The Influence of Culverts on Small Stream Fish Communities in Northwestern Ontario
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THE INFLUENCE OF CULVERTS ON SMALL STREAM FISH COMMUNITIES IN NORTHWESTERN ONTARIO by Eric K. Berglund Submitted to Lakehead University, Department of Biology In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of M aster of Science Department of Biology Lakehead University Thunder Bay, Ontario 2007 Committee Members: Dr. Rob Mackereth Dr. Stephen Hecnar Dr. Peter Lee Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 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ABSTRACT Stream crossings may alter fish habitat and fragment lotie environments, which could alter fish movement in stream reaches and lead to changes in fish community structure and population dynamics at the local and riverscape level. The potential for point source disturbance impacts by culverts may be analogous to confluences and the hierarchal spatial arrangement of tributary junctions, which are known locations of increased biodiversity. There is currently limited information on habitat fragmentation and the cumulative effects that culverts might have at the local and landscape level on fish communities in northwestern Ontario. Forty-three culvert sites and seven confluence points on small cold water streams were selected across 10 watersheds northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario to examine fish assemblages and community characteristics above and below culverts and confluence points, to: (1) determine the extent to which culverts block or impede the movement of fish; (2) to evaluate the relationships among patterns and responses of fish assemblages and functional groups to environmental variables and (3) compare the patterns of biological and physical disturbance between culverts and natural stream confluence points. Species richness, abundance, biomass and density were significantly lower below culverts compared to above (p<0.05). Conversely, there was no statistical difference when comparing fish demographics above and below confluence points. On average, there were fewer, but larger brook trout captured above culverts compared to below, suggesting that stronger swimming individuals were able to move through culverts. Although several environmental variables influence fish assemblages, the differences in habitat characteristics above and below culverts were marginal and unlikely to have a major affect in the structuring of fish communities, which suggests that difference in community assemblage above and below were the result of impeded movement. None of the culvert characteristics explained large amounts of variation in fish community above and below culverts. Although marginal, perched culverts and culverts not on stream bottom were most closely associated with differences in fish community above and below culverts. Upstream catchment area appeared to be the single most important environmental variable structuring fish communities across the study area. The results from my study support the hypothesis that culverts limit the movement of certain fish species. However, due to the combination of local and landscape environmental influences, it would be difficult to predict the long term impacts of culverts across multiple scales based on culvert characteristics alone. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Somehow, over the years I have managed to follow a path that has lead me to where I am today and I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunities, experiences and people I have come to know along the way. I would like to thank a number of people for their support and guidance over the course of the last couple of years. I owe much gratitude to my supervisor, Dr. Rob Mackereth for his continued insight, knowledge, patience and wise cracks. Rob’s continued encouragement and his personality have made doing a masters thesis downright enjoyable. I would like to thank the members of my graduate committee, Dr. Peter Lee and Dr. Stephen Hecnar for their questions, comments and insightful review of this thesis. I would also like to thank the external examiner of this thesis. Dr. Garry Scrimgeour of Park Canada for his time and critical review of my thesis. I would like to thank the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research (CNFER) and the OMNR Forest Policy Branch for the funding that has made this research possible and the Comparative Aquatic Effects Program (CAEP) in particular, for their technical and logistical support. I would especially like to thank Hayley Veldhoen, Darren McCormick and Bruce Thacker for their time and efforts throughout the course of this project. They have been completely indispensable and selfless it their help. Hayley put up with more than her fair share of honky-tonk music and was always keen to help out, both in the field and in the office. Darren’s computer know-how and attention to detail never went unnoticed; without his expertise I am sure that many parts of this thesis would have been much more of a struggle than they actually were. Bruce has consistently exuded a sense of calm and has been instrumental behind the scenes, keeping things running smooth and seemingly effortless; this and he has shared many fantastic stories during Hydropsychidae meetings. My thanks go out to a great crew of co-workers and friends. I would also like to thank my tremendously outgoing and hard working field crews that helped with data collection and became good friends at the same time: Matt Kowalchuck, Megan Rasmussen and Megan Crawly. Thank you. Special thanks to my good friends and fellow grad students, Brent Metcalfe and Scott Parker, who made me feel welcome when I first started at CNFER. Many hours and days were spent fishing, hunting and hanging out with these two great people doing anything but thesis writing.. .those days are indispensable. I would also like to acknowledge Eric Vander Wal and Mike Oatway for their friendship and inspiration. Lastly, I am ever-grateful for the love and support that my wife Nancy and my family have provided. Nancy is an inspiration and has always stood behind my efforts, a feet that is often difficult to do, but unbelievably important. Thank you all, so much. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Table of Contents A bstract....................................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. ii Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................... iii List of Figures........................................................................................................................... iv List of Tables............................................................................................................................ vi 1.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Objectives............................................................................................................................. 11 2.0 General Methods ................................................................................... 14 2.1 Study Area.........................................................................................................................