Headwater Stream Fish Research Articles

Can bait improve the efficiency of underwater video monitoring of fish in headwater streams? A case study from the Rondegat River, South Africa

The use of action cameras for underwater video sampling provides a non-harmful alternative for monitoring endangered and threatened fish populations in clear headwater streams. Here, we examine the use of baited remote underwater video systems (BRUVS) for the monitoring of vulnerable species in the clear headwater streams of the Cederberg Wilderness Area, South Africa. We tested whether baits (bread and Marmite™) increased the number of individuals recorded in comparison to un-baited BRUVS. Overall, baiting cameras increased the number of individuals recorded, with bread outperforming Marmite™. Numbers recorded varied notably among species and sites. We conclude that BRUVS are a useful monitoring tool, but caution that monitoring programmes should first determine the effectiveness of a range of baits to attract each species expected at the study sites.

Taxonomic and phylogenetic beta diversity in headwater stream fish communities of the Paraná and Paraguai River basins

ABSTRACT Patterns of species replacement and richness differences along environmental gradients or ecoregions shed light on different ecological and evolutionary mechanisms acting on community structure. Communities of aquatic ecosystems of different watersheds are supposed to host distinct species and lineages. Quantifying and understanding the degree to which these differences are affected by environmental and biogeographical factors remains an open question for these environments, particularly in the Neotropical region. We investigated patterns of taxonomic and phylogenetic composition of headwater streams of the Paraná and Paraguai River basins to understand how local and biogeographical factors affect the assembly of fish communities. We also quantified taxonomic and phylogenetic beta diversity by decomposing them into nestedness and turnover components. We found that local environmental factors are the main factors influencing the composition of stream fish communities. Whereas pH affected both taxonomic and phylogenetic turnover, water velocity was responsible for phylogenetic turnover and pH was the main driver of phylogenetic nestedness. Our results indicate an effect of local environmental factors in determining the structure of headwater stream fish communities through a combination of a species sorting mechanism (water velocity and pH) and phylogenetic habitat filtering (pH).

DNA barcode and minibarcode identification of freshwater fishes from Cerrado headwater streams in Central Brazil.

The extraordinary species diversity of the Neotropical freshwater fish fauna is world renown. Yet, despite rich species diversity, taxonomic and genetic resources for its Cerrado ichthyofauna remain poorly developed. We provide a reference library of 149 DNA barcodes for 39 species/lineages of Cerrado headwater stream fishes from the Brazilian Distrito Federal and nearby areas and test the utility of distance-based criteria, tree-based criteria and minibarcodes for specimen identification. Mean Kimura 2-parameter genetic distances within species to orders ranged 1·8-12·1%. However, mean intraspecific v. congeneric-interspecific distances (0·9-1·3%) overlapped extensively and distance-based barcoding failed to achieve correct identifications due to c. 4-12·1% error rates and 19·5% ambiguous identifications related to the presence of singletons. Overlap was reduced and best-match success rates improved drastically to 83·5% when Characidium barcodes representing potential misidentifications or undescribed species were removed. Tree-based monophyly criteria generally performed similarly to distance methods, correctly differentiating up to c. 85% of species/lineages despite neighbour-joining and Bayesian tree errors (random lineage-branching events, long-branch attraction). Five clusters (Ancistrus aguaboensis, Characidium spp., Eigenmannia trilineata, Hasemania hanseni and Hypostomus sp. 2) exhibited deep intraspecific divergences or para-/polyphyly and multiple Barcode Index Number assignments indicative of putative candidate species needing taxonomic re-examination. Sliding-window analyses also indicated that a 200 bp minibarcode region performed just as well at specimen identification as the entire barcode gene. Future DNA barcoding studies of Distrito Federal-Cerrado freshwater fishes will benefit from increased sampling coverage, as well as consideration of minibarcode targets for degraded samples and next-generation sequencing.

Temporal variability in stream fish assemblage metrics and implications for long-term monitoring

High natural variability in the condition of fish communities in headwater streams complicates detection of long-term responses to changes in water quality. As a result, little is known about the impacts and recovery of fishes from acid deposition in streams of New York. Twenty-one fish metrics from annual electrofishing surveys at 13 streams sites in the Catskill and Adirondack mountains were assessed to quantify temporal variability and identify effective monitoring strategies for detecting change in headwater stream fish assemblages. Metrics included the density and biomass of Brook Trout populations and entire fish communities using length-, area-, and effort-based standardization techniques. Linear mixed models were used to estimate changes in coefficients of variation (CV) for different classes of metrics and standardization techniques, and a simulation-based power analysis was conducted to assess differences in statistical power for each metric with various sampling designs. Metric CV varied significantly as a result of standardization technique and whether metrics were calculated for the entire community or Brook Trout only. The sampling effort necessary to detect a 30% change with power of 0.80 was strongly correlated with CV (R2 = 0.77). The number of sampling events at the 13 sites needed to detect this change ranged from 1 to >60, suggesting metric selection can strongly affect statistical power and the resources necessary to detect change. Thus, metric selection is a complex decision that must consider study objectives and biological relevance, in addition to natural variability and statistical power. However, adequate statistical power was achieved at relatively small sample sizes using certain metrics, indicating that fish communities in headwater streams can be a valuable component of long-term assessments of acidification impacts and recovery.

Effects of deforestation on headwater stream fish assemblages in the Upper Xingu River Basin, Southeastern Amazonia

ABSTRACT The expansion of the Amazonian agricultural frontier represents the most extensive land cover change in the world, detrimentally affecting stream ecosystems which collectively harbor the greatest diversity of freshwater fish on the planet. Our goal was to test the hypotheses that deforestation affects the abundance, richness, and taxonomic structure of headwater stream fish assemblages in the Upper Xingu River Basin, in Southeastern Amazonia. Standardized sampling surveys in replicated first order streams demonstrated that deforestation strongly influences fish assemblage structure. Deforested stream reaches had twice the fish abundance than reference stream reaches in primary forests. These differences in assemblage structure were largely driven by increases in the abundance of a handful of species, as no influence of deforestation on species richness was observed. Stream canopy cover was the strongest predictor of assemblage structure, possibly by a combination of direct and indirect effects on the provision of forest detritus, food resources, channel morphology, and micro-climate regulation. Given the dynamic nature of change in land cover and use in the region, this article is an important contribution to the understanding of the effects of deforestation on Amazonian stream fish, and their conservation.

Out of the pot and into the fire: Explaining the vulnerability of an endangered small headwater stream fish to black-bass Micropterus spp. invasion.

Introduced predatory fishes have had consistently severe consequences for native fishes in stream environments around the world, although the drivers of these effects are often unclear. In the Swartkops River headwaters in South Africa, native Eastern Cape redfin Pseudobarbus afer were always absent from sites occupied by non-native black basses Micropterus salmoides and Micropterus dolomieu, but generally co-occurred with the native predators Anguilla marmorata and Anguilla mossambica. A natural experiment provided by flood-mediated recolonization of black-bass occupied sites by P. afer demonstrated depletion in black-bass invaded sites. Field behavioural observations of P. afer indicated that they foraged among benthic cover during the day, but suspended in open water at night. As the nocturnal A. marmorata and A. mossambica foraged actively within structural cover at night and M. dolomieu and M. salmoides are diurnal or crepuscular predators, P .afer is thus optimized to avoid predation by native anguillid predators and not the functionally unique predatory black basses. The integration of distributional, temporal population dynamics and behavioural data suggests that the severe effects of Micropterus spp. are probably a consequence of prey naïveté and behaviour evolved to evade native predators.

Fishes in headwater streams of the Pihe River Basin: Spatial distribution pattern and its main influencing factors

Fishes in headwater streams of the Pihe River Basin: Spatial distribution pattern and its main influencing factors

Headwater stream fish fauna from the Upper Paranapanema River basin

Abstract The Paraná River basin has about 600 fish species. In the Upper Paraná, 310 fish species were recorded, with 52 species were registered in the streams and headwaters of the Paranapanema River. The aim of this study was to characterize the stream fish communities in the Upper Paranapanema River basin. Samplings were conducted with electrofishing during the dry season in the year of 2014. The collection effort consisted of 30 streams stretches. As a result, 41 species of stream fish were recorded in the Upper Paranapanema River basin, distributed in 26 genera, 11 families and 7 orders. Thirty-nine percent of the species can be considered rare, 41% intermediate and 20% common. We captured approximately eight species by stream stretch and the estimated richness (Schao2) was 40 ± 6 species. Around 40% of the individuals had less than 50 mm in length.

The influence of environmental variables on the functional structure of headwater stream fish assemblages: a study of two tropical basins in Central Brazil

We investigated functional patterns of fish assemblages of two adjacent basins (Araguaia and Tocantins) to test whether their headwater stream fish assemblages are more functionally (dis)similar than expected by chance and whether these (dis)similarities are related to differences of environmental conditions between basins. We used an analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) on a functional dissimilarity matrix to test for (dis)similarities between fish assemblages of both basins. We performed RLQ and fourth-corner analyses to determine fish species trait-environment relationship. Our results revealed functional dissimilarities between fish assemblages of both basins and significant species trait-environment relationships, suggesting that environmental conditions are driving such dissimilarities. Inter-basin dissimilarities are mainly driven by altitudinal and water temperature gradients, whereas dissimilarities among streams within the basins are influenced by channel depth, turbidity and conductivity. These five environmental variables mostly affected six fish species traits (body mass, water column position, substrate preference, parental care, foraging locality and migration) in different manners. This study is an attempt to understand functional trends of fish assemblages in a tropical region that remains poorly known but severely threatened.

Resilience of imperilled headwater stream fish to an unpredictable high-magnitude flood

Headwater stream fish communities are increasingly becoming isolated in headwater refugia that are often cut off from other metapopulations within a river network as a result of nonnative fish invasions, pollution, water abstraction and habitat degradation downstream. This range restriction and isolation therefore makes them vulnerable to extinction. Understanding threats to isolated fish populations is consequently important for their conservation. Following a base-flow survey, a high-magnitude flood (peak flow of 1245 m-3s-1) provided an opportunity to investigate the response of endangered Eastern Cape redfin Pseudobarbus afer populations to a natural disturbance in the Waterkloof and Fernkloof streams, two relatively pristine headwater tributaries of the Swartkops River system within the Groendal Wilderness Area, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Pseudobarbus afer had limited distributions, occupying 3 km in both the Fernkloof and Waterkloof streams. Fish population assessments before and after the flood event indicated that there were no longitudinal trends in P. afer abundance before or after the flood, but overall abundance post-flooding in the Fernkloof stream was higher. There were no noticeable changes in P. afer size structure pre- and post-flood. Pseudobarbus afer showed resilience to a major flooding event most likely related to evolution in river systems characterised by environmental stochasticity.Conservation implications: This research provides insight into the population level responses of native headwater stream fishes to unpredictable natural disturbance. Of particular relevance is information on their ability to withstand natural disturbances, which provides novel information essential for their conservation and management especially as these fishes are already impacted by multiple anthropogenic stressors.

Ecological impacts of small hydropower plants on headwater stream fish: from individual to community effects

AbstractHydroelectricity is increasingly used worldwide as a source of renewable energy, and many mountain ranges have dozens or hundreds of hydropower plants, with many more being under construction or planned. Although the ecological impacts of large dams are relatively well known, the effects of small hydropower plants and their weirs have been much less investigated. We studied the effects of water diversion of small hydropower plants on fish assemblages in the upper Ter river basin (Catalonia, NE Spain), which has headwater reaches with good water quality and no large dams but many of such plants. We studied fish populations and habitat features on control and impacted reaches for water diversion of 16 hydropower plants. In the impacted reaches, there was a significantly lower presence of refuges for fish, poorer habitat quality, more pools and less riffles and macrophytes, and shallower water levels. We also observed higher fish abundance, larger mean fish size and better fish condition in the control than in impacted reaches, although the results were species‐specific. Accordingly, species composition was also affected, with lower relative abundance of brown trout (Salmo trutta) and Pyrenean minnow (Phoxinus bigerri) in the impacted reaches and higher presence of stone loach (Barbatula quignardi) and Mediterranean barbel (Barbus meridionalis). Our study highlights the effects of water diversion of small hydropower plants from the individual to the population and community levels but probably underestimates them, urging for further assessment and mitigation of these ecological impacts.

Influence of urbanization on a karst terrain stream and fish community

Effects of catchment urbanization described as the urban stream syndrome generally result in an altered fish community with headwater stream fish communities particularly vulnerable to changes associated with urbanization. In this study, we considered how the fish community in a Central Texas headwater karst stream changed with catchment urbanization. Paleohistory and a narrative on urbanization within the upper San Marcos River were compiled and qualitatively related to historical fish changes from 1880 to 2011 to test predictions of the urban stream syndrome. Our predictions of decreases in native fish com- munity and species abundances were largely unsupported despite 170 years of urbanization, specifically anthropogenic alterations to instream and catchment habitats, water quantity and water quality, stream morphology, and introduced species. Overall, the upper San Marcos River supports a persistent (>60 %) fish community through time with observed native species declines and extirpations not attributed solely to urbanization within the catchment. As such, we conclude that upper San Marcos River is largely an exception to the urban stream syndrome, which we attribute to two mechanisms; 1) paleohistory of the upper San Marcos River suggests a dynamic stream system with decreasing stream flow and increasing water temperatures since the last glacial maximum, and 2) water quantity of the San Marcos River is much greater than water quantity of other headwater streams used to assess urban stream syndrome. Nevertheless, the lower portion of the upper San Marcos River is indicative of an altered system, in both habitat and fish community, and represents a target area for

Fish distributions in the Rondegat River, Cape Floristic Region, South Africa, and the immediate impact of rotenone treatment in an invaded reach

Alien fishes are considered the most serious threat to native headwater stream fishes in South Africa. A 4 km reach of the Rondegat River is the first section of a South African river to be rehabilitated through the attempted removal of alien fish by using the piscicide rotenone. The objectives of the current study were to establish the distribution and relative abundance of native and alien fish prior to treatment, and to assess the immediate impact of the treatment on the fish population. Forty-three sites were sampled using backpack electrofishing, snorkel transects and underwater video analysis. In the invaded lower reaches, native Labeobarbus capensis was detected only at very low densities, while three other native fish species were not detected. Alien fish were not detected above a barrier waterfall 5 km upstream of the river's confluence with a reservoir. The fish density of 97 fish per 100 m2 in non-invaded reaches was more than an order of magnitude higher than that of 7 fish per 100 m2 in the invaded reach. A total of 470 Micropterus dolomieu and 139 L. capensis were removed from a 4 km treatment zone during the rotenone operation. No fish were detected in this area after the rotenone treatment.

Terrestrial prey inputs to streams bordered by deciduous broadleaved forests, conifer plantations and clear‐cut sites in southwestern Japan: effects on the abundance of red‐spotted masu salmon

AbstractTerrestrial invertebrates falling from the riparian canopy are a major energy source for fishes in headwater streams. Because quantity and quality of such allochthonous resources can vary depending on riparian conditions, conversion of riparian forests to conifer plantations may affect stream productivity. We compared falling and drifting invertebrate abundances and the diet of masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou) among stream reaches bordered by deciduous broadleaved forests, conifer plantations (Cryptomeria japonica), and clear‐cut sites in southwestern Japan. We also examined whether among‐reach variation in salmon abundance was related to the riparian vegetation types. The results indicated that, on an annual basis, falling inputs of terrestrial invertebrates at the broadleaved reaches were 2–4 times higher than those at the plantation and clear‐cut reaches. In nonwinter seasons, terrestrial invertebrates made up 40–60% and 30–90% of drift and masu salmon diets, respectively, and drifting invertebrate abundance was higher in the broadleaved reaches than in the plantation reaches. Furthermore, a multivariate analysis of salmon abundance showed that variation in salmon biomass was explained primarily by riparian vegetation type, with broadleaved and clear‐cut reaches having higher biomass than the plantation reaches. These results indicate that terrestrial invertebrates are an important resource for masu salmon, and suggest that streams bordered by conifer plantations receive lower terrestrial prey inputs, which results in lower salmon abundance. In regions where natural forests have been extensively converted to conifer plantations, forest management that allows and facilitates recovery of natural riparian stands is important.

Using stable isotopes to test for trophic niche partitioning: a case study with stream salamanders and fish

Summary1. Stream salamanders and fish often co‐occur even though fish prey on and outcompete salamanders. However, the mechanisms that allow palatable salamanders to coexist with fish are unknown.2. We tested mechanisms in the field that promote coexistence between Idaho giant salamanders (Dicamptodon aterrimus) and stream salmonid fishes in headwater streams. Previous research in this system indicated that salamander dispersal did not promote coexistence with fish. We tested the hypothesis that D. aterrimus shift their diet when they occur with fish, facilitating coexistence through local niche partitioning.3. We used nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes to describe the trophic niche of D. aterrimus and fish in three co‐occurring populations of salamanders and fish and three populations of salamanders without fish. We used two approaches to quantify trophic niche partitioning with stable isotopes: 95% kernel density estimators and isotopic mixing models.4. We found that salamanders and fish were generalists that consumed aquatic invertebrates primarily, but both species were also cannibalistic and predatory on one another. We also found no support for trophic niche partitioning as a coexistence mechanism because there were no differences in the trophic niche metrics among salamander populations with and without fish.5. Although we did not identify mechanisms that facilitate salamander and fish coexistence, our empirical data and use of novel approaches to describe the trophic niche did yield important insights on the role of predator–prey interactions and cannibalism as alternative coexistence mechanisms. In addition, we found that 95% kernel estimators are a simple and robust method to describe population‐level measure of trophic structure.

Sampling strategies for estimating brook trout effective population size

The influence of sampling strategy on estimates of effective population size (N e ) from single-sample genetic methods has not been rigorously examined, though these methods are increasingly used. For headwater salmonids, spatially close kin association among age-0 individuals suggests that sampling strategy (number of individuals and location from which they are collected) will influence estimates of N e through family representation effects. We collected age-0 brook trout by completely sampling three headwater habitat patches, and used microsatellite data and empirically parameterized simulations to test the effects of different combinations of sample size (S = 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, or 200) and number of equally-spaced sample starting locations (SL = 1, 2, 3, 4, or random) on estimates of mean family size and effective number of breeders (N b ). Both S and SL had a strong influence on estimates of mean family size and $$ \hat{N}_{b} , $$ however the strength of the effects varied among habitat patches that varied in family spatial distributions. The sampling strategy that resulted in an optimal balance between precise estimates of N b and sampling effort regardless of family structure occurred with S = 75 and SL = 3. This strategy limited bias by ensuring samples contained individuals from a high proportion of available families while providing a large enough sample size for precise estimates. Because this sampling effort performed well for populations that vary in family structure, it should provide a generally applicable approach for genetic monitoring of iteroparous headwater stream fishes that have overlapping generations.

Underwater video analysis as a non‐destructive alternative to electrofishing for sampling imperilled headwater stream fishes

ABSTRACT Traditionally headwater streams are surveyed using electrofishing, a potentially harmful sampling method. Increasingly scientists are seeking out the least destructive stream sampling methods, especially when sampling imperilled fishes. It is therefore imperative that the efficacy of alternative, non‐destructive sampling methods be investigated. This study investigated the potential for using underwater video analysis (UWVA) as an alternative to electrofishing for assessing the diversity and relative abundance of imperilled fishes in clear, relatively shallow (<1.5 m) headwater streams. Detection rates using UWVA were higher than with electrofishing, relative abundance estimates between the two methods were significantly correlated, the attractive effect of the camera was negligible and UWVA was logistically feasible for sampling small headwater streams. These results have clear conservation implications as it was demonstrated that UWVA is a suitable sampling method for estimating relative abundance of fishes in small, clear headwater streams. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Invasion of a Headwater Stream by Non-Native Fishes in the Swartkops River System, South Africa

In South Africa, fishes in headwater streams are increasingly being threatened by non-native fish invasions. These invasions originate primarily from source populations in mainstream rivers and impoundments. In the Blindekloof stream, a Swartkops River headwater tributary, the non-native Micropterus salmoides was eradicated from the stream by conservation authorities in 1989. As a result of this eradication subsequent occurrences of non-native fishes are most likely a result of upstream invasions from the mainstream Swartkops River. The Blindekloof stream therefore provided a unique opportunity to investigate whether M. salmoides would reinvade after its removal in 1989 and if the more recently introduced Clarias gariepinus and Tilapia sparrmanii would invade the Blindekloof stream. During snorkel and electrofishing surveys four non-native species were recorded (M. salmoides, M. dolomieu, T. sparrmanii, C. gariepinus). The large predators, M. salmoides, M. dolomieu and C. gariepinus were neither abundant nor widespread and T. sparrmanii was the only non-native species that had successfully established in the Blindekloof stream. Where M. salmoides and M. dolomieu were observed, all other fish species were absent. By contrast, the native species were present at all sites where C. gariepinus and T. sparrmanii were found. The Pseudobarbus afer population was predominantly limited to a 1.7 km section of the stream that was not invaded and is located above a waterfall. The limited distribution range of this Endangered species makes it particularly vulnerable to predation by non-native fishes. The results of this study indicate that these non-native fishes rapidly invaded the Blindekloof stream following their introduction into the mainstream.

Invasion of a headwater stream by non-native fishes in the Swartkops River system, South Africa

In South Africa, fishes in headwater streams are increasingly being threatened by non-native fish invasions. These invasions originate primarily from source populations in mainstream rivers and impoundments. In the Blindekloof stream, a Swartkops River headwater tributary, the non-native Micropterus salmoides was eradicated from the stream by conservation authorities in 1989. As a result of this eradication subsequent occurrences of non-native fishes are most likely a result of upstream invasions from the mainstream Swartkops River. The Blindekloof stream therefore provided a unique opportunity to investigate whether M. salmoides would reinvade after its removal in 1989 and if the more recently introduced Clarias gariepinus and Tilapia sparrmanii would invade the Blindekloof stream. During snorkel and electrofishing surveys four non-native species were recorded (M. salmoides, M. dolomieu, T. sparrmanii, C. gariepinus ). The large predators, M. salmoides, M. dolomieu and C. gariepinus were neither abundant nor widespread and T. sparrmanii was the only non-native species that had successfully established in the Blindekloof stream. Where M. salmoides and M. dolomieu were observed, all other fish species were absent. By contrast, the native species were present at all sites where C. gariepinus and T. sparrmanii were found. The Pseudobarbus afer population was predominantly limited to a 1.7 km section of the stream that was not invaded and is located above a waterfall. The limited distribution range of this Endangered species makes it particularly vulnerable to predation by non-native fishes. The results of this study indicate that these non-native fishes rapidly invaded the Blindekloof stream following their introduction into the mainstream.

Genetic Structure of Creek Chub, a Headwater Minnow, in an Impounded River System

AbstractThe population‐level effects of landscape heterogeneity in migration corridors are not well understood, especially in aquatic ecosystems. Using 17 microsatellite loci, we assessed the spatial genetic structure of creek chub Semotilus atromaculatus, a headwater stream fish, in eight small tributaries (202 individuals) connected by a river (a lotic corridor) and eight small tributaries (200 individuals) connected by a nearby downstream reservoir (a lentic corridor). Genetic diversity measured in terms of gene diversity and allelic richness was higher in the river tributaries than reservoir tributaries. Both the river and reservoir tributaries exhibited significant population differentiation but differed in their patterns of isolation by distance. Pairs of river tributaries showed increasing genetic differentiation with increasing geographic distance, whereas reservoir tributaries showed no effect of geographic distance on genetic distance. Bayesian estimates of gene flow showed a trend of higher recent migration among river tributaries than reservoir tributaries, but the difference was not statistically significant. Our results may indicate an association between one feature of the aquatic landscape's structure (i.e., whether a connecting water body and migration corridor is riverine or reservoir in type) and population genetic structure in a headwater stream fish. Accordingly, additional genetic studies of populations inhabiting tributaries of river‐reservoir networks in other watersheds are needed to further assess this possibility.