长江上游江津和宜宾江段圆口铜鱼资源量估算

为了解长江上游特有鱼类圆口铜鱼（Coreius guichenoti）的种群数量及分布,2007~2009年对江津和宜宾江段的渔业捕捞情况和渔获物组成进行了调查,根据单位捕捞努力量渔获量对该江段的年渔获量进行了统计分析,采用FISATⅡ渔业评估软件中体长股分析模块对圆口铜鱼的资源量进行了估算。2007、2008和2009年,江津江段鱼类年总渔获量分别为267 850、689 975和586 575尾,宜宾江段鱼类年总渔获量分别为485 100、108 075和169 950尾;其中,江津江段圆口铜鱼的年渔获量分别为56 932、98 323和100 620尾,宜宾江段圆口铜鱼的年渔获量分别为66 099、16 952和32 812尾。渔获个体主要分布在80~220mm体长组。估算出2007~2009年江津江段圆口铜鱼年资源量分别为319 416、905 715和1124 470尾,年均值为783 200尾;以质量计,年资源量分别为25.33、129.72和244.48 t,年均值为133.18 t。宜宾江段圆口铜鱼年资源量分别为469 395、191 207和200 197尾,年均值为286 933尾;以质量计,年资源量分别为60.18、43.11和15.14 t,年均值为39.48 t。以上结果表明,长江上游江津江段圆口铜鱼年均资源量大于宜宾江段;2007~2009年宜宾江段圆口铜鱼资源量呈下降趋势,而江津江段圆口铜鱼资源量呈上升趋势。     

葛洲坝下游江段中华鲟产卵场食卵鱼类资源量估算

为定量评估食卵鱼类对中华鲟资源的危害,1997－2001年间,对中华鲟产卵场所在的葛洲坝水利枢纽坝址至下游庙嘴之间长约5km的江段,进行了渔业捕捞样本抽样和解剖检测,运用体长股分析方法并结合淦获物中不同种类的相对数量比例估算出食卵鱼类资源量,研究结果表明,吞食中华鲟卵的主要有圆口铜鱼,铜鱼,瓦氏黄颡鱼等11种鱼类,其年度资源量为197487－744487尾,多年平均444822尾。     

长江宜昌江段三层流刺网对鱼类资源影响的分析

利用2004~2009年长江宜昌江段三层流刺网的渔获物数据,分析三层流刺网的主要捕捞对象和个体大小,探讨三层流刺网对长江鱼类资源的影响。结果显示,采集到5目8科40种鱼类,主要捕捞对象为铜鱼、圆口铜鱼、瓦氏黄颡鱼、长吻鮠和圆筒吻鮈等喜流水的种类。三层流刺网主要捕捞对象的体长明显小于初次性成熟体长。本研究的分析结果说明三层流刺网的主要捕捞对象为喜流水、中下层鱼类的幼鱼,对鱼类资源造成了过度捕捞。为了保护长江鱼类资源,建议在长江水系开展全面禁渔。     

长江朱杨江段和沱江富顺江段鱼类体内16种多环芳烃的含量

于2010年9-11月在长江朱杨江段采集到9种鱼类标本, 分别为瓦氏黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus vachelli Richardson)、圆筒吻 (Rhinogobio cylindricus Gnther)、鲤(Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus)、鲫(Carassius auratus Linnaeus)、大眼鳜(Siniperca kneri Garman)、铜鱼(Coreius heterodon Bleeker)、圆口铜鱼(Coreius guichenoti Sauvage et Dabry)、大鳍鳠(Mystus macropterus Bleeker)和鲇(Silurus asotus Linnaeus); 在该江段上游支流沱江富顺江段采集到6种鱼类标本, 分别为鲫、黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus fulvidraco Richardson)、鲤、大眼鳜、大鳍鳠和鲇, 每种鱼的样本量为6-11尾, 共计192尾。采用快速溶剂萃取及气相色谱法对鱼体中的16种多环芳烃(PAHs)含量进行了检测。结果显示, 在两个江段的各种鱼体样本中均检测到了多种多环芳烃的存在。在长江干流朱杨江段所采集到的9种鱼中瓦氏黄颡鱼体内多环芳烃总量(PAHs)最高, 其含量为(2803.78 215.37) ng/g; 鲇鱼体内PAHs最低, 其含量为(515.8638.80) ng/g。在沱江富顺江段采集到的6种鱼中鲫体内PAHs最高, 为(8498.571128.22) ng/g; 鲇鱼体内PAHs最低, 其含量为(1295.0569.69) ng/g。采集自长江朱杨段和沱江富顺段两采集地的相同种类有5种, 富顺段5种鱼体内PAHs均高于朱杨段同种类鱼体内的含量; 除大眼鳜外, 其余4种鱼的差异均达到显著水平。富顺江段鱼类体内高分子量多环芳烃比例较高, 而朱杨江段鱼类体内富集的低分子量多环芳烃和中分子量多环芳烃的比例较高。通过讨论认为, 长江朱杨段及其支流沱江富顺段的鱼体均受到了多环芳烃的污染, 并且沱江鱼类受多环芳烃的污染程度高于长江干流朱杨段鱼类。此外, 沱江富顺段鱼体所含的高分子量多环芳烃组成百分比高于长江干流朱杨段的鱼体, 但其中、低分子量多环芳烃组成百分比相对于干流鱼类较低, 可能的原因是两个江段多环芳烃的污染源不同。       

葛洲坝水利枢纽下游宜昌江段渔业资源现状

1997-1999年间统计了葛洲坝水利枢纽工程下游宜昌江段的不同渔具渔获物3254kg。共获得鱼类45种,优势种类为铜鱼、瓦氏黄颡鱼、长鳍吻鮈、圆筒吻鮈、草鱼、鲢、长吻鮠、南方鲇等,鳊、青鱼、鳡等的相对数量比建坝前减少,(鱼宗)、鳜、鳤、鲌类等建坝前的常见种类现在较为少见或罕见。鲥、裂腹鱼、华鲮、暗纹东方鲀等偶见种类以及珍稀鱼类白鲟未被发现。目前该江段渔获物中低龄个体比重较高,性成熟个体较少。过度捕捞是影响坝下江段渔业资源衰退的主要原因。     

长江湖口段春夏季仔稚鱼群落结构研究

湖口江段连通长江与鄱阳湖, 是诸多鱼类的洄游通道, 在长江鱼类的繁衍生息中发挥重要功能。研究于2016年5月—8月在长江中下游鱼类繁殖期内对湖口江段系统开展鱼类仔稚鱼资源的调查, 研究分析了该江段仔稚鱼群落组成、优势种、密度变化、时间空间分布及其与环境因子的关系。结果表明:88d连续采样共鉴定出隶属于8目12科39个仔稚鱼类群, 其中37个类群鉴定到种, 1个类群鉴定到亚科, 1个类群鉴定到科。贝氏?(Hemiculter bleekeri)为该江段仔稚鱼的第一优势种, 其余优势种有虾虎鱼科(Gobiidae)、鳊(Parabramis pekinensis)和飘鱼(Pseudolaubuca sinensis)。仔稚鱼密度在7月1日达到峰值, 峰值为1230.77 ind./100 m3; 7月1日至8月15日仔稚鱼密度整体呈波动性下降的趋势。时间尺度的聚类将6个时期分为5月下旬—7月上旬与7月下旬—8月上旬2个群组, 贝氏?、翘嘴鲌和刀鲚等在6月下旬达到峰值; 鳊、四大家鱼和鳜等在7月上旬达到峰值。江段断面上南北近岸采样点仔稚鱼密度高于断面中心。使用冗余分析方法(RDA)分析了仔稚鱼密度与环境因子的关系, 发现水温、透明度、流量均为影响仔稚鱼群落结构的主要环境因子。水位与仔稚鱼密度相关性分析表明, 两者呈极显著相关(P<0.01)。研究表明, 湖口江段鱼类早期资源较为丰富, 仔稚鱼群落结构主要以中小型鱼类为主, 且江湖洄游性鱼类占比较高; 仔稚鱼对各环境条件有着不同适应特点, 仔稚鱼与水温、透明度、流量均呈现出不同程度的相关关系。研究结果补充了湖口江段鱼类早期资源的基础资料, 为长江中下游鱼类资源保护策略的制定提供了科学依据。     

长江中上游主要经济鱼类的渔业生物学特征

根据1996－1999年长江中上游渔业资源监测资料,分析了青鱼,草鱼,链,鳙,铜鱼,圆口铜鱼,长吻Wei,河鲶,瓦氏黄颡鱼,鲤等10种主要经济鱼的渔业生物学特性,并应用von Bertalanffy公式,Key公式,Beverton-Holt公式等估计了生长参数,总死亡系数,自然死亡系数,捕捞死亡系数,总存活率,总死亡率,自然死亡率,捕捞死亡率和开发率,讨论了资源的开发状况,针对存在的问题,提出了渔业管理意见。     

蚯蚓对瓦氏黄颡鱼摄食达氏鳇卵的干扰实验

自然水域中中华鲟(Acipenser sinensis)卵常受到敌害鱼类捕食的威胁,瓦氏黄颡鱼Pelteobagrus vachelli(Richerdson)是中华鲟卵的重要敌害鱼类。以中华鲟卵的敌害鱼类瓦氏黄颡鱼为研究对象,选择环毛蚓(Pheretima tschiliensis)为瓦氏黄颡鱼的饵料,以达氏鳇卵(Kalugasturgeon)替代中华鲟卵进行室内实验,通过研究适合瓦氏黄颡鱼摄食的环毛蚓规格,以及环毛蚓干扰瓦氏黄颡鱼摄食达氏鳇卵投放比例,探讨中华鲟卵的保护方法。在水温为(20.0±1.5)℃的条件下,研究了3种不同体长规格[体长(15.3±1.4)cm、(12.0±2.1)cm、(7.7±0.5)cm]实验鱼个体分别摄食3种不同体长规格环毛蚓(体高为0.3cm,体长分别为8、4、2cm)和达氏鳇卵的摄食率;研究了体长为4cm的环毛蚓对3种不同体长实验鱼摄食达氏鳇卵的干扰效果。实验结果表明:3种体长规格瓦氏黄颡鱼均摄食达氏鳇卵;3种体长规格瓦氏黄颡鱼共同摄食的替代饵料规格为体长4cm及以下的环毛蚓;适宜干扰实验所选体长实验鱼摄食达氏鳇卵的饵料为体长4 cm的环毛蚓;当环毛蚓与达氏鳇卵数量比例为1∶1时,可实现达氏鳇卵的保护。研究证明在实验条件下可实现环毛蚓对中华鲟卵敌害鱼类——瓦氏黄颡鱼实施摄食干扰,提示下一步可以尝试选择环毛蚓作为替代中华鲟卵的饵料,进行干扰食卵鱼类摄食中华鲟卵的野外验证试验。     

基于基因组重测序的长江上游瓦氏黄颡鱼群体遗传结构

利用基因组重测序的方法获取高通量SNP标记,分析了长江上游三峡大坝-白鹤滩大坝之间8个不同江段(太平溪、巴南、合川、岷江口、宜宾、邵女坪、桧溪、冯家坪)共136尾瓦氏黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus vachelli)的遗传多样性和遗传分化水平,阐明了长江上游瓦氏黄颡鱼群体遗传结构。结果显示:(1)三峡库区太平溪群体和巴南群体具有较高的SNP(singlenucleotide polymorphism)数量和核苷酸多样性指数,遗传来源丰富,其遗传多样性高于其他群体;上游的岷江口、宜宾、邵女坪和冯家坪群体遗传来源单一。(2)瓦氏黄颡鱼存在3个不同的遗传分支,且不同遗传分支之间存在较大的遗传分化。(3)群体SNP数量和核苷酸多样性指数与河流坡降呈显著负相关,群体遗传分化指数与地理距离和隔离时间无显著相关性。研究结果表明,在三峡大坝-白鹤滩大坝江段,瓦氏黄颡鱼上游群体具有更低的遗传多样性,更易发生遗传漂变作用,在鱼类遗传多样性保护中需要特别关注;瓦氏黄颡鱼存在3种显著的遗传结构,应视为3个不同遗传单元进行种质资源管理。     

瓦氏黄颡鱼线粒体全基因组序列分析及系统进化

鲿科鱼类种类繁多, 外形相似, 形态学分类较为困难。为了给鲿科鱼类乃至鲇形目鱼类的系统进化研究积累基础资料, 文章采用参照近缘物种线粒体基因组设计覆盖全基因组引物的方法, 利用16对引物对瓦氏黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus vachelli)线粒体全基因组进行扩增, PCR产物转化到质粒后测序, 最终获得线粒体基因组全序列, 其全长为16 527 bp, 包括2个rRNA基因、22个tRNA基因、13个编码蛋白质基因和一个非编码控制区。瓦氏黄颡鱼(P. vachelli)线粒体基因组结构和基因排列顺序与现已公布的鲇形目鱼类完全一致, 序列分析表明, 与鲇形目其他种属间具有较高的同源性, 与拟鲿属的同源性最高(91%)。利用鲇形目共4科6属9种及3个外群的线粒体全基因组序列, 从线粒体基因组水平探讨了鲿科鱼类及其在鲇形目的系统进化地位, 结果表明: 鲿科鱼类的瓦氏黄颡鱼(P. vachelli)、黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)、光泽黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus nitidus)及越南拟鲿(Pseudobagrus tokiensis)构成一单系群; 拟鲿属与黄颡鱼属的关系较近; 黄颡鱼属中瓦氏黄颡鱼(P. vachelli)与光泽黄颡鱼(P.nitidus)的关系近于黄颡鱼(P. fulvidraco)。     

Environmental conditions and compositions of plankton and nekton in the epipelagic zone of the northwestern Pacific Ocean in summer 2009, the year of the largest spawning migration of pink and Chum Salmon

The distribution of temperature, salinity, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and nekton, including Pink Salmon and Chum Salmon, is analyzed based on the data from a complex survey conducted in the upper epipelagic zone of the northwestern Pacific Ocean in June–July 2009. An estimate of water transfer, plankton biomass (by size fractions and taxonomic groups), and biomass and abundance of nekton is made. The water circulation pattern was notable for the “compressed” state of the Western Subarctic Gyre. Copepods predominated in zooplankton (60.8% biomass), and Pacific Salmon dominated in the nekton. The ratio of the plankton biomass to the nekton biomass in various biostatistical areas varied from 23.9 to 195.1 (mean 46.7). It was found that the nekton biomass in the area of the spreading subarctic waters reaches its maximum in the summer months and that in the area of subtropical waters reaches its maximum in the fall. In the upper 30-meter layer, the biomass of fish and squid rose during the night to 2.92 million tons, or 1.6 times as much, due to mesopelagic migrants. The nekton communities of the upper epipelagic of the northwestern Pacific Ocean functioned normally, providing a high level of biological and fish productivity.     

Effects of pasture development on the ecological functions of riparian forests in Hokkaido in northern Japan

In the summer, the forest canopy lowers the water temperature, which is very important for anadromous fish, and its population density is significantly lower in grassland streams. Leaf litter and terrestrial invertebrates are the critical food resources for stream organisms. In a basin where the riparian forest is preserved, but other areas have been cut, the amount of leaf litter is almost equivalent to that in an intact natural basin. The annual input of terrestrial invertebrates falling into the forested reaches was 1.7 times greater than that in the grassland reaches, and fish biomass was significantly less in the grassland reaches. In-stream large woody debris creates storage sites for organic and inorganic matter and enhances habitat diversity for aquatic biota. However, the volume and number of large wood pieces decreased significantly with pasture development, because it clears the riparian forests and covers the riverbanks with grass. Fine sediment is a prominent by-product of agricultural development and adversely impacts periphyton productivity, the density and diversity of aquatic invertebrates, fish feeding, fish spawning and egg survival. We also examine the adequate width of a riparian buffer if it is to be able to satisfy its ecological functions.     

Growth and population size of crayfish in headwater streams: individual- and higher-level consequences of acidification

1. Environmental stress may have indirect positive effects on population size through modification of food‐web interactions, despite having negative effects on individuals. Here we evaluate the individual‐ and population‐level effects of acidification on crayfish (Cambarus bartonii) in headwater streams of the Allegheny Plateau (PA, U.S.A.) with field experiments and survey data. Median baseflow pH of 24 study reaches in nine streams varied from 4.4 to 7.4, with substantial variation found both among and within streams. 2. Two bioassays were conducted to evaluate the relationship between stream pH and crayfish growth rates. Growth rates were always higher in circumneutral reaches than in acidic reaches. Crayfish originating in acidic water grew less when transplanted into neutral water than did crayfish originating in neutral water, providing some evidence for a cost of acclimation to acidity. 3. Stream surveys showed that fish were less abundant and crayfish more abundant in acidified streams than in circumneutral streams. Crayfish density was sixfold higher in reaches with the lowest pH relative to circumneutral reaches. Large crayfish made up a higher proportion of crayfish populations at sites with high fish biomass, consistent with the hypothesis that fish predation on small individuals may be limiting crayfish population size at these sites. 4. Although individual crayfish suffered lower growth in acidified streams, increased acidity appeared to cause an increase in crayfish population size and shifts in size structure, possibly by relieving predation pressure by fish.     

Growth and production of the dominant pelagic fish, Acanthobrama terraesanctae, in subtropical Lake Kinneret, Israel

Acanthobrama terraesanctae (local name lavnun), an endemic planktivorous cyprinid, dominates total fish numbers (>80%) in Lake Kinneret, and may have a significant top-down impact on the lake ecosystem. The length of young-of-the-year fish calculated from the von Bertalanffy equation agreed with field observations of juvenile growth. An unusual bi-modal length-frequency distribution observed in May 1993 provided additional help in age identification. Males grew more slowly than females and reached a lower maximum length. Total mortality coefficients (exponents) of males and females >12 cm (minimal legal size of fish in the catch) were similar ( c. 1·52). An average cohort reaches maximum biomass during its second year. Maximum production is created at the end of the second year. The production: biomass ratio of the population was 1·16, and 36% of total lavnun standing stock was taken by fishing. From the late 1980s to early 1990s, when standing stock and population structure were stable, the average harvest of 1000 t was consistent with a total lavnun biomass of 2800 t, which constitutes 50–70% of the total fish stock measured acoustically in the lake. Such a biomass could be sustained by the known production of zooplankton. Absence of verified growth data for lavnun contributed to the collapse of the fishery in 1993, because it hampered timely revision of fishery policy in response to the drastic changes in the lavnun stock in 1992.     

Spatial and temporal variation of fish community biomass and energy flow throughout a tropical river network

1. Accurately accounting for flows of energy through food webs is challenging because of the spatial and temporal variability associated with energy production and consumption. Wet–dry tropical rivers have a highly seasonal discharge regime where wet season flows allow access to energy sources (inundated wetlands) that are not available during the dry season when aquatic consumers are confined to disconnected waterholes.
2. We combined measures of fish community biomass with previously published feeding guild specific stable isotope analyses to explore how opposing wet- and dry-season habitat templates influence spatial and temporal trends in the sources of energy supporting fish biomass throughout a river network in the wet–dry tropics of northern Australia.
3. Accounting for the relative contribution of each feeding guild to fish community biomass was a critical component of our analyses, as a single feeding guild (invertivore/piscivore) influenced spatial and temporal patterns in the sources of energy supporting overall fish biomass. During the early dry season, the reliance of fish communities on autochthonous sources of energy (periphyton) decreased from the upper to lower reaches of the river network, which correlates with increasing floodplain area and wet season inundation times. These patterns disappeared by the late dry season as fish in both upper and lower reaches became increasingly reliant on autochthonous sources produced within waterholes over the course of the dry season, indicating that the large wet-season gains in fish biomass are maintained through the dry season by energy produced within waterhole refuges.
4. Collectively these results indicate that a combination of autochthonous and allochthonous sources of energy work in unison to support fish community biomass throughout the Mitchell River catchment and that access to these sources of energy is dictated by seasonal patterns in discharge interacting with spatial variability in river geomorphology (channel geometry and floodplain area).
5. Many rivers are experiencing decreased flows due to water resource development and more frequent and severe droughts. Thus, we suggest our study provides insight into how changes in discharge regime could influence food web energetics throughout river networks.

     

Introduction of the non-indigenous amphipod Gammarus pulex alters population dynamics and diet of juvenile trout Salmo trutta

Summary 1. The amphipod Gammarus pulex , introduced to Irish rivers with the aim of enhancing trout feeding, is displacing the native Gammarus duebeni celticus . These two species are generally associated with different environmental conditions and macroinvertebrate communities, confounding assessment of effects of the invader as compared with the native on fish populations. Here, we uncouple effects of the two Gammarus species from environmental gradients.
2. A weir dissects a lowland stretch of the River Lissan, slowing the upstream invasion by G. pulex and resulting in contiguous G. pulex , mixed species and G. d. celticus reaches. Total invertebrate abundance and biomass in the benthos were significantly higher in the G. pulex reach, driven by high invader abundance, with low abundance of other taxa. Gammarus pulex was particularly prominent in night-time drift.
3. Correspondingly, densities and biomass of 0+ trout were significantly higher in the G. pulex reach, while instantaneous loss rates were lower. Fish growth rates were similar among the three reaches.
4. In the G. pulex reach, this invader dominated the diet of 0+ trout, leading to ingestion of significantly higher invertebrate biomass than fish in the other reaches. Fish generally preyed on Gammarus in proportion to its abundance, but exhibited some positive selection for G. pulex in the invaded reach.
5. The negative effects of the invader on native invertebrates are contrasted with positive effects on juvenile trout. This indicates changes in energy flux after invasion, with differential resource use or assimilation by G. pulex probable underlying mechanisms. As the frequency of amphipod invasions increases globally, investigations of their role as strong interactors at multiple levels of ecological organisation is required if the consequences of deliberate and unintentional introductions are to be predicted, and ultimately, prevented.     

Influence of stream geomorphic condition on fish communities in Vermont, U.S.A.

1. Evaluations of stream geomorphic condition may increase our understanding of the composite effects of human‐induced habitat change on fish communities. Using systematic sampling of 44 reaches spread across 26 rivers in Vermont from 2002 through 2004, we tested the hypothesis that stream reaches in reference geomorphic condition would support fish assemblages that differed in diversity and productivity from fish communities found in reaches of poorer geomorphic condition. 2. At each study reach, we sampled the fish community, identified the morphological unit according to common stream classification systems and then evaluated the extent of deviation from reference geomorphic condition using a regionally adapted geomorphic assessment methodology. 3. We used principal component analysis (PCA) and linear regression to build exploratory models linking stream geomorphic condition to fish community characteristics. 4. Our results suggest that geomorphic condition significantly influences fish community diversity, productivity and condition. Geomorphic condition was a significant factor in all of our fish community models. In conjunction with additional reach characteristics, geomorphic condition explained up to 31% of the total variance observed in models for species diversity of fish communities, 44% of the variance in assemblage biomass and 45% of the variance in a regional index of biotic integrity. 5. Our work builds on single‐species evidence that geomorphic characteristics represent important local‐scale fish‐habitat variables, showing that stream geomorphic condition is a dominant factor affecting entire fish communities. Our results enhance our understanding of the hierarchy of factors that influences fish community diversity and organisation and support the use of geomorphic condition assessments in stream management.     

浅水湖泊鱼类群落结构评估: 复合网目刺网与网簖的比较

准确评估鱼类群落结构是渔业管理和鱼类资源养护的必要前提, 而不同渔具采样结果往往会产生较大差异。研究同时采用欧洲标准采样网具-复合网目刺网(Multi-mesh gillnet)和中国传统网具-网簖对长江中游典型浅水湖泊扁担塘的鱼类群落结构进行了评估。2种网具共采集到27种鱼类, 并发现黄尾鲴(Xenocypris daviai)和湖鲚(Coilia nasus taihuensis)2种新记录种, 扁担塘的鱼类群落结构较1999年和2003年均发生了较明显的改变。2种渔具捕获的鱼类组成、相对丰度和生物量以及鱼类体长分布频率均存在显著性差异。基于鱼类的相对生物量和相对丰度的NMDS排序表明2种网具捕获到的鱼类群落结构也存在显著差异。另外还比较了复合网目刺网与其他定量采样网具间的差异, 作者认为复合网目刺网比较适合长江中下游浅水湖泊鱼类群落研究的定量取样, 但仅凭单一网具评估鱼类群落结构具有局限性。     

A survey of the macro-fauna of the River Cynon, a polluted tributary of the River Taff (South Wales)

(1) A survey of the macro-invertebrates and fish in the River Cynon, a trout stream in south-east Wales receiving industrial and domestic wastes, and nine of its tributaries, was carried out in the summer of 1970. Its principal purpose was to describe the structure of these communities before waste treatment facilities, in course of construction, reduce the degree of pollution. (2) The macro-invertebrate communities changed dramatically at station C4, there being a very varied fauna upstream and one dominated by chironomids and oligochaetes downstream, principally Nais barbata., Cricotopus bicinctus and Syncricotopus rufiventris. It seems likely that coal particles, influencing the substrate, are largely responsible for this change. Further downstream, and below substantial organic discharges, tubificids and the enchytraeid, Lumbricillus rivalis, became increasingly abundant. The total density of macro-invertebrates increased from about 2000/m2 in the headwaters to over 20,000/m2 in the lower reaches. (3) The fauna of the clean tributaries, Hir (C16) and Wenallt (C19) was similar to that ofthe unpolluted upper reaches ofthe Cynon (C1-C3) whereas that of tributaries affected by coal particles was similar to the fauna of the Cynon downstream of C4. (4) Six species of fish were recorded (bullhead, eel, minnow, trout, stickleback and stoneloach) of which tbree (bullhead, eel and trout) were confined to reaches upstream (C8 and above) of industrial eflluents at Abercwmboi. For 0–8 km downstream of these effluents the river was fishless and further downstream, to the confluence with the River Taff, fish density and biomass were reduced. (5) In the upper Cynon and its tributaries the density and biomass of trout were within the range recorded elsewhere in the British Isles. The growth rate of trout in the catchment is low. Diflerences in growth rate and shape of trout in the main river and tributaries suggest that there is little interchange between these areas, except perhaps with very young fish. 0 + * * The convention of referring to fish in their first year as 0+, in their second year as 1 + and so on is adopted here.
fish were only caught in abundance at two tributary stations and their numbers, even if widely distributed, could not permanently support the current density of older fish throughout the upper catchment. (6) Stone loach and minnow reached a very large size and individuals caught of the latter species approached the maximum recorded length for the British Isles.     

Multi-scale effects of resource patchiness on foraging behaviour and habitat use by longnose dace, Rhinichthys cataractae

1. We examined the response of a predatory benthic fish, the longnose dace ( Rhinichthys cataractae ), to patchiness in the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates on cobbles at three hierarchical spatial scales during summer and autumn 1996, and spring 1997 in a southern Appalachian stream. 2. At the primary scale (four to five individual cobbles separated by <1 m), the intensity of foraging was not correlated with the biomass of benthic macroinvertebrates/cobble, regardless of season. 3. At the secondary scale (i.e. foraging patches <5 m in diameter) we found that benthic macroinvertebrates were patchily distributed in summer, but not in autumn or spring. Concomitantly, in summer, longnose dace foraged on cobbles with a significantly higher biomass of benthic macronvertebrates than nearby, randomly selected cobbles with similar physical conditions (i.e. longnose dace tended to avoid low-prey foraging patches). In contrast, when benthic macroinvertebrates were distributed homogeneously (spring and autumn), dace did not select patches with a significantly higher biomass of benthic macroinvertebrates than that available on randomly selected cobbles. 4. At the tertiary scale (i.e. stream reaches 11–19 m long), the biomass of benthic macroinvertebrates (per cobble per reach) was patchily distributed (i.e. differed significantly among reaches) in all seasons. Among reaches with physical characteristics preferred by longnose dace, (i.e. erosional reaches dominated by cobble/boulder substratum and high current velocity), we detected a significant, positive correlation between the biomass of benthic macroinvertebrates/cobble and longnose dace density in all seasons. 5. Our results demonstrated that both spatial and temporal patchiness in resource availability influenced significantly the use of both foraging patches and stream reaches by longnose dace.