Comparative movements of four large fish species in a lowland river

Koehn, John D.; Nicol, Simon

doi:10.1111/jfb.12884

Cited by 34 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…We found that both M. peelii and M. ambigua in a weir pool exhibit strong site fidelity, and that M. ambigua used woody debris, similar to observations on riverine populations (Crook, ; Crook et al ., ; Koehn & Nicol, ). In comparison, some behaviours differed from those previously observed, especially the absence of longer‐distance (tens to hundreds of kilometres) movements and a lack of habitat associations for M. peelii .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat use, movement and activity of two large‐bodied native riverine fishes in a regulated lowland weir pool

Koster

Dawson

Kitchingman

et al. 2020

Journal of Fish Biology

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The construction of dams and weirs, and associated changes to hydrological and hydraulic (e.g., water level and velocity) characteristics of rivers is a key environmental threat for fish. These multiple stressors potentially can affect fish in a variety of ways, including by causing changes in their movement, habitat use and activity. Understanding how and why these changes occur can inform management efforts to ameliorate these threats. In this context, we used acoustic telemetry to examine habitat use, longitudinal movement and activity of two lowland river fishes, Murray cod Maccullochella peelii and golden perch Macquaria ambigua, in a weir pool environment in south‐eastern Australia. We compared our results to published studies on riverine populations to determine if their behaviours are similar (or not). We show that M. peelii and M. ambigua in a weir pool exhibited some similar behaviours to conspecific riverine populations, such as strong site fidelity and use of woody habitat for M. ambigua. However, some behaviours, such as large‐scale (tens–hundreds of kilometres) movements documented for riverine populations, were rarely observed. These differences potentially reflect flow regulation (e.g., stable water levels, loss of hydraulic cues) in the weir pool. The two species also exhibited contrasting responses to dissolved oxygen conditions in the weir pool, which may reflect differences in their life history. Overall, this study shows that although some aspects of these two native fishes' life history can continue despite flow regulation, other aspects may change in weir pools, potentially impacting on long‐term population persistence.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat use, movement and activity of two large‐bodied native riverine fishes in a regulated lowland weir pool

Koster

Dawson

Kitchingman

et al. 2020

Journal of Fish Biology

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“…Maccullochella peelii are currently listed as critically endangered (Wager, 1996), and T. tandanus are listed as an endangered population in the MDB in NSW (NSW Fisheries Management Act 1994). Such movements may also coincide with the species' breeding activities (Koehn et al, 2009;Koehn & Nicol, 2016). Such movements may also coincide with the species' breeding activities (Koehn et al, 2009;Koehn & Nicol, 2016).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…These two species have undergone dramatic range contractions and declines in abundance due to the introduction of Common carp (Cyprinus carpio), cold water pollution, altered flow regimes and the loss of suitable habitat (Barrett, 2004;Koehn, Lintermans, & Copeland, 2014). Both species show relatively restricted movements over much of their life, occupying well-defined home ranges (Koehn et al, 2009;Koehn & Nicol, 2016;Koster et al, 2015), although both may also undertake occasional long-distance movements during periods of high flow (Koster et al, 2015;Marshall et al, 2016;Reynolds, 1983). Both species show relatively restricted movements over much of their life, occupying well-defined home ranges (Koehn et al, 2009;Koehn & Nicol, 2016;Koster et al, 2015), although both may also undertake occasional long-distance movements during periods of high flow (Koster et al, 2015;Marshall et al, 2016;Reynolds, 1983).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reservoir to river: Quantifying fine‐scale fish movements after translocation

Carpenter-Bundhoo

Butler

Espinoza³

et al. 2019

Ecology of Freshwater Fish

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Translocation of individuals is a widely used tool in the conservation of threatened species. The movement behaviours of translocated individuals in their new environment are a key factor that can influence translocation success (i.e. survival and reproduction). In this study, eel-tailed catfish (Tandanus tandanus) and Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii) movements were monitored using fine-scale acoustic telemetry over a 5-month period in two lowland rivers in eastern Australia. Fine-scale movement and habitat selection were compared among translocated lacustrine and resident riverine T. tandanus and between species. We found no difference in finescale movement behaviours between translocated and resident T. tandanus; however, there was some variation in movement response to environmental variation between species. In contrast, habitat selection varied not only between the two species, but also between resident and translocated T. tandanus individuals. Notably, activity was significantly lower in the first day after release compared to the remainder of the study period. Although T. tandanus translocated from a reservoir had never experienced the environmental fluctuations of a riverine system, individuals still responded in the same way as resident riverine fish, suggesting an innate behavioural response. However, this was not the case for habitat selection, where translocated individuals preferred habitats more common in their source population's lacustrine environment. The findings of this study are important in guiding future conservation efforts involving the translocation of wild-caught fish, primarily the importance of the suitable habitat at the release site to ensure the success and persistence of translocated populations.

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“…1) when the Trout Cod stocking program commenced in 1988 (Lintermans, 2002). Murray Cod are known to undertake upstream spawning migrations (Koehn et al, 2009) but adult Trout Cod are less mobile, at least in lowland rivers, than Murray Cod (Koehn & Nicol, 2016). The major stocking site for Trout Cod (99,500 fish from 1996 to 2005) was at Angle Crossing immediately upstream of Gigerline Gorge and so the presence of a migration barrier may result in aggregations of reproductively ripe Murray Cod mixing with downstream displaced trout cod below the barrier, further enhancing the chance of hybridization.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Who’s your mama? Riverine hybridisation of threatened freshwater Trout Cod and Murray Cod

Couch

Unmack

Dyer

et al. 2016

PeerJ

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Rates of hybridization and introgression are increasing dramatically worldwide because of translocations, restocking of organisms and habitat modifications; thus, determining whether hybridization is occuring after reintroducing extirpated congeneric species is commensurately important for conservation. Restocking programs are sometimes criticized because of the genetic consequences of hatchery-bred fish breeding with wild populations. These concerns are important to conservation restocking programs, including those from the Australian freshwater fish family, Percichthyidae. Two of the better known Australian Percichthyidae are the Murray Cod, Maccullochella peelii and Trout Cod, Maccullochella macquariensis which were formerly widespread over the Murray Darling Basin. In much of the Murrumbidgee River, Trout Cod and Murray Cod were sympatric until the late 1970s when Trout Cod were extirpated. Here we use genetic single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data together with mitochondrial sequences to examine hybridization and introgression between Murray Cod and Trout Cod in the upper Murrumbidgee River and consider implications for restocking programs. We have confirmed restocked riverine Trout Cod reproducing, but only as inter-specific matings, in the wild. We detected hybrid Trout Cod–Murray Cod in the Upper Murrumbidgee, recording the first hybrid larvae in the wild. Although hybrid larvae, juveniles and adults have been recorded in hatcheries and impoundments, and hybrid adults have been recorded in rivers previously, this is the first time fertile F1 have been recorded in a wild riverine population. The F1 backcrosses with Murray cod have also been found to be fertile. All backcrosses noted were with pure Murray Cod. Such introgression has not been recorded previously in these two species, and the imbalance in hybridization direction may have important implications for restocking programs.

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Comparative movements of four large fish species in a lowland river

Cited by 34 publications

References 70 publications

Habitat use, movement and activity of two large‐bodied native riverine fishes in a regulated lowland weir pool

Habitat use, movement and activity of two large‐bodied native riverine fishes in a regulated lowland weir pool

Reservoir to river: Quantifying fine‐scale fish movements after translocation

Who’s your mama? Riverine hybridisation of threatened freshwater Trout Cod and Murray Cod

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