Abstract
Warm water stream fish assemblages (2005) and habitat variables (2004 and 2005) were examined from May to September at 108 sites in the Tonawanda and Johnson Creek Watersheds of Western New York. Seventy species and > 27,500 fishes were identified; ~98% were from Families Cyprinidae, Centrarchidae, Catostomidae and Percidae. Data were analyzed at 16 spatial scales using best subsets and backward stepwise multiple linear regression to explore associations between individual fish species ≥9% of total catch and fish assemblage variables [catch per unit effort (CPUE), species richness, Simpson’s diversity] with six habitat variables (pool type, maximum depth, substrate size, instream wood, bank cover, aquatic vegetation). CPUE was the only fish assemblage variable related to habitat variables, especially aquatic vegetation and pool type. Only two species (johnny darter, Etheostoma nigrum; round goby, Neogobius melanostomus) were significantly associated with habitat variables. The results reflected inherent difficulties understanding the complexities of habitat use by warm water stream fishes and their assemblages and how to manage them on a broad scale. Key words: Warm water stream fishes, fish species-habitat associations, fish assemblage-habitat associations, statistical fish-habitat models.
Highlights
Management and conservation of aquatic resources requires the ability to identify species’ distributions and habitat requirements (Argent et al, 2003)
This study was conducted in the Tonawanda and Johnson Creek Watersheds (TCW, JCW) of Western New York State (NYS) (Figure 1)
Cyprinidae was the most common family (23 spp.), comprising > 60% of all fishes recorded in the Tonawanda Creek Watershed, followed by Centrarchidae (16%, 11 spp.), Percidae (15%, eight spp.), and Catostomidae (7%, six spp.)
Summary
Management and conservation of aquatic resources requires the ability to identify species’ distributions and habitat requirements (Argent et al, 2003). Associations between fishes and habitat features vary considerably over spatial and temporal scales (Angermeier, 1987; Closs et al, 2004). Physical habitat commonly influences fish assemblages in lotic systems at various spatial scales (Angermeier, 1987; Lau et al, 2006). Substantial variation in habitat (for example, depth; Powers et al, 2003) reduces the ability to detect statistical associations with fish species or assemblages (Gerhard et al, 2005; McGarvey and Hughes, 2008). Best subsets and multiple linear regressions were used to explore associations and test null hypotheses that stream habitat features and fish species or their assemblages were unrelated at various scales in the study streams
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
