The importance of night‐time observations for determining habitat preferences of stream biota

Observations of the presence or density of individuals in specific habitats are often used to develop predictive models of preferential habitat use and habitat suitability curves. However, most studies only use day‐time observations to model habitat associations. In this paper, we present day and night observations of habitat use by two abundant species of freshwater shrimp, Atya lanipes and Xiphocaris elongata, in a tropical montane stream. At night, the number of shrimp observed was an order of magnitude greater than during the day. Habitat preferences of Atya changed, with more individuals using low velocity edge sites at night. Xiphocaris were not readily visible during the day, but were very abundant at night. Our results suggest that habitat models cannot be based only on day‐time observations. Because the level of nocturnal activity is not known for most species of fish and invertebrates, studies of habitat preferences should include both day and night observations. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Development and evaluation of bioenergetic-based habitat suitability criteria for trout

We constructed energetic models of habitat use for 82–322 g rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in a large regulated river, and 8–28 g Colorado River cutthroat trout (O. clarki pleuriticus) in a small headwater stream, to determine if observed summer habitat use by these species could be attributed to net energy acquisition, and to develop habitat suitability criteria based on net energy gain. Metabolic models of energy expenditure were derived from literature sources, but measurements of energy availability were site-specific. From the energy models, we assigned a suitability value of 1.0 to the entire range of velocities where positive net energy gains were predicted, and a suitability value of zero to velocities where negative net energy gains were predicted. Predicted net energy gain velocities were compared with observed velocities used by each species. For rainbow trout, the energetic model predicted energetically profitable velocities ranging from 5 to 45 cm s⁻¹. Predicted velocities were similar to velocities used by rainbow trout. This indicated that rainbow trout, as a group, were using energetically profitable stream locations, but some rainbow trout used non-profitable velocities. For Colorado River cutthroat trout, the energetic model predicted energetically profitable velocities ranging from 5 to 45 cm s⁻¹; however, Colorado River cutthroat trout used significantly lower velocities than predicted. The dissimilarity between velocities predicted and used by Colorado River cutthroat trout may be attributed to their inability to utilize energetically profitable velocities available in the stream because of depth restrictions The results suggest that the predictive abilities of energetic models vary between streams because of differences in depth and velocity availability. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fish assemblage response to recent mitigation of a channelized warmwater stream

Various designs of low‐head dams are used to rehabilitate streams or forestall upstream channel incision after channelization. We report on the efficacy of using notched sills and grade control structures (GCS) to restore the fish assemblage in Luxapallila Creek, Mississippi. We tested the null hypotheses that habitat variables and species richness, evenness, and assemblage structure would not differ among: (1) a channelized segment with no modifications; (2) a channelized segment mitigated by the installation of sills and GCS; (3) a segment upstream of the installations and undergoing channel incision; and (4) an unaltered segment. Although habitat variables changed, neither species richness, evenness, nor fish assemblage structure differed between mitigated and channelized segments with both exhibiting less richness and different assemblage structures than the unaltered segment. Lack of differences in species richness between the incised and unaltered segments suggest that the GCS may have halted the negative effects of upstream channel incision before species were extirpated. Conspicuous habitat differences between the altered (channelized and mitigated) and unaltered segments were lack of backwaters and canopy coverage and finer substrates in the altered segments. Our results suggest a more comprehensive rehabilitation strategy is required in Luxapallila Creek. Published in 2003 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A review of statistical methods for the evaluation of aquatic habitat suitability for instream flow assessment

Habitat models serve three main purposes: First, to predict species occurrences on the basis of abiotic and biotic variables, second to improve the understanding of species‐habitat relationships and third, to quantify habitat requirements. The use of statistical models to predict the likely occurrence or distribution of species based on relevant variables is becoming an increasingly important tool in conservation planning and wildlife management. This article aims to provide an overview of the current status of development and application of statistical methodologies for analysing the species‐environment association, with a clear emphasis on aquatic habitat. It describes the main types of univariate and multivariate techniques available for analysis of species‐environment association, and specifically focuses on the assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the available statistical methods to estimate habitat suitability. A second objective of this article is to propose new approaches using existing statistical methods. A wide array of habitat statistical models has been developed to analyse habitat‐species relationship. Generally, physical habitat is dependent on more than one variable (e.g. depth, velocity, substrate, cover) and several suitability indices must be combined to define a composite index. Multivariate approaches are more appropriate for the analysis of aquatic habitat as they inherently consider the interrelation and correlation structure of the environmental variables. Ordinary multiple linear regression and logistic regression are popular methods often used for modelling of species and their relationships with environment. Ridge regression and Principal component regression are particularly useful when the independent variables are highly correlated. More recent regression modelling paradigms like generalized linear models (GLMs) present advantages in dealing with non‐normal environmental variables. Generalized additive models (GAMs) and artificial neural networks are better suited for analysis of non‐linear relationships between species distribution and environmental variables. The fuzzy logic approach presents advantages in dealing with uncertainties that often exist in habitat modelling. Appropriate methods for analysis of multi‐species data are also presented. Finally, the few existing comparative studies for predictive modelling are reviewed, and advantages and disadvantages of different methods are discussed. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

History and review of the habitat suitability criteria curve in applied aquatic ecology

Hydraulic microhabitat assessment is a category of environmental flow tools (e.g., Physical Habitat Simulation system and other methodologically similar software) that, at its core, uses habitat suitability criteria (HSC) to link values of point hydraulic variables (usually depth, velocity, and substrate/cover) to habitat values for target life stages. Although this assessment tool has been used worldwide for decades, the history of the HSC curve is relatively unknown because the foundational information is predominantly contained in obscure and often unpublished reports. We review the history of the HSC concept in applied aquatic ecology to clarify its scientific pedigree, ensure its proper use, and build a foundation for future research. We begin the review with the formative decades of the 1950's through the 1970's, when consumptive‐based western USA water law conflicted with conservation traditions and natural resource management objectives, although water allocation issues date back at least to the 19th century. By analysing the history of the HSC concept, we aim to establish the biological, hydrologic, and geomorphological conditions that must be met for the HSC concept to be successfully employed. In spite of its documented assumptions and limitations, the HSC concept will likely continue to be a useful tool to help address water resources allocation issues in defined hydrologic and geomorphic settings. We conclude that HSC‐based methodologies should be considered as one of several environmental flow approaches involved in sustainable water resources management.     

Application and testing of a procedure to evaluate transferability of habitat suitability criteria

A procedure designed to test the transferability of habitat suitability criteria was evaluated in the Cache la Poudre River, Colorado. Habitat suitability criteria were developed for active adult and juvenile rainbow trout in the South Platte River, Colorado. These criteria were tested by comparing microhabitat use predicted from the criteria with observed microhabitat use by adult rainbow trout in the Cache la Poudre River. A one-sided X² test, using counts of occupied and unoccupied cells in each suitability classification, was used to test for non-random selection for optimum habitat use over usable habitat and for suitable over unsuitable habitat. Criteria for adult rainbow trout were judged to be transferable to the Cache la Poudre River, but juvenile criteria (applied to adults) were not transferable. Random subsampling of occupied and unoccupied cells was conducted to determine the effect of sample size on the reliability of the test procedure. The incidence of type I and type II errors increased rapidly as the sample size was reduced below 55 occupied and 200 unoccupied cells. Recommended modifications to the procedure included the adoption of a systematic or randomized sampling design and direct measurement of microhabitat variables. With these modifications, the procedure is economical, simple and reliable. Use of the procedure as a quality assurance device in routine applications of the instream flow incremental methodology was encouraged.     

Evaluation of pool‐riffle naturalization structures on habitat complexity and the fish community in an urban Illinois stream

Urbanization and its associated stressors such as flow alteration, channel modification and poor water quality is a leading cause of ecological degradation to rivers and streams. Driven by public concern to address this issue, there has been a dramatic increase in urban restoration projects since 1990 using in‐stream structures. Attempts at restoring the ecological condition of urban streams using structures have produced varied results, but projects do not often meet planned ecological goals. A major challenge to improving the ecological health of urban streams is to better understand how to incorporate ecological assessments into a ‘restoration’ design framework with reasonable expectations for ecological recovery. A naturalization design framework was used in a project on a 0.62‐km reach of the North Branch of the Chicago River in Northbrook, Illinois. Initial surveys of channel morphology, habitat and biota identified poor pool‐riffle bed structure and fish biodiversity, which became the basis for research and development of a pool‐riffle structure specifically designed for constrained, low‐gradient channels. Habitat and fish surveys were conducted pre‐ and post‐construction. The project improved mesohabitat structure, and fish abundance, and biomass and diversity were greater for 2 years following construction (2002–2003) compared to 3 years prior to construction (1999–2001). However, the improved fish metrics were in the low range when compared to rural streams in the same ecoregion, and the fish community consisted primarily of tolerant, slow‐water species. Absent were intolerant and riffle dwelling species, such as insectivorous cyprinids and darters. Assessment of pre‐ and post‐project ecological condition and the use of species information provided a basis for ecologically informed design and expanded our understanding of the limitations to restoring urban streams. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of variation in streamflow and channel structure on smallmouth bass habitat in an alluvial stream

We evaluated the effects of streamflow‐related changes in channel shape and morphology on the quality, quantity, availability and spatial distribution of young‐of‐year and adult smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu habitat in an alluvial stream, the Baron Fork of the Illinois River, Oklahoma. We developed Habitat Suitability Criteria (HSC) for young‐of‐year and adult smallmouth bass to assess changes in available smallmouth bass habitat between years, and compare predicted smallmouth bass Weighted Usable Area (WUA) with observed WUA measured the following year. Following flood events between 1999 and 2000, including a record flood, changes in transect cross‐sectional area ranged from 62.5% to 93.5% and channel mesohabitat overlap ranged from 29.5% to 67.0% in study three study reaches. Using Physical HABitat SIMulation (PHABSIM) system analysis, we found that both young‐of‐year and adult smallmouth bass habitat were differentially affected by intra‐ and inter‐annual streamflow fluctuations. Maximum WUA for young‐of‐year and adults occurred at streamflows of 1.8 and 2.3 m³ s^?1, respectively, and WUA declined sharply for both groups at lower streamflows. For most microhabitat variables, habitat availability was similar between years. Habitat suitability criteria developed in 1999 corresponded well with observed fish locations in 2000 for adult smallmouth bass but not for young‐of‐year fish. Our findings suggest that annual variation in habitat availability affects the predictive ability of habitat models for young‐of‐year smallmouth bass more than for adult smallmouth bass. Furthermore, our results showed that despite the dynamic nature of the gravel‐dominated, alluvial Baron Fork, HSC for smallmouth bass were consistent and transferable between years. Published in 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fish assemblage change following the structural restoration of a degraded stream

Decades of anthropogenic pressure have harmed riverscapes throughout North America by degrading habitats and water quality and can result in the extirpation of sensitive aquatic taxa. Local stream restoration projects have increased in frequency, but monitoring is still infrequent. In 2010, Kickapoo Creek in East Central Illinois was subjected to a stream restoration project that included implementation of artificial riffles, riprap, scouring keys, and riparian vegetation. We monitored the restoration efforts for 6 years after the restoration through annual sampling efforts at restored and reference sites to determine changes in habitat and fish assemblage using standard habitat sampling and electrofishing techniques. We observed distinct temporal and spatial shifts in physico‐chemical parameters along with changes in fish community structure. Although biotic integrity remained moderately low in reference assemblages, restored reaches showed 3‐year delay in response to restoration, with biotic integrity positively linked to additional instream habitat and altered channel morphology. Larger substrate sizes, submerged terrestrial vegetation, and newly formed scour pools along with reduced siltation were found in the restored sites, in contrast to the reference sites. These changes resulted in increased species diversity, reduced number of opportunistic species and consequently an overall increase in health of fish communities. We also observed recruitment of habitat specialists and increase in species with reproductive strategies that rely on complex substrates. The results of this study highlight some of the complex dynamics driving reach‐scale restoration projects. We demonstrate the usefulness of structural restoration as a management tool to increase biotic integrity through long‐term alteration of critical habitat. The delay in the response of species to the restoration efforts emphasizes the need for long‐term continuous temporal and spatial monitoring.     

Development of habitat suitability criteria for trout in small streams

We observed 2863 trout in the wild to determine habitat utilization in small streams of the Kings River basin in California's Sierra Nevada mountains. The habitat utilization data were used to develop habitat suitability functions that provide input variables to the instream flow incremental methodology (IFIM) habitat assessment model of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Observations of habitat utilization of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri), brown trout (Salmo trutta), and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) were obtained during the summer months of 1983 and 1984. The observations were made in small streams with discharges ranging from 0.7 m³ s^?1 to 0.03 m³ s^?1. The streams are at elevations of 1250 to 2530 m. Equal effort was applied to observing undisturbed trout in all habitat types. Snorkeling proved to be the most effective method of observation. Individual trout of all species and life stages were most often observed in the lower half of the water column, utilizing low-velocity currents of less than 3.0 cm s^?1. From the depth and velocity utilization data, several forms of habitat suitability functions were developed and evaluated:

• 1 Univariate depth and velocity functions derived from frequency histogram analysis.
• 2 Univariate depth and univariate velocity exponential polynomial models.
• 3 Bivariate depth and velocity exponential polynomial models.

Univariate exponential polynomial models provided the best fit to the data for each species, based on visual comparisons of response surfaces and contour plots, and comparisons of computed sums of squared errors. Bivariate models fitted to the data resulted in greater sums of squared errors than multiplicative aggragation of univariate models, and frequently predicted utilization at zero depth. The habitat suitability functions derived from the univariate exponential polynomial models provided the best input to the IFIM habitat assessment models.     

The impact of small physical obstacles on the structure of freshwater fish assemblages

Many studies have assessed the effects of large dams on fishes but few have examined the effects of small obstacles. Fishes were sampled and environmental variables were characterized at 28 sites in two Iberian streams, 14 located immediately downstream, upstream and between five small obstacles at river Muge and 14 at river Erra, considered as the reference stream. Multivariate analysis indicated that habitat variables like current velocity and depth, but not physicochemistry, were mainly responsible for site groups' discrimination in both streams. The reference stream exhibited a longitudinal gradient of current velocity that, however, was not strong enough to cause significant changes in the fish assemblage's composition and structure. By successive and drastically repeating this gradient near each structure, the obstacles stream presented differences in fish fauna between the three site types. Lentic upstream sites presented higher density of limnophilic, omnivorous and exotic species, like gudgeon Gobio lozanoi, which are well adapted to this type of habitat. Downstream and between obstacles sites were characterized by the dominance of rheophilic and invertivorous taxa, especially barbel Luciobarbus bocagei. Richness metrics did not differ among site types, but diversity was higher in sites located between the obstacles away from its direct influence, where the habitat diversity was higher. Contrarily to upstream sites, downstream and between obstacles sites were similar in many of the studied features to the reference stream, implying that this type of structures cause a higher modification in the upstream fish community. This study suggests that the effects of small obstacles on habitat and fishes are similar, in some extent, to those reported for larger dams, providing important considerations for riverine ecosystem conservation efforts. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Thermal regime suitability: Assessment of upstream range restoration potential for Colorado pikeminnow,a warmwater endangered fish

Dams have reduced distribution of the endangered Colorado pikeminnow Ptychocheilus lucius in the upper Colorado River basin: low‐head diversion dams blocked upstream passage and large dams inundated free‐flowing segments and cooled downstream reaches with deep‐water releases. To date, range restoration efforts in the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers have focused on building fish ladders around diversion dams to allow recolonization of upstream reaches. Upstream thermal suitability for this warmwater cyprinid was assessed using temperature data and existing distributional information from river reaches where Colorado pikeminnow movements were unrestricted. Among‐site thermal regime comparisons were made using mean annual thermal units (ATU), derived from mean daily temperatures during 1986–2005 and the relation between temperature and Colorado pikeminnow growth. Upstream distributional limits in the Yampa and Gunnison Rivers occurred where in‐channel thermal regimes fell below a long‐term mean of 47–50 ATU, suggesting that two Colorado River fish ladders will make available an estimated 17 km of thermally suitable habitat. A Gunnison River fish ladder successfully re‐established access to 54 km of suitable habitat, but 32 km of critical habitat upstream remains unsuitable. Suitability there could be achieved by raising temperatures only 1–2°C from late May to mid‐October with installation of a temperature control device on an upstream dam. Maximum, main‐channel, summer temperatures did not limit Colorado pikeminnow distribution in downstream reaches of the upper Colorado River. Published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of flow‐related substrate alteration on physical habitat: a case study of the endemic river loach Sinogastromyzon puliensis (Cypriniformes,Homalopteridae) downstream of Chi‐Chi Diversion Weir,Chou‐Shui Creek,Taiwan

This paper addresses the variation of substrate status with flow in the framework of habitat simulation. The Physical Habitat Simulation System (PHABSIM) was developed as a tool for water management and has become one of the most popular methods worldwide. Despite its many advantages, the variation of channel properties with flow is not addressed in PHABSIM. We modified PHABSIM by incorporating a sub‐program that can perform substrate analyses under five different schemes for evaluating the substrate suitability. These schemes include the conventional methods to specify the substrate attribute (scheme 1) and to use the mean grain size of the original bed material for determining the substrate suitability (scheme 2), or employ the threshold conditions for sediment entrainment to evaluate the nominal grain size of the stable substrate (schemes 3–5). As a case study, Sinogastromyzon puliensis in Chou‐Shui Creek (Taiwan) is selected as the target species for the habitat simulation. For schemes 1 and 2, the substrate attribute specified for each cell of a cross‐section does not change with flow. The nominal grain size of the stable armour material (scheme 5) is generally greater than the nominal grain sizes of the above‐critical bed material (scheme 3) and the static armour layer (scheme 4). The simulation results indicate that the suitability values specified in scheme 1 and the resulting habitat area are on the optimistic side, whereas scheme 2 tends to undervalue the suitability of the hydraulically worked substrate. The overall variation trends of the weighted usable area (or percentage usable area) curves for different substrate schemes are similar, especially in the in‐phase regions of the water velocity and depth. The results of this study appear to imply that the flow‐related habitat analyses are not usually sensitive to substrate. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluating Uncertainty in Physical Habitat Modelling in a High‐Gradient Mountain Stream

Predictions of habitat‐based assessment methods that are used to determine instream flow requirements for aquatic biota are uncertain, but instream flow practitioners and managers often ignore those uncertainties. Two commonly recognized uncertainties arise from (i) estimating the way in which physical habitat within a river changes with discharge and (ii) the suitability of certain types of physical habitat for organisms. We explored how these sources of uncertainty affect confidence in the results of the British Columbia Instream Flow Methodology (BCIFM), which is a commonly used transect‐based habitat assessment tool for small‐scale water diversions. We calculated the chance of different magnitudes of habitat loss resulting from water diversion using a high‐gradient reach of the North Alouette River, BC, as a case study. We found that uncertainty in habitat suitability indices for juvenile rainbow trout generally dominated uncertainty in the results of the BCIFM when large (>15) numbers of transects were used. In contrast, with small numbers of transects, variation in physical habitat among sampled transects was the major source of uncertainty in the results of the BCIFM. Presentations of results of the BCIFM in terms of probabilities of different amounts of habitat loss for a given flow can help managers prescribe instream flow requirements based on their risk tolerance for fish habitat loss. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Evaluation of fish habitat suitability using a coupled ecohydraulic model: Habitat model selection and prediction

The selection of an approach to evaluate habitat suitability for a specific fish or life stage has been a matter of concern in habitat quality modelling studies. This study has taken Jinshaia sinensis, a commercially valuable fish endemic to the Jinsha River, China, as the target fish species. One‐ and two‐dimensional hydrodynamic models were coupled and combined with fish habitat models for a middle reach of the Jinsha River. The resulting ecohydraulic model was used to predict the changes in hydrodynamics and spawning habitat suitability that resulted from the operation of an under‐construction reservoir downstream of the study area. The preference function (product, arithmetic mean, geometric mean, and minimum value) and fuzzy logic habitat evaluation methods were compared to predict the spawning habitat suitability of the fish. The model was validated using the numbers of spawning eggs, and the results show that both the arithmetic mean and fuzzy logic method can be used to predict spawning habitat suitability. The model predictions show that the hydrodynamics of the study area would be altered if the impoundment water level exceeded 969 m. During the spawning season, the spawning habitat suitability would increase from April to early June and has little change from early June to July under the impact of the reservoir impoundment. The optimal river discharge rate for fish spawning is ~3,500 m³/s, and this would not change after the reservoir begins operation. This research can benefit other regions that will be affected by planned dams by predicting the impacts of reservoir operation on fish habitat quality, and the results will help decision makers protect the health of rivers and the overall ecosystem.     

基于鱼类栖息地需求的雅鲁藏布江中游环境流量计算

针对水利工程影响下,河道下游天然水文情势改变造成鱼类产卵场面积减小和质量降低等潜在生态问题,通过数值模拟与统计建立拉萨裸裂尻鱼产卵期栖息地适宜度模型,采用栖息地模拟法计算了雅鲁藏布江中游藏木水电站坝下米林—尼洋河汇口处38.9 km河段的环境流量。结果表明:拉萨裸裂尻鱼产卵期适宜水深为0.7～1.0 m,适宜流速为0.4～0.6 m/s;研究河段内拉萨裸裂尻鱼产卵期环境流量为432 m~3/s。     

深水航道整治丁坝群对鱼类生境的影响

航道整治丁坝群一定程度上改变了局部水动力条件,从而对鱼类的生境也产生了影响。依托长江12.5 m深水航道整治工程,选择仪征水道整治工程为典型河段,建立二维数值模型,分析了三种典型工况下整治丁坝群实施前后研究河段的水流特性变化,基于对鱼类生境需求的调查分析的基础上,探讨了丁坝群对鱼类产卵场、索饵场、越冬场和洄游通道的影响及成因,揭示了潮汐河段航道整治丁坝群对鱼类"三场一通道"的影响规律。研究表明:丁坝群附近的复杂水流结构及近岸缓流区,为漂流性鱼类和沉黏性鱼类提供了适宜的产卵场;丁坝坝后的底层缓流及静水环境,为鱼类提供了良好的越冬场;丁坝群独特的水流结构,将河道内的浮游生物横向输移至坝后富集,为鱼类觅食提供了丰富的饵料场;丁坝群建成后世业洲右缘近岸缓流区的范围有明显扩大,为鱼卵和仔鱼的降河洄游提供了稳定的洄游通道。     

Large wood addition for aquatic habitat rehabilitation in an incised,sand‐bed stream,Little Topashaw Creek,Mississippi

Large wood (LW) is a key component of stream habitats, and degraded streams often contain little wood relative to less‐impacted ones. Habitat rehabilitation and erosion control techniques that emphasize addition of natural wood in the form of individual elements or structures are increasingly popular. However, the efficacy of wood addition, especially in physically unstable, warmwater systems is not well established. The effects of habitat rehabilitation of Little Topashaw Creek, a sinuous, sand‐bed stream draining 37 km² in northwest Mississippi are described herein. The rehabilitation project consisted of placing 72 LW structures along eroding concave banks of a 2‐km reach and planting 4000 willow cuttings in sandbars opposite or adjacent to the LW structures. Response was measured by monitoring flow, channel geometry, physical aquatic habitat and fish populations in treated and untreated reaches for 2 years before and 4 years after rehabilitation. Initially, LW structures reduced high flow velocities at concave bank toes. Progressive failure of the LW structures and renewed erosion began during the second year after rehabilitation, with only 64% of the structures and about 10% of the willow plantings surviving for 3 years. Accordingly, long‐term changes in physical habitat attributable to rehabilitation were limited to an increase in LW density. Fish biomass increased in the treated reach, and species richness approximately doubled in all reaches after rehabilitation, suggesting the occurrence of some sort of stressful event prior to our study. Fish community composition shifted toward one typical of a lightly degraded reference site, but similar shifts occurred in the untreated reaches downstream, which had relatively high levels of naturally occurring LW. Large wood is a key component of sand‐bed stream ecosystems, but LW addition for rehabilitation should be limited to sites with more stable beds and conditions that foster rapid woody plant colonization of sediment deposits. Published in 2006 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

From site to system: Approaches for producing system-wide estimates of fish habitat in large rivers

Worldwide, many productive rivers are dam-regulated and rely on flow management strategies that must balance support of ecological processes with human water use. One component of evaluating this balance is to understand ecological consequences of alternative flow management strategies, which has often been accomplished by coupling population dynamics models with models that relate streamflow to habitat availability and quality. Numerous methods assign habitat availability to locations within a river basin: These include fine-scale field-measured values that are extrapolated to other locations within the basin having similar physical characteristics or equation-driven values created by functions of model-predicted values of physical characteristics. The array of options for creating habitat models is evolving rapidly as high-resolution remote-sensing data becomes more accessible and computational capacity improves. Our objective was to identify trade-offs among approaches that assign habitat relationships to large rivers and to create a decision support tool to supplement choices of extent and granularity. Using a selection of case studies that represent a breadth of scales and diverse trade-offs, we demonstrate the need for a transparent process of data evaluation and assessment to determine the appropriate fit for model scope or context that best supports management needs and recognize sources of uncertainty. The structured approach proposed here aims at improving future model development and refine population dynamics models that inform the management of rivers.     

Response of fish assemblages to restoration of rapids habitat in a Great Lakes connecting channel

Rapids habitats are critical spawning and nursery grounds for multiple Laurentian Great Lakes fishes of ecological importance such as lake sturgeon, walleye, and salmonids. However, river modifications have destroyed important rapids habitat in connecting channels by modifying flow profiles and removing large quantities of cobble and gravel that are preferred spawning substrates of several fish species. The conversion of rapids habitat to slow moving waters has altered fish assemblages and decreased the spawning success of lithophilic species. The St. Marys River is a Great Lakes connecting channel in which the majority of rapids habitat has been lost. However, rapids habitat was restored at the Little Rapids in 2016 to recover important spawning habitat in this river. During the restoration, flow and substrate were recovered to rapids habitat. We sampled the fish community (pre- and post-restoration), focusing on age-0 fishes in order to characterize the response of the fish assemblage to the restoration, particularly for species of importance (e.g. lake whitefish, walleye, Atlantic salmon). Following restoration, we observed a 40% increase in age-0 fish catch per unit effort, increased presence of rare species, and a shift in assemblage structure of age-0 fishes (higher relative abundance of Salmonidae, Cottidae, and Gasterosteidae). We also observed a “transition” period in 2017, in which the assemblage was markedly different from the pre- and post-restoration assemblages and was dominated by Catostomidae. Responses from target species were mixed, with increased Atlantic salmon abundance, first documented presence of walleye and no presence of lake sturgeon or Coregoninae.