低头坝驱动山区溪流局域栖息地和鱼类群落的同质化

确定溪流鱼类多样性对环境变化和人类干扰的响应,可为溪流生态系统及鱼类多样性的保护和管理提供科学基础。本文基于对安徽省青弋江流域上游的4条一级河源溪流中39个低头坝、78个调查样点(针对每个低头坝所处河段,分别设置坝上蓄水区(impounding area)和坝下非蓄水区(free-flowing area)各1个调查样点)的调查数据,研究了低头坝对局域栖息地和鱼类群落同质化的驱动作用。共采集鱼类27种,隶属5目10科,其中蓄水区和非蓄水区的物种分别为23种和27种。主坐标分析和主坐标典范分析结果显示,蓄水区与非蓄水区间的局域栖息地存在显著差异,同非蓄水区相比,蓄水区的底质粗糙度和异质性较小但水深和水宽较大;置换多元分散分析结果显示,蓄水区局域栖息地特征的空间变异显著低于非蓄水区,呈现出明显的同质化现象。以非蓄水区为对照,蓄水区鱼类群落的相似性在研究的4条溪流、2个不同季度呈现出相似的变化趋势,即:一些鱼类群落间的相似性上升但另外一些群落间的相似性下降,且其相似性变化大小(ΔCS_J)与初始相似性显著负相关;当初始相似性较低时,ΔCS_J0;当初始相似性较高时,ΔCS_J0。本研究表明,低头坝导致了坝上蓄水区局域栖息地特征空间变异的下降,呈现出明显的栖息地同质化;但蓄水区鱼类群落同时存在同质化和异质化2个过程,群落间初始相似性大小决定了其同质化或异质化:初始相似性较低呈同质化、较高则异质化。     

人为干扰对溪流鱼类功能多样性及其纵向梯度格局的影响

溪流鱼类多样性沿着河流纵向梯度的空间分布规律已得到大量报道, 但这些研究大多聚焦基于物种组成的分类α多样性, 而有关分类β多样性和功能多样性的纵向梯度分布规律及其对人类干扰的响应研究较少。本文以青弋江上游3条人为干扰程度不同的河源溪流为研究区域, 比较研究了人为干扰对溪流鱼类功能α和β多样性及其纵向梯度分布格局的影响。结果显示, 人类干扰改变了河源溪流鱼类功能多样性的纵向梯度格局——由线性变化变为二项式分布。此外, 我们发现, 人为干扰导致土著种被本地入侵种取代, 且较强的土地利用和水污染排放可能增大环境的不连续性, 而群落周转和嵌套变化往往取决于环境的变化。尽管功能β多样性由嵌套成分主导, 但周转成分占比相对于人为干扰较小的溪流而言明显增加。人为干扰显著改变了受干扰溪流鱼类的物种组成和功能多样性, 且功能多样性的纵向梯度格局在不同的多样性指标上存在差异。本研究强调, 在评估人为干扰下多样性的变化时, 需要从多方面考虑, 包括空间尺度和多样性指标等。     

溪流大小及其空间位置对鱼类群落结构的影响

2008年10月和2009年10月分别对黄山地区阊江流域与青弋江流域1-3级浅水溪流中鱼类群落结构进行了研究,着重探讨了溪流大小及其空间位置对鱼类群落空间分布的影响。研究共捕获35种鱼类,阊江和青弋江分别为26和29种,其Jaccard相似性系数为57.1%;两流域间每样点的物种数差异显著,个体数差异极显著。在溪流级别梯度(1-3级)下,鱼类的物种数和个体数都呈上升的变动趋势,且物种数的变化相对个体数较显著。综合相关分析、逐步多元回归分析与典范相关分析的结果,阊江和青弋江中鱼类物种数的空间变化主要与下游量级相关,而个体数的空间变化主要与水宽相关。因此,阊江和青弋江1-3级浅水溪流中鱼类群落结构的空间分布格局是溪流大小和空间位置的共同作用结果,且溪流大小和空间位置分别决定鱼类的个体数与物种数的空间分布。       

城市溪流中径流式低坝对底栖动物群落结构的影响

调查了浙江省安吉县内具径流式低坝的城市溪流(6个样点)和参照溪流(3个样点)的底栖动物群落,目的是了解城市溪流底栖动物群落结构退化规律和径流式低坝(2—3 m)对城市溪流底栖动物群落组成与结构的影响。结果表明,参照样点的底质组成以大石块(35.92%)和卵石(33.66%)为主,城市溪流以砾石为主(57.97%)。城市溪流水温和电导率显著高于参照溪流,TN和TP高于参照溪流。底栖动物总分类单元数和EPT分类单元数显著低于参照溪流。城市溪流河道内水坝上下游之间的流速(P=0.273)和宽深比(P=3.92)无显著差异。坝下游水体中的TP高于坝上游,电导率、溶解氧、pH值和水温在坝上下游之间几乎一致。除BI指数坝下游高于坝上游外,坝上下游间底栖动物总分类单元数、EPT分类单元数以及多样性指数、优势度和均匀度指数没有显著差异。但坝下游的耐污类群比例显著高于坝上游,敏感类群比例则显著低于坝上游。与坝上游相比,坝下游捕食者比例上升和集食者比例下降。NMDS结果进一步表明,城市溪流内水坝的建设导致坝上下游底栖动物群落物种组成明显改变。     

水坝拆除对黑水河鱼类群落结构和空间分布的影响

水坝拆除引起河流连通性、水动力、河流地貌等一系列变化,直接影响了鱼类群落结构和空间分布。黑水河为金沙江左岸一级支流,其上共建四级电站,出于支流生境恢复需求,第四级水坝老木河水坝于2018年12月实行拆除。为探明低水头坝拆除对鱼类群落的影响,结合2018年6月和2019年6月黑水河下游60.4km河段10个点位的渔获物调查,对拆坝前后鱼类群落结构和生态类型变化、优势物种与单位捕捞努力量以及不同河段间的群落相似性进行了分析。结果表明,水坝拆除半年后优势物种仍以鲤科和鳅科为主,但物种数和丰度整体上增加;生态类型上以杂食、喜急流和产微粘性卵鱼为主;拆坝后鱼类群落空间分布变化明显,靠近河口的自然河段鱼类上溯洄游到原坝址的上下游,部分长江上游特有鱼类在原坝址附近发生定殖行为,且拆坝后各河段的鱼类组成结构有同质化趋势。总体上,老木河水坝的拆除对黑水河下游的鱼类群落结构和空间分布产生了积极的影响。     

秋浦河源国家湿地公园溪流鱼类群落的时空格局

确定溪流鱼类群落的时空格局及其形成机制是开展鱼类物种多样性保护和管理的科学基础。该文于2012年5月和10月两次对秋浦河源国家湿地公园境内的24个可涉水河段取样,共采集鱼类29种,隶属10科4目。研究了溪流鱼类群落结构及其多样性的时空格局,并解析了局域栖息地条件与支流空间位置变量对鱼类群落的影响。鱼类多样性的时空变化显著,鱼类多样性总体上为二级溪流高于一级溪流,10月份高于5月份。流量量级、底质粗糙度及异质性、水温和水深等对鱼类多样性及群落结构的空间变化影响显著。鱼类群落结构符合嵌套格局,季节动态不显著,上游鱼类群落呈现为下游群落的嵌套子集。一、二级溪流间的群落结构尽管存在部分重叠但差异显著,且这种差异主要源于稀有花鳅(Cobitis rarus)、吻虾虎鱼(Ctenogobius spp.)、宽鳍鱲(Zacco platypus)、尖头鱥(Phoxinus oxycephalus)、高体鰟鲏(Rhodeus ocellatus)和原缨口鳅(Vanmanenia stenosoma)等鱼类相对多度的空间变化,其中,除尖头鱥的多度在一级溪流中更高外,其他5种鱼类均在在二级溪流更高。     

黄山陈村水库上游河源溪流的鱼类群落及其纵向梯度格局

确定鱼类群落的分布格局及其对人类活动的响应,是合理保护、恢复和管理鱼类多样性的基础。基于2011年5月和10月自黄山陈村水库上游3条河源溪流共39个样点的调查数据,比较研究了溪流间鱼类群落及其纵向梯度格局的异同,着重探讨了人类活动对溪流鱼类群落纵向梯度格局的影响。研究结果显示,同人为干扰较轻的舒溪相比,人为干扰严重的浦溪和麻溪中水宽、底质和植被覆盖率等局域栖息地条件显著变化,这造成了后者的鱼类多样性显著下降及物种组成的显著变化,主要表现为敏感性的地方物种(如宽鳍鱲、光唇鱼、原缨口鳅等)数量减少、耐受性的广布物种(如泥鳅、麦穗鱼、高体鰟鲏等)数量增多。舒溪的鱼类物种数及其组成均与海拔显著相关,但这种"海拔-鱼类群落"关系在麻溪和浦溪中削弱甚至消失。底质、植被覆盖率对舒溪鱼类群落具有重要影响,但对浦溪和麻溪鱼类群落却无显著影响。研究结果表明,在子流域空间尺度上,诸如城镇化发展、土地利用、河道治理等人类活动可通过对局域栖息地条件的影响,导致溪流鱼类多样性下降及其物种组成的变化,破坏鱼类群落的纵向梯度格局,并改变栖息地与鱼类群落之间的联系。     

云南剑湖鱼类多样性变化与区系演变

云南剑湖鱼类是许多候鸟的重要食物来源,其群落物种的变化对湿地生态系统结构与功能产生重要影响。为了解当前剑湖鱼类群落物种组成现状及揭示剑湖与相关区域鱼类区系同质化趋势,本研究对剑湖鱼类进行了调查。结果表明:剑湖迄今共记录鱼类物种24种,其中土著物种9种,外来物种15种,而现存物种共计20种,功能性灭绝土著物种4种;首次正式记录的外来物种共计8种,确认濒危种云南裂腹鱼(Schizothorax yunnanensis)仍有分布;外来种中来自长江中下游的物种共计11种,占73.3%;起源于国内的共计13种,占86.7%;在原土著群落中,属科多样性指数(G-F)为0.45,现今则仅为0.26,表明随外来鱼类的入侵,该湖鱼类群落从种级分化强烈的特点转变为种级物种分化单调的特点;剑湖与邻近多个高原湖泊鱼类区系从历史时期较低的相似性到现今明显上升,且与长江中下游主要湖泊鱼类群落物种组成的相似性上升达临界显著水平(P=0.05),其鱼类区系已演变为以江河平原区系成分为主体;鱼类个体生态学矩阵分析表明,外来入侵鱼类生境需求与土著鱼类生境需求类似,两者竞争激烈。     

塔里木盆地鱼类入侵及区系演变趋势

鱼类入侵是塔里木盆地土著鱼类濒危的关键性影响因素之一,结合历史文献数据及近年调查数据,系统综述了塔里木盆地鱼类入侵现状,并就鱼类入侵引起的鱼类区系均一化问题进行了分析。结果显示,该地区记录鱼类63种,其中土著种19种,入侵种44种。尽管入侵鱼类提升了塔里木盆地鱼类群落属级及科级的多样性水平,但相应的G-F多样性指数却明显下降,表明该区鱼类群落从物种组成简单、分化明显的特点演变为物种成分复杂、分化贫乏的特点。入侵种中源于长江和额尔齐斯河分别有30种(68.2%)和7种(15.9%),源于美欧和亚洲其他区域的有7种(15.9%)。入侵鱼类的进入引起塔里木盆地与其相关区域鱼类区系相似性显著上升(P0.01),并导致该区鱼类区系从单一的中亚高原山区复合体演变为多区系混合体。进一步利用鱼类个体生态矩阵分析方法研究显示,外来种在塔里木盆地适应性广泛,能够占据水域各种栖息生境,显著压缩了土著种的栖息空间,进而通过捕食、食物竞争及其他作用途径严重危及土著鱼类种群的续存,提示须采取有力措施限制入侵种的进一步扩散及对濒危土著物种迅速开展人工保育工作。     

三峡水库蓄水后长江上游鱼类群聚沿河流-水库梯度的空间格局

研究对2005—2012年长江上游合江、木洞、万州和秭归江段的鱼类群聚结构进行了调查, 以分析三峡水库蓄水后长江上游鱼类群聚沿河流-水库梯度的空间格局。结果显示, 在三峡蓄水后, 在合江至秭归江段累计采集到土著鱼类368706尾, 合计132种, 隶属于17科, 其中鲤科鱼类为优势类群。沿河流-水库纵向梯度, 土著鱼类物种数下降而外来鱼类物种数增加。对应分析表明, 合江至秭归江段的鱼类群聚呈现出明显分化: 库区以上河段鱼类组成以流水性鱼类为主, 库区鱼类则以静水缓流型为主。指示物种分析进一步指出, 河流区鱼类以犁头鳅(Lepturichthys fimbriata)、红唇薄鳅(Leptobotia rubrilabris)、圆口铜鱼(Coreius guichenoti)、圆筒吻(Rhinogobio cylindricus)等22种鱼类为指示物种, 其功能群特征表现为偏好流水生境、生活史为均衡主义及食性为昆虫食性; 库区鱼类以宽口光唇鱼(Acrossocheilus monticolus)、宽鳍鱲(Zacco platypus)、鳊(Parabramis pekinensis)、鳙(Aristichthys nobilis)等16种鱼类为指示物种, 其功能群特征表现为偏好静水生境、食性为草食性或浮游食性。以上研究表明, 三峡水库蓄水导致的水环境变化是影响长江上游鱼类纵向格局的主要驱动力。建议相关管理部门根据不同河段鱼类群聚特征制定不同的渔业管理措施, 如保护土著鱼类资源、控制外来入侵鱼类。     

Influences of low-head dams on the fish assemblages in the headwater streams of the Qingyi watershed, China

The influences of low-head dams on the fish assemblages were examined in this study, using fish data collected in six treatment and five reference sites at three low-head dams in the headwater streams of the Qingyi watershed, China. Comparing with those in the reference sites, local habitat variables were significantly altered by low-head dams in the treatment sites, involving wider channel (only in the impoundment area), deeper water and slower flow. Fish species richness varied significantly across seasons, not across site categories, suggesting that these low-head dams did not alter species richness. However, significant decreases in fish abundance and density were observed in the impoundment areas immediately upstream of dams, but not in the plunge areas downstream. Fish assemblage structures kept relative stability across seasons, and their significant difference between-site was only observed between the impoundment areas and the sites far from dams upstream. This variation in assemblage structures was due to the differing relative abundance of some co-occurring species; more lentic but less lotic fish was observed in the impoundment areas. The spatial and temporal patterns of fish assemblages were correlated with local habitat in this study area. Wetted width had negative correlation with fish species richness, abundance and density, respectively. Water temperature also positively affected species richness. In addition, wetted width, water depth, current velocity and substrate were the important habitat variables influencing assemblage structures. Our results suggested that, by modifying local habitat characteristics, low-head dams altered fish abundance and density in the impoundment areas immediately upstream of dam, not in the plunge areas immediately downstream, and thereby influenced fish assemblage structures in these stream segments.     

密西西比河干流大坝建设对鱼类的影响及保护措施

如何减轻大坝阻隔对鱼类等水生生物的影响以及制定有效的恢复措施一直是河流生态保护的主要内容。文章通过文献调研、资料收集等方式对美国密西西比河干流大坝建设状况及其对鱼类的影响进行梳理, 总结了当前美国所采取的相关保护措施和效果。统计结果显示, 密西西比河干流共建有梯级闸坝41座, 均分布在干流的上游, 多数大坝坝高不超过15 m, 库容小于0.3 km3。这些弱调蓄能力的低水头坝阻隔了密西西比河鱼类洄游, 但目前仍未修建过鱼设施。相关研究证实, 密西西比河洄游性鱼类可以利用泄水闸门完成上行和下行, 但过鱼效率随着大坝梯级的递增逐级下降, 尤其是鲟类, 仍难以抑制其种群的衰退。受长期蓄水影响, 密西西比河上游鱼类群落产生了空间分化, 但仍保持着较高的物种多样性。1986和2000年, 美国分别实施了上密西西比河生态系统环境管理计划(UMRS-EMP)和上密西西比河生态恢复和维持策略(UMRS-RMS), 采用渔业资源长期监测计划(LTRMP)及9项栖息地修复措施, 从生态系统层面保障了密西西比河鱼类资源的持续稳定。这种系统性修复方式可为我国筑坝河流鱼类资源保护与河流生态修复提供参考和示范。     

Identifying indicators and quantifying large-scale effects of dams on fishes

Although localized effects of individual dams on stream fish assemblages have been relatively well-studied, less is known about the effects of multiple dams within a stream network on fishes and the patterns that emerge when the combined effects of individual and multiple dams are viewed across entire river basins, ecoregions, and states. This study evaluated multiple stream network fragmentation metrics representing localized (e.g., distance-to-dams) and cumulative (e.g., total upstream reservoir storage) dam influences on streams in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, developing an approach for identifying suitable fish indicators of dam effects. We used change point and correlation analyses to determine associations of stream fish catch per unit effort and various stream network fragmentation metrics with data from more than 2000 fish survey sites stratified by stream size, thermal regime, and ecoregion. Of the identified indicator species, predominantly warmwater, large river, and/or lentic species were positively associated with stream network fragmentation, whereas cold and coolwater lotic species were negatively associated with fragmentation. These results suggest a combination of downstream thermal effects and upstream influences from impoundments generated by dams. Variance partitioning analyses based on identified indicator species revealed greater upstream-dominated dam influences in headwaters than mid-sized streams, and a greater relative influence of dams vs. other non-dam anthropogenic influences in cold streams than warm streams. Overall, a combination of localized and cumulative fragmentation metrics, as well as upstream and downstream-oriented measures, were influential in indicator species responses, emphasizing the importance of selecting a diversity of fragmentation metrics when assessing effects of dams on stream fishes. Understanding multiple dam influences on stream fishes, including localized effects from individual dams and cumulative effects from all dams within a river basin, would provide useful information for a variety of management activities, including dam operation and dam removal prioritization. Dams significantly affect conservation and management options for stream fishes, with identification of multi-scale dam influences on fishes being critical to restoration and maintenance of aquatic biodiversity throughout the world.     

How Big of an Effect Do Small Dams Have? Using Geomorphological Footprints to Quantify Spatial Impact of Low-Head Dams and Identify Patterns of Across-Dam Variation

Longitudinal connectivity is a fundamental characteristic of rivers that can be disrupted by natural and anthropogenic processes. Dams are significant disruptions to streams. Over 2,000,000 low-head dams (<7.6 m high) fragment United States rivers. Despite potential adverse impacts of these ubiquitous disturbances, the spatial impacts of low-head dams on geomorphology and ecology are largely untested. Progress for research and conservation is impaired by not knowing the magnitude of low-head dam impacts. Based on the geomorphic literature, we refined a methodology that allowed us to quantify the spatial extent of low-head dam impacts (herein dam footprint), assessed variation in dam footprints across low-head dams within a river network, and identified select aspects of the context of this variation. Wetted width, depth, and substrate size distributions upstream and downstream of six low-head dams within the Upper Neosho River, Kansas, United States of America were measured. Total dam footprints averaged 7.9 km (3.0–15.3 km) or 287 wetted widths (136–437 wetted widths). Estimates included both upstream (mean: 6.7 km or 243 wetted widths) and downstream footprints (mean: 1.2 km or 44 wetted widths). Altogether the six low-head dams impacted 47.3 km (about 17%) of the mainstem in the river network. Despite differences in age, size, location, and primary function, the sizes of geomorphic footprints of individual low-head dams in the Upper Neosho river network were relatively similar. The number of upstream dams and distance to upstream dams, but not dam height, affected the spatial extent of dam footprints. In summary, ubiquitous low-head dams individually and cumulatively altered lotic ecosystems. Both characteristics of individual dams and the context of neighboring dams affected low-head dam impacts within the river network. For these reasons, low-head dams require a different, more integrative, approach for research and management than the individualistic approach that has been applied to larger dams.     

Fish species diversity in sand bank habitats of a neotropical river

The fish fauna of the Cinaruco River, an intermediate sized floodplain river that forms the southern boundary of the newly established Santos Luzardo National Park in the llanos of Venezuela, was sampled in 1993-1994. Due to highly seasonal rainfall, the nutrient-poor Cinaruco undergoes dramatic changes in water level, creating a variety of seasonally available habitats for fishes. Sand bank habitats are conspicuous features in both main-channel and lentic backwater areas, and support fish assemblages that are different from adjacent rocky shore and shrubby shore habitats. Seine samples from sand bank habitats revealed high alpha diversity, dominated numerically by a few species of small Characiformes. Comparisons among and between lagoon, side-channel, and main-channel sand bank habitats showed little assemblage similarity. Overall, sand bank habitats were used by 8 orders, 21 families, and 105 species of fish, mostly of size classes less than 100 mm. Several species are currently undescribed. Elements which may contribute to high fish diversity include proximity to a diverse Amazonian fauna, seasonally dynamic habitat availability, the influence of keystone predators, and episodes of intermediate disturbance, such as seasonal release from intense biotic interactions.     

Stream-dwelling Dolly Varden (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvelinus malma</Emphasis>) density and habitat characteristics in stream sections installed with low-head dams in the Shiretoko Peninsula,Hokkaido, Japan

Numerous low-head dams have been constructed for erosion control and installed in almost all mountainous streams in Japan. Shiretoko Peninsula, Hokkaido, is considered as one of the most intact areas in Japan, however, more than 331 low-head dams have been installed in 39 streams of the peninsula since the 1960s. In this study, the density of stream-dwelling Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) and the habitat characteristics in dam-installed sections were investigated in Shiretoko streams and compared with unaltered sections in which no dams have been installed as a reference. Fish density in dam-installed sections was significantly lower than reference sections. Canopy cover, maximum temperature, wetted width, frequencies of pebble, bedrock and boulder, and areas of rapid, glide and riffle was significantly differed between dam-installed and reference sections. High stream temperature, occurrence of glides, and loss of boulder in dam-installed sections may reduce the suitability of habitats for fish and minimize the population size. We suggest that negative effects of dam installations on Dolly Varden populations have occurred in Shiretoko streams.     

210Pb dating by low background gamma counting

An intertidal fish community in Trinidad Bay, Humboldt County, California, was studied between November 1968 and May 1970. The nursery function of rocky tidal pools for juveniles of subtidal fishes was indicated by peaks in indices of seasonally abundant fish species in summer. The proportion of juveniles of seasonal species in the intertidal fish community rose significantly in collections of late spring and summer, to a maximum of 35% of the individuals collected in July. Annual dominance was relatively high due to abundant populations of the tidepool sculpin, Oligocottus maculosus, but two other fish species were also encountered in tidepools every month of the year.     

Effects of macrophyte complexity and hydrometric level on fish assemblages in a Neotropical floodplain

Habitat heterogeneity provided by aquatic macrophytes and water level variations (flood pulse) are essential factors in structuring fish assemblages. This study aimed to describe the fish species that prefers macrophytes covered areas and to evaluate how macrophytes complexities and a flood pulse influence the structure of fish assemblages and selected attributes (viz. fish species density, species richness and evenness). Sampling was performed with seining nets in five floodplain lakes associated with the Baía River, before (November to December 2011) and after (February to July 2012) a flood, considering different degrees of macrophyte complexity (Absent, intermediate, and high). A total of 48 fish species was recorded, with Characiformes the most dominant. Eight species were indicators of high complexities (seven before the flood and only one after). Significant differences among the different degrees of macrophyte complexity and before and after the flood were found for assemblage structure, species density and richness. Fish assemblage attributes were high in higher habitat heterogeneity provided by macrophytes, but all before the flood. Nevertheless, macrophyte stands with high and intermediate complexity were less affected by the flood, suggesting that the structure propitiated by macrophytes favors the persistence of the fish assemblage in floodplain lakes. Therefore, any action towards conservation of fish assemblages in macrophytes should consider dam operation upstream, to ensure seasonality of flood pulses.     

Mechanisms structuring stream fish assemblages: Are there lessons from introduced species?

Synopsis Stream fish faunas are being increasingly subjected to non-native fishes. Successful establishment of non-native forms varies widely between geographic regions (38–77%), but is generally greater in areas that are either altered by man or initially depauperate in fish species. While such introductions have generally had undesirable effects on native fish species, they show no signs of decreasing. Thus, this essay is an attempt to determine if the introduction of non-native fishes may provide insights into processes structuring stream fish assemblages. There are, unfortunately, few detailed ecological studies documenting the response of stream fish assemblages to introduced fishes. Of the 31 studies included in my analysis, the majority (77%) documents a decline in native fishes following the introduction of exotic or transplanted forms. Only 10 studies examined shifts in resource use, of which 5 documented or suggested shifts in habitat. Overall, the responses of native stream fish assemblages to non-native fishes suggest that biotic interactions are important in structuring the impacted assemblages, being implicated in 62% of the studies. Proposed or demonstrated mechanisms are divided equally between competition and predation. Unfortunately, pre-disturbance data are generally lacking so that processes important in structuring native fish assemblages cannot be determined.     

Comparison of fish communities between above‐ and below‐dam sections of small streams; barrier effect to diadromous fishes

To analyse the effects of small‐scale dams on fish communities, species diversity, population density, biomass, migration over dams and trophic relationships were investigated in the above‐ and below‐dam sections of three Japanese streams. The dams were 1·5–3·9 m high, constructed within 400 m of the sea, and had no impoundment or fishway. Fish communities were mainly composed of diadromous fishes. Of the 17 species sampled, only a few species of gobies, Rhinogobius spp. and Gymnogobius spp. were able to climb and migrate upstream over the dams. Consequently the number of species, and total density and biomass of fishes below the dams was high, but low above the dams. One of the most dominant fish below dams, Plecoglossus altivelis altivelis , predominantly fed on benthic algae, whereas other fishes preyed on benthic invertebrates. Trophic relationships above dams were very simple, the few species of gobies preying on chironomid larvae and other aquatic invertebrates.