Seasonal changeover of fish assemblages in a medium-sized temperate lowland river

Seasonal variations in the structure of riverine ichthyofaunas are widely known and have been often commercially exploited. Though, there is only little quantitative data on the community level. We performed a 3-year-long study on the Nida River, a 154-km-long (drainage area of 3844 km2, mean discha...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Artur Klaczak
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2015-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Marine Science
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/conf.FMARS.2015.03.00223/full
_version_ 1818937325520945152
author Artur Klaczak
author_facet Artur Klaczak
author_sort Artur Klaczak
collection DOAJ
description Seasonal variations in the structure of riverine ichthyofaunas are widely known and have been often commercially exploited. Though, there is only little quantitative data on the community level. We performed a 3-year-long study on the Nida River, a 154-km-long (drainage area of 3844 km2, mean discharge of 22 m3s-1) lowland tributary of the Upper Vistula (SE Poland). Fish were sampled by continuous boat electrofishing at 21 sites within the 100-km-long middle and lower stretch of the river. Surveys were performed every April, July and October in 2012–2014 period. A total of 20399 specimens of 38 species and 2 intergeneric hybrids were caught. Species richness for single survey varied from 24 (summer 2014) up to 32 (spring 2012 and 2013, summer 2012). Abundance varied from 1042 (autumn 2014) up to 3571 specimens (summer 2012). Fauna exchange index among the seasons amounted 0.05–0.21. The composition of the ichthyofauna was most similar between spring and autumn 2013 (T = 0.05) and between spring 2012 and autumn 2013 (0.08). The largest differences occurred between summers of 2012 and 2014 and between spring and summer of 2014 (0.21 in both cases). Composition of the fish fauna was most stable in 2013 (T < 0.10), whereas the largest variation was recorded in 2014 (0.16–0.21). DCA results suggested that full changeover of the fish assemblage did not occurred at any site. NMDS distinguished most spring and autumn samplings from results obtained during the summer expeditions. It seems that water temperature (related to oxygen level) and water discharge (availability of various habitats) are the most important factors shaping the structure of fish assemblages in the Nida River. This study was supported by the project no. 2011/01/N/NZ9/02367 of the National Science Centre of Poland.
first_indexed 2024-12-20T05:50:10Z
format Article
id doaj.art-bbc0ac62bd0445889db1183cc1554c26
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2296-7745
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-20T05:50:10Z
publishDate 2015-12-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Marine Science
spelling doaj.art-bbc0ac62bd0445889db1183cc1554c262022-12-21T19:51:12ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Marine Science2296-77452015-12-01210.3389/conf.FMARS.2015.03.00223181854Seasonal changeover of fish assemblages in a medium-sized temperate lowland riverArtur Klaczak0University of Agriculture in KrakowSeasonal variations in the structure of riverine ichthyofaunas are widely known and have been often commercially exploited. Though, there is only little quantitative data on the community level. We performed a 3-year-long study on the Nida River, a 154-km-long (drainage area of 3844 km2, mean discharge of 22 m3s-1) lowland tributary of the Upper Vistula (SE Poland). Fish were sampled by continuous boat electrofishing at 21 sites within the 100-km-long middle and lower stretch of the river. Surveys were performed every April, July and October in 2012–2014 period. A total of 20399 specimens of 38 species and 2 intergeneric hybrids were caught. Species richness for single survey varied from 24 (summer 2014) up to 32 (spring 2012 and 2013, summer 2012). Abundance varied from 1042 (autumn 2014) up to 3571 specimens (summer 2012). Fauna exchange index among the seasons amounted 0.05–0.21. The composition of the ichthyofauna was most similar between spring and autumn 2013 (T = 0.05) and between spring 2012 and autumn 2013 (0.08). The largest differences occurred between summers of 2012 and 2014 and between spring and summer of 2014 (0.21 in both cases). Composition of the fish fauna was most stable in 2013 (T < 0.10), whereas the largest variation was recorded in 2014 (0.16–0.21). DCA results suggested that full changeover of the fish assemblage did not occurred at any site. NMDS distinguished most spring and autumn samplings from results obtained during the summer expeditions. It seems that water temperature (related to oxygen level) and water discharge (availability of various habitats) are the most important factors shaping the structure of fish assemblages in the Nida River. This study was supported by the project no. 2011/01/N/NZ9/02367 of the National Science Centre of Poland.http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/conf.FMARS.2015.03.00223/fullEcologyseasonal changesfisheries scienceVistula RiverNida river
spellingShingle Artur Klaczak
Seasonal changeover of fish assemblages in a medium-sized temperate lowland river
Frontiers in Marine Science
Ecology
seasonal changes
fisheries science
Vistula River
Nida river
title Seasonal changeover of fish assemblages in a medium-sized temperate lowland river
title_full Seasonal changeover of fish assemblages in a medium-sized temperate lowland river
title_fullStr Seasonal changeover of fish assemblages in a medium-sized temperate lowland river
title_full_unstemmed Seasonal changeover of fish assemblages in a medium-sized temperate lowland river
title_short Seasonal changeover of fish assemblages in a medium-sized temperate lowland river
title_sort seasonal changeover of fish assemblages in a medium sized temperate lowland river
topic Ecology
seasonal changes
fisheries science
Vistula River
Nida river
url http://journal.frontiersin.org/Journal/10.3389/conf.FMARS.2015.03.00223/full
work_keys_str_mv AT arturklaczak seasonalchangeoveroffishassemblagesinamediumsizedtemperatelowlandriver