Synopsis
Biotic interactions, such as competition and predation, and abiotic events, such as floods, both have important consequences for organisms inhabiting warmwater streams. Empirical studies can lead to better understanding of how these factors interact to affect distinct life history intervals of stream fishes. Survival of eggs, embryos and larvae in nests of longear sunfishLepomis megalotis was monitored in a section of Jordan Creek for four years. During two years characterized by low, relatively stable flow, nest failures could be attributed to biotic interactions. During two years with more variable flow, most brood losses occurred during floods. Flooding led to nest desertion and loss of offspring regardless of nest location. The number of nests constructed tended to be lower during years with more variable flow. The proportion of nests with successful broods did not differ between colonial and solitary nests. Variation in flow regime modifies the importance of biotic effects on survival of early life history intervals of longear sunfish.
Similar content being viewed by others
References cited
Angermeier, P & I.J. Schlosser. 1989. Species-area relationships for stream fishes. Ecology 70: 1450–1462.
Bietz, B.F. 1981. Habitat availability, social attraction and nest distribution patterns in longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis peltastes). Env. Biol. Fish. 6: 193–200.
Breder, C.M. 1936. The reproductive habits of the North American sunfishes (family Centrarchidae). Zoologica 21: 1–47.
Harvey, B.C. 1987. Susceptibility of young-of-the-year fishes to downstream displacement by flooding. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 116: 851–855.
Harvey, B.C. 1991. Interaction of abiotic and biotic factors influences larval fish survival in an Oklahoma stream. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 48: 1476–1480.
Horwitz, R.J. 1978. Temporal variability patterns and the distributional patterns of stream fishes. Ecol. Monog. 48: 307–321.
Jennings, M.J. 1991. Sexual selection, reproductive strategies, and genetic variation in the longear sunfish (Lepomis megalotis). Ph.D. Dissertation, University of Illinois, Urbana. 169 pp.
Jennings, M.J. & D.P. Philipp. 1992a. Female choice and male competition in longear sunfish. Behavioral Ecology 3: 84–94.
Jennings, M.J. & D.P. Philipp. 1992b. Reproductive investment and somatic growth rates in longear sunfish. Env. Biol. Fish. 35: 257–271.
Karr, J.R., M. Dionne & I.J. Schlosser, 1992. Bottom-up versus top-down regulation of vertebrate populations: lessons from birds and fish. pp. 243–286.In: M.D. Hunter T. Ohgushi & P.W. Price(ed.) Effects of Resource Distribution on Animal-Plant Interactions, Academic Press, San Diego.
Larimore, R.W, W.F. Childers & C. Heckrotte. 1959. Destruction and re-establishment of stream fish and invertebrates affected by drought. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 88: 261–285.
Larimore, R.W. & M.J. Duever. 1968. Effects of temperature acclimation on the swimming ability of smallmouth bass fry. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 97: 175–184.
Menge, B.A. & J.D. Sutherland. 1987. Community regulation: variation in disturbance, competition and predation in relation to environmental stress and recruitment. Amer. Nat. 30: 730–757.
Noltie, D.B. & M.H.A. Keenleyside. 1986.
Osborne, L.L. & M.J. Wiley. 1992. Influence of tributary spatial position on the structure of warmwater fish communities. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 49: 671–681.
Pearsons, T.N., H.W. Li & G.A. Lamberti. 1992. Influence of habitat complexity on resistance to flooding and resilience of stream fish assemblages. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 121: 427–436.
Schlosser, I.J. 1982. Fish community structure and function along two habitat gradients in a headwater stream. Ecol. Monogr. 52: 395–414.
Seegrist, D.W. & R. Gard. 1972. Effects of floods on trout in Sagehen Creek, California. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 101: 478–482.
Winemiller, K.O. & D.H. Taylor. 1982. Smallmouth bass nesting behavior and nest site selection in a small Ohio stream. Ohio J. Sci. 82: 266–273.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jennings, M.J., Philipp, D.P. Biotic and abiotic factors affecting survival of early life history intervals of a stream-dwelling sunfish. Environ Biol Fish 39, 153–159 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004932
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004932