Climate change and conservation of endemic amphidromous fishes in Hawaiian streams

Abstract

ESR Endangered Species Research Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsSpecials ESR 16:261-272 (2012) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00404 Theme Section: Endangered river fish: threats and conservation options Climate change and conservation of endemic amphidromous fishes in Hawaiian streams R. P. Walter1,2,4,*, J. D. Hogan3, M. J. Blum2, R. B. Gagne2, E. F. Hain1, J. F. Gilliam1, P. B. McIntyre3 1Department of Biology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7617, USA 2Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118, USA 3Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706-1413, USA 4Present address: Great Lakes Institute for Evironmental Research, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4 *Email: rdubsy@gmail.com ABSTRACT: Amphidromous fishes are important members of oceanic island freshwater communities. Although often depauperate, amphidromous fish assemblages on islands are largely composed of endemic species. Little is known about the effects of anthropogenic stressors on amphidromous fishes, and the consequences of climate-driven changes in water quality and quantity are particularly uncertain. Focusing on native fishes in Hawaii, we discuss the potential for climate change to intensify 3 major threats facing amphidromous fish: (1) loss of ‘ridge-to-reef’ migratory corridors via disruption of surface water connectivity, (2) in-stream habitat degradation and (3) exotic species introductions. Successfully addressing these and other threats to native fish in Hawaii will require approaches that balance conservation needs with use of water resources. Conservation initiatives should focus on ‘scaling up’ ongoing projects intended to demonstrate how stream protection and restoration, non-native species removal and reintroductions can benefit at-risk species. Research initiatives should focus on determining the ecological controls on recruitment under current and future climate conditions. KEY WORDS: Amphidromy · Climate change · Freshwater fishes · Hawaii · Ocean−stream connectivity Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Walter RP, Hogan JD, Blum MJ, Gagne RB, Hain EF, Gilliam JF, McIntyre PB (2012) Climate change and conservation of endemic amphidromous fishes in Hawaiian streams. Endang Species Res 16:261-272. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00404 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in ESR Vol. 16, No. 3. Online publication date: March 22, 2012 Print ISSN: 1863-5407; Online ISSN: 1613-4796 Copyright © 2012 Inter-Research.