Abstract
Understanding fish migration patterns and habitat use is essential for fisheries management. We conducted an acoustic fine-scale tracking experiment from March to June 2017 to determine the common carp movement pattern and habitat use in the downstream area of the Pearl River. The eight tagged common carp were detected for 39.38 ± 29.57 d, on average, with a total average detection period of 42.12 ± 28.02 d. A general linear mixed model suggested they were detected more during the night than during the day. Common carp preferred habitats near the sandbar and riparian shallow habitats, as revealed by their movement tracks and habitat selection indexes. The general additive mixed model (GAMM) analysis of their shortest distances to riverbanks and depth indicated that they migrated to shallower riparian habitat more frequently during the night than during the day. The continuous wavelet spectrum further confirmed the significant diel pattern of their vertical movement. Their habitat use was also influenced by the water temperature, water level, and river discharge, as suggested by the GAMM. Our results provide novel information on common carp spatiotemporal movement and habitat use patterns, and have important implications for its native population restoration and the invasive population control/exclusion.
Highlights
IntroductionStudies on fish movement and/or migration behavior have been widely carried out in marine [1,2]and freshwater [3,4] environments
Studies on fish movement and/or migration behavior have been widely carried out in marine [1,2]and freshwater [3,4] environments
We found that common carp prefer habitats in riparian shallow water or around the sand bar, as suggested by the habitat selection index (HSI), and migrate to riparian shallow water during the night from March to May, as revealed by the shortest distance to the riverbanks (SDR) and depth data
Summary
Studies on fish movement and/or migration behavior have been widely carried out in marine [1,2]and freshwater [3,4] environments. Animal movement is defined by a change in its geographic location. Animals’ selective movements yield their habitat use [5]. To reduce the frequency of leaving a suitable habitat, animals increase their residence time by decreasing the speed and increasing the tortuosity of their movements. To increase the frequency of visiting suitable areas, individuals direct their movement towards these areas [6]. The relationship between environmental characteristics and space-use patterns is the result of their direct effects on animal movement, i.e., the environment affects an animal’s movements, and these movements, in turn, determine the space use of the environment [6]. Fish movement data provide knowledge of space-use patterns in geographic and/or environmental spaces and link home ranges and habitat selection [6]
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