Comparison of species composition and richness of fish assemblages in altered and unaltered littoral habitats

Journal of Freshwater Ecology
By: , and 

Links

Abstract

Species composition and richness of fish assemblages in altered and unaltered littoral habitats in Lake St. Clair, Michigan, differed between areas. A percid-cyprinid-cyprinodontid assemblage dominated in the unaltered area, Muscamoot Bay, which has a natural shoreline (with almost no alteration due to dredging or bulkheading), high water quality, and high species richness of aquatic macrophytes. A centrarchid assemblage dominated in the altered area, Belvidere Bay, which has a bulkheaded shoreline, many dredged areas, reduced water quality due to inputs of nutrients from a nearby river, and relatively low species richness of aquatic macrophytes. Habitat factors, species richness and abundance of aquatic macrophytes, had the most influence on fish community structure in both areas. The percid-cyprinid-cyprinodontid assemblage was significantly correlated with six species of macrophytes whereas the centrarchid assemblage was significantly correlated with only four. These patterns suggest that preference for diverse habitats was higher, and tolerance to habitat alteration lower, in percid-cyprinid-cyprinodontid assemblages than in centrarchid assemblages.

Study Area

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Comparison of species composition and richness of fish assemblages in altered and unaltered littoral habitats
Series title Journal of Freshwater Ecology
DOI 10.1080/02705060.1986.9665146
Volume 3
Issue 4
Year Published 1986
Language English
Publisher Oikos Publishers
Contributing office(s) Great Lakes Science Center, Western Fisheries Research Center
Description 11 p.
First page 525
Last page 536
Country United States
State Michigan
Other Geospatial Lake St. Claire
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details