Assessing the ecological effects of habitat change: moving beyond productive capacity

Jones, Menna Lloyd; Randall, Robert G.; Hayes, Daniel B.; Dunlop, Warren I.; Imhof, Jack; Lacroix, Geneviève; Ward, N. J R

doi:10.1139/f96-013

Cited by 38 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Through time, the riparian landscape shaped by the Eflow regime diverged in habitat suitability from the natural and Eflow&Flush landscapes, and there were cases where the habitat suitability was modified by more than double. The relationship between fish assemblages and habitat has long been acknowledged (e.g., Clark et al, 2008;Matthews, 1998;Pusey et al, 1993) and can have a significant impact on the ecological status and function of the existing fish communities (Freeman et al, 2001;Jones et al, 1996;Randall and Minns, 2000). Effectively, habitat loss is the major threat concerning fish population dynamics and biodiversity (Bunn and Arthington, 2002), thereby promoting population changes with a proportional response to the enforced habitat change (Cowley, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Importance of considering riparian vegetation requirements for the long-term efficiency of environmental flows in aquatic microhabitats

Rivaes

Boavida

Santos

et al. 2017

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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Abstract. Environmental flows remain biased toward the traditional biological group of fish species. Consequently, these flows ignore the inter-annual flow variability that rules species with longer lifecycles and therefore disregard the long-term perspective of the riverine ecosystem. We analyzed the importance of considering riparian requirements for the long-term efficiency of environmental flows. For that analysis, we modeled the riparian vegetation development for a decade facing different environmental flows in two case studies. Next, we assessed the corresponding fish habitat availability of three common fish species in each of the resulting riparian landscape scenarios. Modeling results demonstrated that the environmental flows disregarding riparian vegetation requirements promoted riparian degradation, particularly vegetation encroachment. Such circumstance altered the hydraulic characteristics of the river channel where flow depths and velocities underwent local changes of up to 10 cm and 40 cm s −1 , respectively. Accordingly, after a decade of this flow regime, the available habitat area for the considered fish species experienced modifications of up to 110 % when compared to the natural habitat. In turn, environmental flows regarding riparian vegetation requirements were able to maintain riparian vegetation near natural standards, thereby preserving the hydraulic characteristics of the river channel and sustaining the fish habitat close to the natural condition. As a result, fish habitat availability never changed more than 17 % from the natural habitat.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Importance of considering riparian vegetation requirements for the long-term efficiency of environmental flows in aquatic microhabitats

Rivaes

Boavida

Santos

et al. 2017

Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci.

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“…Such comprehensive population dynamics models should produce output indicators that are directly relevant to management objectives, which need to be clearly specified (Jones et al 1996). For instance, when identifying temperature-sensitive streams with some upper limit on acceptable temperature, is the objective to (1) maintain (or maximize) biological diversity as measured in some specified way, (2) maintain abundance of some indicator population of a particular Distributions were derived from data from streams in Class II-specifically, 14 streams with drainage areas of at least 12 km 2 but less than 132 km 2 and average basin elevations less than 1,140 m. The dashed vertical line emphasizes the point at which the regression slope equals zero; dashed horizontal error bars represent 95% probability intervals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, large year-to-year fluctuations in fish abundance and survival rate can hinder detection of habitat quality effects on fish abundance (Rose 2000). Scientists' attempts to clearly identify and quantify the relative importance of different types of habitat disturbances for fish are further impeded by numerous possible indicators of habitat quality and complicated cause-and-effect pathways (Jones et al 1996). Given this situation, there is a need to improve upon existing methods of evaluating and regulating the effects of proposed human activities on fish habitat.…”

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confidence: 99%

A Science‐Based Approach for Identifying Temperature‐Sensitive Streams for Rainbow Trout

Nelitz

MacIsaac

Peterman

2007

N American J Fish Manag

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To regulate human-induced changes to fish habitat, resource managers commonly set standards based on maximum allowable changes. For example, new legislation in British Columbia (BC), Canada, calls for restrictions on harvesting of trees and related activities near temperature-sensitive streams. However, methods for designating such streams are still evolving. Our objective was to help develop such methods by (1) improving understanding of the temperature-dependent responses of fish and (2) devising improved methods for estimating the effects of forestry-related activities on stream temperature as well as the chance of exceeding upper temperature limits. Using previously published models, we found that for rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss particular increases in stream temperature led to different effects on juvenile growth rate, egg survival rate, and resistance to mortality from diseases. In a separate analysis, to evaluate the chance that cumulative forestry activities will increase stream temperature by various amounts, we compiled summer temperature data for 104 streams in central BC that reflected different watershed features, contrasting summer climates, and various levels of land use. A classification and regression tree analysis of a summer maximum weekly average temperature (MWAT) index grouped streams into six categories as a function of watershed size, watershed elevation, and air temperature. We then analyzed the remaining unexplained variation among stream temperature indices using Bayesian regression. We found high probabilities that increases in road density and the density of road crossings of streams within watersheds are associated with increases in residual temperature. For instance, a Bayesian regression indicated a 6-in-10 chance that the MWAT in our study area will increase by 1.258C for a road density of 2 km/km 2 of watershed area and by 3.258C for a road density of 4 km/km 2 . These analyses illustrate some possible ways to help designate temperature-sensitive streams.

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“…Our data suggest that disturbance created by military ordnance (e.g., bomb craters, burning, and alteration of landscapes) attracts Sonoran pronghorn. Guidelines for habitat manipulation that support conservation efforts for the subspecies include 1) outlining management objectives with respect to the BMGR activities and surrounding federal land where Sonoran pronghorn exist, 2) identifying important forage species and their responses to various habitat manipulations on alternate sites, 3) analyzing costs and benefits of habitat manipulations with respect to multispecies responses to landscape changes, 4) determining the best management strategies for habitat alterations inclusive of long-term sustainability, and 5) continued systematic monitoring to maintain positive results (Jones et al 1995…”

Section: Management Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sonoran pronghorn habitat use on landscapes disturbed by military activities

Krausman¹,

Harris²,

Haas³

et al. 2005

Wildlife Society Bulletin

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The Sonoran pronghorn (Antilocapra americana sonoriensis) population in the United States declined to ≤33 animals in January 2003. Low population numbers and unstable recruitment are concerns for biologists managing this subspecies. We examined habitat use by pronghorn from 1999 to 2002 on a portion of the Barry M. Goldwater Range (BMGR) used for military exercises. We overlaid locations of pronghorn (n=1,203) on 377 1‐km2 blocks within the North (NTAC) and South Tactical Ranges (STAC), BMGR; we classified vegetation associations and disturbance status (e.g., airfields, targets, roads) for each block. Locations of pronghorn were distributed in proportion to vegetation associations on NTAC and STAC. Sightings of pronghorns were biased toward disturbed blocks, with 73% of locations of pronghorn occurring in proximity to mock airfields, high‐explosive hills (e.g., targets for live high‐explosive bombs and rockets), other targets, and roads. Disturbed landscapes on the BMGR may attract Sonoran pronghorn by creating favorable forage. Habitat manipulations simulating the effects of military disturbances on the landscape (e.g., improved forage) may improve remaining Sonoran pronghorn habitat.

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Assessing the ecological effects of habitat change: moving beyond productive capacity

Cited by 38 publications

References 9 publications

Importance of considering riparian vegetation requirements for the long-term efficiency of environmental flows in aquatic microhabitats

Importance of considering riparian vegetation requirements for the long-term efficiency of environmental flows in aquatic microhabitats

A Science‐Based Approach for Identifying Temperature‐Sensitive Streams for Rainbow Trout

Sonoran pronghorn habitat use on landscapes disturbed by military activities

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