Relations between fish abundances, summer temperatures, and forest harvest in a northern Minnesota stream system from 1997 to 2007

Ecology of Freshwater Fish
By: , and 

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Abstract

Short‐term effects of forest harvest on fish habitat have been well documented, including sediment inputs, leaf litter reductions, and stream warming. However, few studies have considered changes in local climate when examining postlogging changes in fish communities. To address this need, we examined fish abundances between 1997 and 2007 in a basin in a northern hardwood forest. Streams in the basin were subjected to experimental riparian forest harvest in fall 1997. We noted a significant decrease for fish index of biotic integrity and abundance of Salvelinus fontinalis and Phoxinus eos over the study period. However, for P. eos and Culaea inconstans, the temporal patterns in abundances were related more to summer air temperatures than to fine sediment or spring precipitation when examined using multiple regressions. Univariate regressions suggested that summer air temperatures influenced temporal patterns in fish communities more than fine sediment or spring precipitation.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Relations between fish abundances, summer temperatures, and forest harvest in a northern Minnesota stream system from 1997 to 2007
Series title Ecology of Freshwater Fish
DOI 10.1111/j.1600-0633.2009.00389.x
Volume 19
Issue 1
Year Published 2010
Language English
Publisher Wiley
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Leetown
Description 11 p.
First page 63
Last page 73
Country United States
State Minnesota
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
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