The Interannual Variability of the Fall Size of Young-of-The-Year Chub (Squalius cephalus): Influence of Phenology, Growth Patterns and Abiotic Factors

Long-term surveys confirm the rapidity of environmental and biological changes undergone by endangered species but that also concerned relatively “tolerant” species, especially common rheophilic species such as European chub (Squalius cephalus, Linnaeus 1758). As many organisms, fish are highly vuln...

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Main Authors: Maxime Logez, Bernadette Bounket, Pierre Gibert, Georges Carrel, Virginie Diouloufet, Xavier Colombet, Fabien Morat
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Environmental Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2021.784751/full
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author Maxime Logez
Maxime Logez
Bernadette Bounket
Pierre Gibert
Georges Carrel
Virginie Diouloufet
Xavier Colombet
Fabien Morat
Fabien Morat
author_facet Maxime Logez
Maxime Logez
Bernadette Bounket
Pierre Gibert
Georges Carrel
Virginie Diouloufet
Xavier Colombet
Fabien Morat
Fabien Morat
author_sort Maxime Logez
collection DOAJ
description Long-term surveys confirm the rapidity of environmental and biological changes undergone by endangered species but that also concerned relatively “tolerant” species, especially common rheophilic species such as European chub (Squalius cephalus, Linnaeus 1758). As many organisms, fish are highly vulnerable during their first life stages. Body size is a determinant factor for ecosystem functioning and for fish to survive to predators or to winter conditions. While numerous studies has already demonstrated the large variability of autumnal size of fish hatched during the year, few have focused on the factors explaining these interannual variations and on the growth patterns underlying these distributions. Using otoliths of young-of-the-year (YOY), we studied how the interannual variability in fall sizes of chub might be related to varying phenology, temperature, hydrology and growth patterns. YOY were sampled in three sections of the same reach of the Rhône River with contrasted hydrological regime: an artificial deep lotic channel (the tailrace of Bollène), a bypassed section with both lotic and lentic areas (former river channel before dam construction) and a reservoir with lentic deep waters. Sampling was performed on each sector during two thermally distinct years. Temperature had an important effect on both phenology and growth rate but it was not expressed similarly among river sections. Fish hatched earlier in the warmer year. Fish sizes were positively correlated with growing degree-days, but with distinct relationships between years and sections. The growth was faster in the warmer year, and in the warmer section, but differences in growth patterns varied between sections. In the bypassed section, the difference was slight, almost not significant, even if temperatures were very different between the 2 years considered. Autumnal variations in size could be explained either by an earlier phenology or by a faster growth due to higher temperatures occurring during the final part of the growing period. Our results were in accordance with general theory’s predictions relating individual growth to temperature, but they also showed that other factors might mitigate the influence of temperature on fish early life stages.
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spelling doaj.art-2d21c88066574b82ac9f7a79f4a32a292022-12-21T22:44:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2021-12-01910.3389/fenvs.2021.784751784751The Interannual Variability of the Fall Size of Young-of-The-Year Chub (Squalius cephalus): Influence of Phenology, Growth Patterns and Abiotic FactorsMaxime Logez0Maxime Logez1Bernadette Bounket2Pierre Gibert3Georges Carrel4Virginie Diouloufet5Xavier Colombet6Fabien Morat7Fabien Morat8INRAE, RECOVER, Aix Marseille Univ, Aix-en-Provence, FranceINRAE, UR RiverLy, Villeurbanne Cedex, FranceINRAE, RECOVER, Aix Marseille Univ, Aix-en-Provence, FranceINRAE, RECOVER, Aix Marseille Univ, Aix-en-Provence, FranceINRAE, RECOVER, Aix Marseille Univ, Aix-en-Provence, FranceINRAE, RECOVER, Aix Marseille Univ, Aix-en-Provence, FranceINRAE, RECOVER, Aix Marseille Univ, Aix-en-Provence, FrancePSL Research University: EPHE-UPVD-CNRS, USR 3278 CRIOBE, Université de Perpignan, Perpignan, FranceLaboratoire d’Excellence Corail, Perpignan, FranceLong-term surveys confirm the rapidity of environmental and biological changes undergone by endangered species but that also concerned relatively “tolerant” species, especially common rheophilic species such as European chub (Squalius cephalus, Linnaeus 1758). As many organisms, fish are highly vulnerable during their first life stages. Body size is a determinant factor for ecosystem functioning and for fish to survive to predators or to winter conditions. While numerous studies has already demonstrated the large variability of autumnal size of fish hatched during the year, few have focused on the factors explaining these interannual variations and on the growth patterns underlying these distributions. Using otoliths of young-of-the-year (YOY), we studied how the interannual variability in fall sizes of chub might be related to varying phenology, temperature, hydrology and growth patterns. YOY were sampled in three sections of the same reach of the Rhône River with contrasted hydrological regime: an artificial deep lotic channel (the tailrace of Bollène), a bypassed section with both lotic and lentic areas (former river channel before dam construction) and a reservoir with lentic deep waters. Sampling was performed on each sector during two thermally distinct years. Temperature had an important effect on both phenology and growth rate but it was not expressed similarly among river sections. Fish hatched earlier in the warmer year. Fish sizes were positively correlated with growing degree-days, but with distinct relationships between years and sections. The growth was faster in the warmer year, and in the warmer section, but differences in growth patterns varied between sections. In the bypassed section, the difference was slight, almost not significant, even if temperatures were very different between the 2 years considered. Autumnal variations in size could be explained either by an earlier phenology or by a faster growth due to higher temperatures occurring during the final part of the growing period. Our results were in accordance with general theory’s predictions relating individual growth to temperature, but they also showed that other factors might mitigate the influence of temperature on fish early life stages.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2021.784751/fullLeuciscidaelogistic modeltemperaturehatchingotolithslarge regulated river
spellingShingle Maxime Logez
Maxime Logez
Bernadette Bounket
Pierre Gibert
Georges Carrel
Virginie Diouloufet
Xavier Colombet
Fabien Morat
Fabien Morat
The Interannual Variability of the Fall Size of Young-of-The-Year Chub (Squalius cephalus): Influence of Phenology, Growth Patterns and Abiotic Factors
Frontiers in Environmental Science
Leuciscidae
logistic model
temperature
hatching
otoliths
large regulated river
title The Interannual Variability of the Fall Size of Young-of-The-Year Chub (Squalius cephalus): Influence of Phenology, Growth Patterns and Abiotic Factors
title_full The Interannual Variability of the Fall Size of Young-of-The-Year Chub (Squalius cephalus): Influence of Phenology, Growth Patterns and Abiotic Factors
title_fullStr The Interannual Variability of the Fall Size of Young-of-The-Year Chub (Squalius cephalus): Influence of Phenology, Growth Patterns and Abiotic Factors
title_full_unstemmed The Interannual Variability of the Fall Size of Young-of-The-Year Chub (Squalius cephalus): Influence of Phenology, Growth Patterns and Abiotic Factors
title_short The Interannual Variability of the Fall Size of Young-of-The-Year Chub (Squalius cephalus): Influence of Phenology, Growth Patterns and Abiotic Factors
title_sort interannual variability of the fall size of young of the year chub squalius cephalus influence of phenology growth patterns and abiotic factors
topic Leuciscidae
logistic model
temperature
hatching
otoliths
large regulated river
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2021.784751/full
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