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- Title
Species-Specific Abundance Response of Montane Stream Fishes to Drought-Induced Variation in Streamflow.
- Authors
Larsen, Noah E.; Simkins, Richard M.; Wesner, Jeff S.; Tuckfield, R. Cary; Belk, Mark C.
- Abstract
Climate change projections in the western United States suggest that snowpack levels and winter precipitation will decline, but mean annual precipitation levels will remain unchanged. Mountain streams that once saw a constant source of water from snowpack will begin to see large seasonal variation in flow. Increased stream intermittency will create significant conservation risks for fish species; however, few studies have examined the abundance responses of fish in high elevation streams to the shift from perennial to intermittent flow. To determine the effects of stream intermittency on fish abundance in a montane stream, we quantified changes in abundance for five species over a five-year period that exhibited extreme variation in streamflow. Responses varied by species and life stage, suggesting that the shift from perennial to intermittent flow will cause significant declines in abundance for some species. Northern leatherside chub may experience large decreases in their range as the availability of perennial streams decreases. The study of drought effects on fish abundance will be crucial to the conservation of biodiversity in montane regions of the world.
- Subjects
UNITED States; FRESHWATER fishes; DROUGHTS; BIODIVERSITY conservation; FISH conservation; STREAMFLOW; CLIMATE change
- Publication
Water (20734441), 2022, Vol 14, Issue 16, p2467
- ISSN
2073-4441
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/w14162467