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Assessing the potential of remote sensing-derived water quality data to explain variations in fish assemblages and to support fish status assessments in large lakes

  • EUROPEAN LARGE LAKES IV
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Abstract

Remote sensing techniques may provide a higher temporal and spatial resolution than traditional water monitoring methods. We tested if this auxiliary information can be used to (i) explain patterns in fish assemblage composition and (ii) test candidate metrics to assess ecological status in large lake water bodies. We used MERIS-derived layers describing chlorophyll a, total suspended matter, and colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) overlaid on all available fish monitoring data from the four largest Swedish lakes (Vänern, Vättern, Mälaren, and Hjälmaren). We assessed the influence of remote sensing-derived parameters in the pelagic, offshore benthic, and the inshore benthic habitats. Our results demonstrated that chlorophyll a and CDOM together with depth at the sampling site explained a significant part of the variation in the distribution of fish assemblages. These predictors were particularly important not only in pelagic, but also in inshore benthic areas. Furthermore, we identified three potential candidate metrics to assess pressure from eutrophication in large lakes: density of pelagic fishes, biomass of planktivorous species, and the proportion of cyprinids when roach was excluded. Remote sensing was considered a useful tool to support analyses of fish community composition and dynamics.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the Swedish Space Board and the Water conservation societies of L. Vänern, L. Vättern, L. Mälaren, and L. Hjälmaren. It was partly funded by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Dnr 10/179) and the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management through a contract for the research programme WATERS. We are indebted to the responsible persons at each water conservation society: Sara Peilot, Måns Lindell, Ingrid Hägermark, and Lotta Carlström. Our work was supported by a reference group consisting of Åsa Andersson, Susanne Kratzer, Niklas Strömbeck, and Per Wramner. We acknowledge the excellent working conditions on R/V Asterix and R/V Ancylus and all the personnel who have contributed to the monitoring programs on fish over the years. We are also thankful for additional support from Willem Dekker on validation and analyses of trawl data and for the valuable comments from two anonymous referees.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aquatic Resources, Institute of Freshwater Research, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Stångholmsvägen 2, 17983, Uppsala, Sweden

    Alfred Sandström, Anders Asp, Thomas Axenrot, Anders Kinnerbäck, Henrik Ragnarsson-Stabo & Kerstin Holmgren

  2. Brockmann Geomatics Sweden AB, Torshamnsgatan 39, 164 40, Kista, Sweden

    Petra Philipson

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  1. Alfred Sandström
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  7. Kerstin Holmgren
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Correspondence to Alfred Sandström.

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Guest editors: Paula Kankaala, Tiina Nõges, Martti Rask, Dietmar Straile & Arkady Yu. Terzhevik / European Large Lakes IV. Ecosystem Services and Management in a Changing World

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Sandström, A., Philipson, P., Asp, A. et al. Assessing the potential of remote sensing-derived water quality data to explain variations in fish assemblages and to support fish status assessments in large lakes. Hydrobiologia 780, 71–84 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-016-2784-9

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