Application of mesohabitat fish use information to identify guilds for lotic systems

Pegg, Mark A.; Behmer, A. T.; Parasaweicz, P.; Rogers, Joe

doi:10.1111/jai.12502

Cited by 12 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…The availability of suitable mesohabitats across reaches and segments for multiple life stages and life history strategies likely also influences the diversity pattern observed along the Niobrara River. The presence of unique habitat guilds based on mesohabitat types has been proposed for the Niobrara River (Pegg, Behmer, Parasaweicz, & Rogers, ). The similar contribution of β‐diversity at the mesohabitat and segment scale to γ‐diversity suggest important drivers of diversity are occurring at both local and broad spatial scales along the Niobrara River.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity of river fishes influenced by habitat heterogeneity across hydrogeomorphic divisions

Spurgeon

Pegg

Parasiewicz

et al. 2018

River Research & Apps

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Freshwater fish communities are structured through complex interactions among multiple spatial scales. Efforts to conserve and rehabilitate fish communities in riverine systems can benefit from an understanding of how processes across spatial scales influence species diversity patterns. We assessed species diversity at different hierarchical spatial scales and changes in species composition along the longitudinal gradient of the Niobrara River basin, Great Plains, USA. We assessed the contribution of αand β-diversity components to γ-diversity at five spatial scales (i.e., mesohabitat, site, reach, segment, and river) using an additive partitioning approach. The observed mean β-diversity was significantly greater than expected at the site, reach, and segment spatial scales. The most significant difference between expected and observed β-diversity occurred at the segment spatial scale and suggests differences in community structure along the Niobrara River. Additive partitioning of diversity components provided a framework with which to assess patterns at multiple hierarchical levels.Our results suggest that changes in channel geomorphic and hydrologic conditions provide the impetus for species sorting resulting in unique fish assemblages along the Niobrara River. Conservation of species diversity for Great Plains fishes and other similar systems will likely benefit from considering species filtering processes at multiple spatial scales and maintaining intact hydrologic regimes across unique geomorphic boundaries.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity of river fishes influenced by habitat heterogeneity across hydrogeomorphic divisions

Spurgeon

Pegg

Parasiewicz

et al. 2018

River Research & Apps

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“…Welcomme, Winemiller, & Cowx, 2006). Thus, the concept of formulating fish guilds (or assemblages) that are either based on habitat use (Hauer et al., 2011; Parasiewicz, Prus, Suska, & Marcinkowski, 2018; Pegg, Behmer, Parasiewicz, & Rogers, 2014; Vadas & Orth, 2000) or life history strategy (Lima, Sayanda, Soares, Wrona, & Monaghan, 2017; Schwartz & Herricks, 2008) represents a valuable tool for evaluating the health of rivers. Although the number of mesohabitat types that contain characteristic fish assemblages varies between studies, there are arguments that predictions of fish density or occurrence based on discrete habitat classes are ecologically more meaningful than models based on continuous variables (Habersack et al., 2014).…”

Section: Ecological Relevance Of the Mesohabitat Conceptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mesohabitat modelling in fish ecology: A global synthesis

2020

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Modelling the linkage between physical habitat and aquatic organisms on multiple spatial scales has become an important tool in the management of rivers. The mesoscale (100–102 m) represents an intermediate resolution in modelling that bridges the gap between available resources and conservation efforts for riverine species. However, existing mesohabitat classification schemes for lotic systems vary significantly in the definition of habitat types as well as in their application in the field. This article aims to provide an overview of current attempts to model the mesoscale pattern of physical habitats with a focus on fish. First, we outline descriptive, qualitative as well as objective, quantitative classification methods that are available in the literature. Next, the ecological relevance of the mesohabitat concept is being discussed, using single‐species and community‐level approaches as examples. Different modelling approaches that describe and quantify riverine mesohabitats are presented, and finally, limitations and uncertainties in the modelling process are discussed, followed by an outline of future perspectives in mesohabitat modelling.

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“…The hierarchical cluster analysis suggested the presence of five unique fish habitat guilds in the Niobrara River including: (1) Lobate margin, (2) run, (3) riffle, (4) slackwater, and (5) habitat generalist ( Table 1). Full detail of the guild formation approach is available in Pegg et al [23].…”

Section: Development Of Fish Habitat Guildsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Description of fish guilds determined for the Niobrara River using empirical fish species data collected within hydromorphologic units using prepositioned area electrofishing. Detail of guild formation is available in Pegg et al[23].…”

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confidence: 99%

River-Wide Habitat Availability for Fish Habitat Guilds: Implications for In-Stream Flow Protection

Spurgeon

Pegg

Parasiewicz

et al. 2019

Water

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The variation in river discharge alters habitat heterogeneity with implications for the distribution of fish species with different habitat requirements. Assessments of habitat availability following changes in river discharge are difficult to apply at broad spatial scales and with relevance to multiple species. We used a MesoHABSIM modeling approach to quantify river-wide changes in habitat availability for five fish habitat guilds under three river discharge levels along the Niobrara River, NE, USA. We used a time-series of river discharge (1958–2010) to create uniform continuous under-threshold habitat duration curves that identified habitat conditions that may result in periods of stress for fish communities along the Niobrara River. Habitat availability for each fish habitat guild was dependent on river discharge and location along the river. Habitat availability for fish habitat guilds ranged from 5% to 49% of the total channel area suggesting habitat availability may, at times, be limited. We provide river discharge guidelines for bioperiods that limit the frequency and duration of stressful habitat conditions. Understanding interactions between river discharge and habitat availability through time and at river-wide scales may aid in managing for ecological integrity by including protection of river discharge variability to support multiple fish habitat guilds.

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Application of mesohabitat fish use information to identify guilds for lotic systems

Cited by 12 publications

References 15 publications

Diversity of river fishes influenced by habitat heterogeneity across hydrogeomorphic divisions

Diversity of river fishes influenced by habitat heterogeneity across hydrogeomorphic divisions

Mesohabitat modelling in fish ecology: A global synthesis

River-Wide Habitat Availability for Fish Habitat Guilds: Implications for In-Stream Flow Protection

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