Classifying connectivity to guide aquatic habitat management in an arctic coastal plain watershed experiencing land use and climate change
Habitat connectivity supports life history requirements of many arctic fish species during periods of flowing water. However, aquatic habitat connectivity is susceptible to change due to climate factors and land use, particularly in the 4,600 km2 Fish Creek Watershed (FCW) located in National Petrol...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2020.1805848 |
| _version_ | 1828917432244240384 |
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| author | Taylor M. Johaneman Christopher D. Arp Matthew S. Whitman Allen C. Bondurant Hillary B. Hamann Michael W. Kerwin |
| author_facet | Taylor M. Johaneman Christopher D. Arp Matthew S. Whitman Allen C. Bondurant Hillary B. Hamann Michael W. Kerwin |
| author_sort | Taylor M. Johaneman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Habitat connectivity supports life history requirements of many arctic fish species during periods of flowing water. However, aquatic habitat connectivity is susceptible to change due to climate factors and land use, particularly in the 4,600 km2 Fish Creek Watershed (FCW) located in National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. Varying degrees and mechanisms of connectivity between overwintering habitat and summer foraging habitat motivated us to assess and classify aquatic habitat connectivity to help inform management. Using geospatial analysis and field methods we classified processes affecting connectivity within riparian corridors and upstream channels. Results show the dominant geomorphic process affecting connectivity varied among river systems, providing general and catchment-specific guidance as to the distribution of important migratory fish habitat. Barriers to fish passage caused by subsurface flow were more common along river corridors with high channel migration rates, whereas wetland flowthrough was the most common barrier in upstream catchments throughout the FCW. Coupling both riparian and catchment connectivity showed that 28 percent of catchments were classified as having fish-passable connectivity, indicated by no barriers present in the riparian zone or upstream channels. Future work should evaluate how well this classification predicts fish habitat, is useful to resource management, and is applicable to other arctic watersheds. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T20:50:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bc60b7abbdeb4dbd9a9c700e40e7f8c7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1523-0430 1938-4246 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T20:50:15Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-bc60b7abbdeb4dbd9a9c700e40e7f8c72022-12-21T23:31:53ZengTaylor & Francis GroupArctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research1523-04301938-42462020-01-0152147649010.1080/15230430.2020.18058481805848Classifying connectivity to guide aquatic habitat management in an arctic coastal plain watershed experiencing land use and climate changeTaylor M. Johaneman0Christopher D. Arp1Matthew S. Whitman2Allen C. Bondurant3Hillary B. Hamann4Michael W. Kerwin5University of DenverUniversity of Alaska FairbanksArctic District OfficeUniversity of Alaska FairbanksUniversity of DenverUniversity of DenverHabitat connectivity supports life history requirements of many arctic fish species during periods of flowing water. However, aquatic habitat connectivity is susceptible to change due to climate factors and land use, particularly in the 4,600 km2 Fish Creek Watershed (FCW) located in National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska. Varying degrees and mechanisms of connectivity between overwintering habitat and summer foraging habitat motivated us to assess and classify aquatic habitat connectivity to help inform management. Using geospatial analysis and field methods we classified processes affecting connectivity within riparian corridors and upstream channels. Results show the dominant geomorphic process affecting connectivity varied among river systems, providing general and catchment-specific guidance as to the distribution of important migratory fish habitat. Barriers to fish passage caused by subsurface flow were more common along river corridors with high channel migration rates, whereas wetland flowthrough was the most common barrier in upstream catchments throughout the FCW. Coupling both riparian and catchment connectivity showed that 28 percent of catchments were classified as having fish-passable connectivity, indicated by no barriers present in the riparian zone or upstream channels. Future work should evaluate how well this classification predicts fish habitat, is useful to resource management, and is applicable to other arctic watersheds.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2020.1805848arctichydrologygeomorphologyconnectivitycatchment |
| spellingShingle | Taylor M. Johaneman Christopher D. Arp Matthew S. Whitman Allen C. Bondurant Hillary B. Hamann Michael W. Kerwin Classifying connectivity to guide aquatic habitat management in an arctic coastal plain watershed experiencing land use and climate change Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research arctic hydrology geomorphology connectivity catchment |
| title | Classifying connectivity to guide aquatic habitat management in an arctic coastal plain watershed experiencing land use and climate change |
| title_full | Classifying connectivity to guide aquatic habitat management in an arctic coastal plain watershed experiencing land use and climate change |
| title_fullStr | Classifying connectivity to guide aquatic habitat management in an arctic coastal plain watershed experiencing land use and climate change |
| title_full_unstemmed | Classifying connectivity to guide aquatic habitat management in an arctic coastal plain watershed experiencing land use and climate change |
| title_short | Classifying connectivity to guide aquatic habitat management in an arctic coastal plain watershed experiencing land use and climate change |
| title_sort | classifying connectivity to guide aquatic habitat management in an arctic coastal plain watershed experiencing land use and climate change |
| topic | arctic hydrology geomorphology connectivity catchment |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2020.1805848 |
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