Fish Communities in Coastal Freshwater Ecosystems
Author Information
Author(s): Arend Kristin K, Bain Mark B
Primary Institution: Cornell University
Hypothesis
High nutrient inputs to embayments would positively affect fish abundance and biomass and negatively affect species diversity through loss of intolerant species.
Conclusion
Total phosphorus loading and vegetation are important factors in structuring fish communities, which has implications for human impacts on these ecosystems.
Supporting Evidence
- Fish communities were numerically dominated by yellow perch and centrarchids.
- Biomass was dominated by piscivorous fishes including brown bullhead and northern pike.
- Phosphorus loading influenced relative biomass but not species diversity.
- Fish relative abundance increased significantly with submerged vegetative cover.
Takeaway
This study looked at how different factors like nutrients and plants affect fish living in shallow waters. It found that more plants and nutrients can help fish thrive.
Methodology
The study used hierarchical mixed modeling to relate fish community characteristics to various physicochemical factors across different embayments.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in fish sampling due to varying environmental conditions and methods used.
Limitations
The study did not include all possible factors influencing fish communities, such as temperature and dissolved oxygen, which were limited by sampling times.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.0025
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website