Influences of seasonality and habitat quality on Great Lakes coastal wetland fish community composition and diets

Abstract

fish diets. We summarized fish data collected from GLCW across the basin and used the coastal wetland monitoring program's water quality-land use indicator to quantify water quality. Basin-wide, we found taxonomic and functional group differences in community composition among three sampling seasons, as well as across the range of water quality. Water quality was positively associated with the abundance of small cyprinids and the relative abundance of some habitat and reproductive specialists. Seasonal differences were also observed for many of these functional groups, with more temperature-and pollution-sensitive fishes captured in the spring and more Abstract Great Lakes coastal wetlands (GLCW) have been severely degraded by anthropogenic activity over the last several decades despite their critical role in fish production. Many Great Lakes fish species use coastal wetland habitats for spawning, feeding, shelter, and nurseries throughout the year. The goal of our study was to compare GLCW fish community composition in the spring, summer, and fall months and investigate how water quality relates to fish diversity, the presence of functional groups, and juvenile

A multi‐metric index for assessing two decades of community responses to broad‐scale shoreline enhancement and restoration along the Toronto waterfront

“…This added spatial component will be the next crucial step for looking at the whole network of restored and monitored sites. Future steps will also consider restoration site proximity to other restored sites as well as stressors, specific restoration approaches and environmental factors, like temperature and water quality (Diller et al, 2022; Sparks‐Jackson et al, 2023; Trakhtenbrot & Kadmon, 2006). Updating our metrics and assessments for multiple seasons and life‐stages will also further accommodate life history differences among species, which is currently not fully captured in our community metric (Blanck et al, 2007; Diller et al, 2022).…”

“…Future steps will also consider restoration site proximity to other restored sites as well as stressors, specific restoration approaches and environmental factors, like temperature and water quality (Diller et al, 2022; Sparks‐Jackson et al, 2023; Trakhtenbrot & Kadmon, 2006). Updating our metrics and assessments for multiple seasons and life‐stages will also further accommodate life history differences among species, which is currently not fully captured in our community metric (Blanck et al, 2007; Diller et al, 2022). Overall, expanding and incorporating our community metrics into a broader modelling framework will help reduce its limitations and further increase its use.…”

“…Finally, incorporating sampling data collected through various methods can reduce gear selectivity introduced by boat electrofishing and get a more complete picture of the current fish communities (Diller et al, 2022; Sparks‐Jackson et al, 2023; Trakhtenbrot & Kadmon, 2006). Electrofishing is generally regarded as one of the most non‐discriminant methods for assessing populations and communities; however, habitat uses and behavioural differences in fish species can impact catch estimates across samples (McKenzie & Mahardja, 2021; Smith et al, 2015).…”

“…Shallower depth compared to other areas in combination with cover and vegetation is known to support warmwater species, with newly restored wetlands often most frequented by bass, pumpkinseed, bluegill, crappies, perch and bullheads according to other studies for the Great Lakes (Brinson & Malvárez, 2002; Jude & Pappas, 1992; Rozas & Odum, 1988). Seasonal variation in the use of habitat across species and life‐stages as well as their role as spawning and rearing habitat makes coastal wetlands vital restoration targets for the waterfront, benefiting from telemetry and behavioural studies (Diller et al, 2022; Piczak et al, 2023). Finally, coastal wetlands in the Great Lakes also play a vital role for many other species and ecological processes, ranging from habitat for threatened turtle species to bird habitat and filtering of nutrients (Dupuis‐Desormeaux et al, 2021; Goodson & Aziz, 2023; Grand et al, 2020), making the information collected at TTP even more valuable.…”