environmental variables routinely measured by monitoring programs and a random placement model of community assembly, we demonstrate that fish species richness in coastal ecosystems is associated locally with the spatial heterogeneity of environmental variables but not with their magnitude. The observed effect of heterogeneity on species richness was substantially greater than that generated by simulations. Our modeling framework opens avenues for targeted conservation of habitat heterogeneity at broader temporal and spatial scales.

scholarly journals Body size, reef area and temperature predict global reef-fish species richness across spatial scales

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. Barneche ◽  
E. L. Rezende ◽  
V. Parravicini ◽  
E. Maire ◽  
G. J. Edgar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Reef Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Reef Area ◽  
Reef Fish Species

scholarly journals Food plant diversity as broad-scale determinant of avian frugivore richness

2007 ◽  
Vol 274 (1611) ◽  
pp. 799-808 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Daniel Kissling ◽  
Carsten Rahbek ◽  
Katrin Böhning-Gaese
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Habitat Heterogeneity ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Fruit Size ◽  
Food Plant ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Food Plants ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
Avian Frugivores ◽  
Sub Saharan

The causes of variation in animal species richness at large spatial scales are intensively debated. Here, we examine whether the diversity of food plants, contemporary climate and energy, or habitat heterogeneity determine species richness patterns of avian frugivores across sub-Saharan Africa. Path models indicate that species richness of Ficus (their fruits being one of the major food resources for frugivores in the tropics) has the strongest direct effect on richness of avian frugivores, whereas the influences of variables related to water–energy and habitat heterogeneity are mainly indirect. The importance of Ficus richness for richness of avian frugivores diminishes with decreasing specialization of birds on fruit eating, but is retained when accounting for spatial autocorrelation. We suggest that a positive relationship between food plant and frugivore species richness could result from niche assembly mechanisms (e.g. coevolutionary adaptations to fruit size, fruit colour or vertical stratification of fruit presentation) or, alternatively, from stochastic speciation–extinction processes. In any case, the close relationship between species richness of Ficus and avian frugivores suggests that figs are keystone resources for animal consumers, even at continental scales.

Surface water connectivity affects lake and stream fish species richness and composition

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katelyn B.S. King ◽  
Mary Tate Bremigan ◽  
Dana M Infante ◽  
Kendra Spence Cheruvelil
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Surface Water ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Fish Communities ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Stream Fish ◽  
Recreational Resources ◽  
Fish Species Diversity

Stream and lake fishes are important economic and recreational resources that respond to alterations in their surrounding watersheds and serve as indicators of ecological stressors on aquatic ecosystems. Research suggests that fish species diversity is largely influenced by surface water connectivity, or the lack thereof; however, few studies consider freshwater connections and their effect on both lake and stream fish communities across broad spatial extents. We used fish data from 559 lakes and 854 streams from the midwestern/northeastern United States to examine the role of surface water connectivity on fish species richness and community composition. We found that although lakes and streams share many species, connectivity had a positive effect on species richness across lakes and streams and helped explain species composition. Taking an integrated approach that includes both lake and stream fish communities and connectivity among freshwaters helps inform scientific understanding of what drives variation in fish species diversity at broad spatial scales and can help managers who are faced with planning for state, regional, or national scale monitoring and restoration.

scholarly journals Impact of the Low Head Dam/Barrage on Fisheries – A Case Study of Giri River of Yamuna Basin (India)

2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-138
Author(s):  
Harcharan Singh Rumana ◽  
Veliachamy Jeeva ◽  
Sudhir Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Relative Abundance ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Habitat Heterogeneity ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
River System ◽  
Western Himalayas ◽  
Diversity Pattern ◽  
Low Head ◽  
Longitudinal Stretch

Abstract Shannon’s diversity index H’ = pi log2 pi was calculated for 16 fish species. The index was resolved into its components, species richness and relative abundance, to determine which components played a larger role in the determination of diversity pattern. Changes in diversity were correlated with species richness (r), habitat heterogeneity, and hydrological regimes in a longitudinal stretch of 35 km along the river Giri, a major tributary of the Yamuna River system, in Western Himalayas. Abundance differs with change in habitat structures, habitat preference of fish species and water regimes. The decrease in diversity in the lower stretch of about 3-4 km upstream of the barrage was found to be associated with habitat fragmentation and as well as d/s with loss of biotic integrity of aquatic ecosystem due to water scarcity. Species richness was found to be maximum at upper and middle reaches (elevation 650-800 m, msl) of the river, whereas it was low in lower reaches. Change in water chemistry was also noticed at Jatan barrage-low head dam due to impoundment of river water. It is inferred that the regulation of water has an impact on species richness and relative abundance, and on habitat heterogeneity which has decreased due to the change in environmental condition.

scholarly journals Testing the influence of environmental heterogeneity on fish species richness in two biogeographic provinces

PeerJ ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. e760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Massicotte ◽  
Raphaël Proulx ◽  
Gilbert Cabana ◽  
Marco A. Rodríguez
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Environmental Heterogeneity ◽  
Biogeographic Provinces

Incorporating local habitat heterogeneity and productivity measures when modelling vertebrate richness

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
W Justin Cooper ◽  
William J McShea ◽  
David A Luther ◽  
Tavis Forrester
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Habitat Heterogeneity ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Model Performance ◽  
Remotely Sensed ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Measurement Scale ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals ◽  
Declining Species ◽  
Monitoring Technologies

SummaryDeclining species richness is a global concern; however, the coarse-scale metrics used at regional or landscape levels might not accurately represent the important habitat characteristics needed to estimate species richness. Currently, there exists a lack of knowledge with regard to the spatial extent necessary to correlate remotely sensed habitat metrics to species richness and animal surveys. We provide a protocol for determining the best scale to use when merging remotely sensed habitat and animal survey data as a step towards improving estimates of vertebrate species richness on broad scales. We test the relative importance of fine-resolution habitat heterogeneity and productivity metrics at multiple spatial scales as predictors of species richness for birds, frogs and mammals using a Bayesian approach and a combination of passive monitoring technologies. Model performance was different for each taxonomic group and dependent on the scale at which habitat heterogeneity and productivity were measured. Optimal scales included a 20-m radius for bats and frogs, an 80-m radius for birds and a 180-m radius for terrestrial mammals. Our results indicate that optimal scales do exist when merging remotely sensed habitat measures with ground-based surveys, but they differ between vertebrate groups. Additionally, the selection of a measurement scale is highly influential to our understanding of the relationships between species richness and habitat characteristics.

Landscape Influences on Stream Habitats and Biological Assemblages

2006 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Fish Assemblage ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Riparian Buffer ◽  
Physical Habitat ◽  
Lepomis Cyanellus ◽  
Notropis Stramineus

<em>Abstract.</em>—Iowa leads the nation in percentage of land area converted to cropland, with a resulting negative impact on streams. We examined physical habitat, land use, and fish assemblage data from 37 second- to sixth-order stream sites, representing 7 of the 10 ecoregions within Iowa. Physical habitat conditions varied widely among sites, with sand dominating substrate composition. A nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordination of physical habitat variables suggested a pattern of among-site similarities defined by a stream size axis, an axis contrasting sites dominated by either woody or rocky fish cover, and an axis characterizing degree of riparian canopy coverage. Bluntnose minnow <em>Pimephales notatus </em>and sand shiner <em>Notropis stramineus </em>were the most abundant fish species, followed by green sunfish <em>Lepomis cyanellus </em>and common carp <em>Cyprinus carpio</em>. These four species were collected in more than 80% of the sites. Fish species richness at sites averaged 22, ranging from 6 to 38, and fish index of biotic integrity (IBI) at sites averaged 47 (fair), ranging from 21 (poor) to 96 (excellent). Species richness and IBI were highest at sites characterized by rocky fish cover and relatively coarse substrates. Values for several physical habitat and land use variables were significantly different between sites with IBI ≤ 30 (fair) and sites with IBI ≥ 50 (good). We found a general pattern of IBI, species richness, total fish abundance, and width-to-depth ratio decreasing from the northeast to the southwest ecoregions, and percentage of unvegetated banks and bank slope increasing from northeast to southwest. Stable and vegetated banks, wide stream channels with coarse substrates, and rocky fish cover were associated with high biotic condition; while unvegetated and eroding banks, and deep channels with predominantly fine substrates were associated with lower biotic condition. Land use was calculated at three spatial scales: catchment, network riparian buffer, and local riparian buffer. We found few relationships of fish assemblages with land use, potentially due to sampling design and the pervasiveness of agriculture across Iowa. There is substantial variation among physical habitat, land use, and fish assemblage conditions across Iowa, due to a combination of geology, climate, zoogeography, and human alteration.

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