An experimental study of factors affecting the distribution of yellow perch and central mudminnows along a species richness gradient |
| |
Authors: | Cynthia A Paszkowski William M Tonn |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Zoology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9, Canada |
| |
Abstract: | Synopsis Effects of environmental factors on the distribution and abundance of yellow perch and central mudminnows in northern Wisconsin
were examined by holding populations of these fishes within single-species enclosures in a series of three small forest lakes
having a species-richness gradient of one to four species. These enclosures allowed each species to experience environmental
conditions within each lake without directly interacting with each other. In the four-species lake, two other sets of enclosures
addressed the effects of intra- and interspecific competition. Changes in total biomass of enclosure stocks (from growth and
mortality) indicated that in the absence of other species, perch did best in the lake containing the richest fish assemblage,
intermediate in the two-species lake, and worst in the mudminnow-only lake. Mudminnow stocks similarly performed significantly
better in the four-species lake than the mudminnow-only lake. These results suggest that the lakes' environmental conditions
contribute to the patterns of presence and abundance of perch, but that interspecific interactions override a similar contribution
for the mudminnow, which is regarded as a fugitive species. Perch performances were also sensitive to fish densities within
enclosures, declining significantly when stocks were doubled, either by adding more perch or equal numbers of mudminnows. |
| |
Keywords: | Abiotic environment Enclosures Small forest lakes Species interactions Wisconsin Percidae Umbridae Perca flavescens Umbra limi |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |
|