Correlations between Environmental Factors and the Distribution of Juvenile <i>Hucho bleekeri</i> in the Taibai River, Shaanxi, China

Sichuan taimen (<i>Hucho bleekeri</i>) is a national highly protected wild animal that faces significant impacts from habitat degradation and loss. To study the habitat selection by <i>H. bleekeri</i>, data on the Taibai River and the distribution of juvenile <i>H. blee...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jinming Wu, Jinping Wu, Huan Ye, Wei Xiong, Wanmin Qu, Xiaoqian Leng, Hao Du
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-07-01
Series:Fishes
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2410-3888/8/7/379
Description
Summary:Sichuan taimen (<i>Hucho bleekeri</i>) is a national highly protected wild animal that faces significant impacts from habitat degradation and loss. To study the habitat selection by <i>H. bleekeri</i>, data on the Taibai River and the distribution of juvenile <i>H. bleekeri</i> were recorded seasonally between February 2017 and January 2018, and habitat selection was assessed using the suitability curve method. The results indicate that the average distribution density of juvenile <i>H. bleekeri</i> in the Taibai River is 0.08 ± 0.09 ind./m, with an optimal elevation range from 1200 to 1600 m, river sinuosity range from 1.0 to 1.2, and vegetation coverage between 0.7 and 1.0. When choosing a microhabitat, juvenile <i>H. bleekeri</i> individuals tend to inhabit water areas with a water depth of 0.65 ± 0.33 m, flow velocity of 0.50 ± 0.24 m/s, and offshore distance of 7.66 ± 4.25 m. Furthermore, smaller juvenile fish prefer nearshore habitats with lower flow velocities and shallower water depths. The results provide technical support for the protection and restoration of the habitat of <i>H. bleekeri</i>.
ISSN:2410-3888