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NIWA Water & Atmosphere 11(2) 2003 FRESHWATER FISH Location, location, location! Predicting fish communities in New Zealand streams The waterways pictured opposite represent a Zealand. We selected quantitative data range of typical New Zealand streams. Can (collected using electric fishing) because we we predict the resident fish community from thought the most abundant fish species – and Jody Richardson just a photograph? The results of our recent not those that just occur by chance – should Ian Jowett analysis of data from the New Zealand define a community. Our 1130 sites were freshwater fish database suggest that we can, therefore mainly small and medium-sized but first we need more information, wadeable waterways. We excluded fish particularly about the stream’s location. communities from deep-water and/or still- What is a fish community? water habitats unsuited for electric fishing. We combined the fish data with site A fish community is an assemblage of fish information such as location, stream width species that inhabit a particular area of a and catchment land use. The first stage of the stream or river. Based on 40 years of analysis was to use a computer program to Can you tell accumulated field sampling, we now know classify sites by their fish assemblages into that certain fish species commonly occur which fish biologically sensible groups. We then together whereas others don’t. This is usually examined the results to see whether the communities related to their preferred habitat and, for communities matched our experience and inhabit the diadromous species (that spend a part of their intuitive definitions. streams in the life-cycle at sea), their ability to penetrate inland. For example, open-bed, fast-water Most of the groups identified by computer photographs? species such as torrentfish and bluegill bully analysis were immediately familiar to us. For Read on – and are often found together, but are practically example, upland and lowland fish then try our test! never found with pool-dwelling bush species communities were clearly separated. We such as adult banded kokopu. Thus, we would defined 12 fish communities, though many expect a torrentfish community to inhabit species occurred in several of these. quite different types of waterways from a Environmental information for banded kokopu community. predicting communities But why bother with fish communities? After each site had been assigned to a fish Water management decisions often focus on community, we then used the differences in single valuable or threatened fish species, but the site locations and physical characteristics Teachers: this usually rivers contain a whole community of to develop our models for predicting fish article can be used fish. Knowing what species occur together communities. for NCEA and in what types of waterways can help Achievement Geographic location was the over-riding Standards in managers predict the effects of flow and land factor influencing fish communities. The Biology (1.2, 2.2, management options on the whole 2.5, 2.6, 3.4). See distribution of many of the communities community. This approach not only protects other curriculum depended on whether the fish were connections at individual species and biodiversity, but also diadromous or not, and the ability of the www.niwa.co.nz/ helps identify appropriate restoration and pubs/wa/resources diadromous species to penetrate inland. conservation strategies for a particular Altitude showed the most difference between waterway. communities, closely followed by distance Defining fish communities inland. We used an analysis of the New Zealand Habitat was a less obvious factor but was Freshwater Fish Database (NZFFD) – plus important for some fish species. For example, experience – to describe common fish banded kokopu were typically found in small Jody Richardson and communities and to determine their predict- streams (average width 1.6 m), whereas Ian Jowett are based ability. The NZFFD contains information on torrentfish occurred in wide streams (average at NIWA in Hamilton. freshwater fish from sites throughout New width 10.5 m). 14 NIWA Water & Atmosphere 11(2) 2003 Overall, our best predictive model used a Species composition (average %) of the 12 fish communities. Blue numbers combination of five location variables (altitude, highlight up to six of the most abundant fish in each community. distance inland, northing, island, easting), three Fish communities catchment vegetation variables (farming, native, exotic forest), and stream width. Some communities were easier to identify Shortjaw kokopu Banded kokopu Redfin bully Shortfin eel Inanga Torrentfish Crans bully Upland bully Koaro Brown trout Rainbow trout Longfin eel and predict than others. For example, more Fish species Shortfin eel 0.0 4.8 0.9 28.1 8.2 2.3 15.3 5.3 0.0 0.4 0.3 0.0 than half of the koaro, inanga, Crans bully, Longfin eel 26.0 15.1 28.7 14.3 10.2 22.2 18.3 12.6 18.0 11.6 11.3 90.4 upland bully, and rainbow trout communities Torrentfish 0.0 0.0 0.5 4.9 0.0 18.4 1.7 0.3 0.1 0.5 0.1 0.0 Giant kokopu 13.0 1.0 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 could be successfully predicted from the Koaro 19.0 3.3 4.8 0.1 0.3 0.7 0.0 8.0 64.7 1.2 2.9 0.0 environmental variables, whereas less than a Dwarf galaxias 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 5.3 0.2 0.6 0.0 0.0 fifth of longfin eel and shortjaw kokopu Banded kokopu 0.7 53.3 4.2 0.5 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.1 0.0 Inanga 0.0 9.5 1.9 2.6 52.4 2.0 0.6 0.8 0.3 0.6 0.0 0.0 communities could. The lowland communities Alpine galaxias 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.3 0.0 0.3 2.1 0.0 characterised by redfin bully, torrentfish and Shortjaw kokopu 17.2 0.0 0.6 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 Canterbury galaxias 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.0 10.6 0.0 0.3 0.1 0.0 shortfin eel were also difficult to classify Lamprey 0.0 0.2 1.3 4.8 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.2 0.7 0.0 0.5 consistently. Crans bully 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.1 59.9 3.7 0.4 0.7 0.6 0.0 Upland bully 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.4 0.0 3.7 0.0 43.1 0.0 5.9 0.5 0.0 The communities Common bully 0.0 0.2 2.2 7.0 13.8 9.1 0.0 0.5 0.1 1.4 0.8 9.1 Bluegill bully 20.7 0.0 8.7 5.0 0.1 25.0 0.0 0.5 0.6 0.3 0.0 0.0 We generally named the communities after Redfin bully 2.4 11.8 43.8 23.9 13.8 12.6 0.2 1.2 2.4 1.3 0.3 0.0 their dominant fish species. Smelt 0.0 0.0 0.0 4.6 0.1 0.1 3.4 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 Rainbow trout 0.0 0.1 1.2 0.2 0.0 0.4 0.1 0.2 1.2 2.0 74.4 0.0 Banded kokopu, shortjaw kokopu, redfin bully Brook trout 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.4 0.0 0.0 The characteristic species of these three Brown trout 1.0 0.0 1.2 1.4 0.3 2.3 0.2 4.6 11.0 71.0 6.3 0.0 communities were found living together, as well as with longfin eel and koaro. The Plenty, Coromandel, Waikato and Auckland preferred habitat was small bush-covered regions. South Island locations were on the streams. All were associated with native forest west coast, in the Catlins, Otago and Banks (more than 60% of the catchment) and a low peninsulas and Marlborough Sounds. Shortjaw Photos: percentage of farming development (less than kokopu communities were mainly found in A: a tributary of the 22% of the catchment). rivers draining to the south Taranaki Bight, Waikato River near Huntly. The catchment Banded kokopu community streams were the Golden Bay and the Marlborough Sounds. is 100% native bush smallest (1.6 m wide) and had the highest Redfin bully communities were widely and the stream is 1–2 m wide. Although over percentage of pool habitat. Location was scattered but were very rare on the east coast 100 km inland, the site distinctly coastal, but throughout the Bay of of either island. is only 20 m above sea level, and there A B are no barriers to migration. B: a medium-sized, low-gradient river in Northland. The catchment is mostly farmland and the riverbed is mud. This site is 22 km inland with an altitude of 50 m. C: a medium-sized, relatively steep river in North Canterbury. The site is only a few km C D inland at low altitude. The catchment is about 90% farmland.