Effect of predatory fish presence on habitat use and diel movement of the stream amphipod, Gammarus minus

Abstract

SUMMARY. We examined how the presence of predatory fish affected macro—and microhabitat use and movement patterns of the amphipod, Gammarus minus Say, in a second order stream. Among macrohabitats, amphipods were consistently more abundant in runs than in pools. Densities in pools were low regardless of fish presence, whereas low densities in runs were correlated with fish presence. Siltation and the lack of coarse substrate particles probably accounted for the scarcity of G. minus in pools. Among microhabitats, G. minus was more abundant in leaf litter and gravel than in silt/sand substrates. Fish presence did not affect microhabitat use in the field. Laboratory manipulations showed, however, that predation rates by green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus Rafinesque) were significantly lower on amphipods in leaf litter than in other microhabitats. Most movement by G. minus in runs occurred at night and was directed downstream. In the laboratory, amphipods significantly reduced swimming activity at night in response to water conditioned with green sunfish. In the field, however, amphipods were only slightly less active in runs at night when exposed to chemical cues of confined green sunfish. The distribution of amphipods in streams is influenced by the presence of fish, but chemical cues alone may not be important in triggering predator avoidance behaviours in nature.