Abstract
As a consequence of the construction of the A-15 highway between 1991 and 1995, some modifications affecting the Larraun River (Navarra, North of Spain) were made. One of the most important effects was the channelization of a section of the river in the middle zone. Fish were caught by electrofishing in August of 1996 in the channelized reach, as well as in non-modified stretches upstream and downstream. Physical and chemical variables and shelter availability were also analyzed. The captured fish were measured (total length) and released into the river. We calculated the density, biomass, length distribution and diversity, comparing the obtained results from the different stretches. The number of species was higher in the lower zones of the river and diversity increased progressively downstream. The fish density in the channelized section was slightly lower than in the other two points. Also biomass in the channelized section was about a factor of 10 smaller than the calculated biomass in unaltered points. Moreover, in comparison with the unaltered sections of the river, in the channelized area a major decrease in the presence of fish larger than 150 mm was detected. The low shelter availability in the channelized section, lack of bank vegetation and alterations in the substratum could explain the observed variations in the length distribution, biomass and the lower value of the density of European minnow, Phoxinus phoxinus (Linnaeus, 1758).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A. B. A. Boxal L. Maltby (1997) ArticleTitleThe effects of motorway runoff on freshwater ecosystems: 3. Toxicant confirmation Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 33 9–16 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s002449900216 Occurrence Handle9216864
M. J. Collares-Pereira M. F. Magalhaes A. M. Geraldes M. M. Coelho (1995) ArticleTitleRiparian ecotones and spatial variation of fish assemblages in Portuguese lowland streams Hydrobiologia 303 93–101
G. H. Copp T. A. Bennetts (1996) ArticleTitleShort-term effects of removing riparian and instream cover on barbel (Barbus barbus) and other fish populations in a stretch of English chalk stream Folia Zoologica 45 283–288
R. A. Cunjak (1996) ArticleTitleWinter habitat of selected stream fishes and potential impacts from land-use activity Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 53 IssueIDSuppl. 1 267–282
A. G. Eklov L. A. Greenberg H. Kristiansen (1994) ArticleTitleThe effect of depth on the interaction between perch (Perca fluviatilis) and minnow (Phoxinus phoxinus) Ecology of Freshwater Fish 3 1–8
K. D. Fausch R. G. Bramblett (1991) ArticleTitleDisturbance and fish communities in intermitent tributaries of a western Great Plains river Copeia 1991 659–674
K. D. Fausch T. G. Northcote (1992) ArticleTitleLarge woody debris and salmonid habitat in a small coastal British Columbia stream Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 49 682–693
García De Jalón, D., Mayo, M., Hervella, F., Mingo, A. 1994. Estudio de las poblaciones trucheras de los ríos Tajo, Gallo, Hoz Seca y Cabrillas. Servicio Provincial de Montes, Caza y Pesca de Guadalajara. Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha.
García De Jalón D. & G. Schmidt, 1995. Manual práctico para la gestión sostenible de la pesca fluvial. Ed. AEMS.
J. Heggenes (1988) ArticleTitlePhysical habitat selection by brown trout (Salmo trutta) in riverine systems Nordic Journal of Freshwater Research 64 74–90
M. Huet (1949) ArticleTitleAperçu des relations entre la pente et les populations piscicoles des eaux courantes Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Hydrologie 11 333–351
E. B. D. Jones G. S. Helfman J. O. Harper P. V. Bolstad (1999) ArticleTitleEffects of riparian forest removal on fish assemblages in Southern Appalachian streams Conservation Biology 13 1454–1465
M. Jungwirth S. Muhar S. Schmutz (1995) ArticleTitleThe effects of recreated instream and ecotone structures on the fish fauna of an epipotamal river Hydrobiologia 303 195–206
P. Jurajda (1995) ArticleTitleEffect of channelization and regulation on fish recruitment in a flood plain river Regulated Rivers: Research & Management 10 207–215
G. J. A. Kennedy D. Cragg-Hine C. D. Strange D. A. Stewart (1983) ArticleTitleThe effects of a land drainage scheme on the salmonid populations of the river Camowen, Co Tyrone. Fisheries Management 14 1–16
G. J. A. Kennedy C. D. Strange (1982) ArticleTitleThe distribution of salmonids in upland streams in relation to depth and gradient Journal of Fish Biology 20 579–591
Lelek, A., 1974. Towards a method of evaluation of fish populations in streams based on successive fish removals. Proceedings Aviemore Symposium, FAO. EIFAC/74/Symp-38: 2–8.
J. Lobón-Cerviá (1991) Dinámica de poblaciones de peces en ríos Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC Madrid
S. Lusk K. Halacka (1995) ArticleTitleThe river bottom and fish populations in stream. Folia Facultatis Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Masarykianae Brunensis Biologia 91 95–100
Lyons J. 1992. Using the index of biotic integrity to measure environmental quality in warmwater streams of Wisconsin. General Technical Report NC-149. U.S. Dept. Agriculture, Forest Service, North Central Forest Experimental Station.
A. R. Mackenzie L. Greenberg (1998) ArticleTitleThe influence of instream cover and predation risk on macrohabitat selection of stone loach Barbatula barbatula (L.) Ecology of Freshwater Fish 7 87–94
R. H. K. Mann (1988) ArticleTitleFish and fisheries of regulated rivers in␣the UK Regulated Rivers: Research & Management 2 411–424
S. Mastrorillo F. Dauba A. Beland (1996) ArticleTitleMicrohabitat use by minnow, gudgeon and stone loach in three rivers in Southwestern France Annales de Limnologie 32 185–195
R. Miranda F. Campos C. García-Fresca J. Oscoz M. C. Escala J. M. Lekuona (1999) ArticleTitleDistribución de sexos del piscardo (Phoxinus phoxinus) durante la época reproductora en un río del norte de España Ecologia 13 303–309
Oscoz J., F. Campos, & M.C. Escala, in Press. Weight–length relationships of some fish species of the Iberian Peninsula. Journal of Applied Ichthyology.
M. H. Paller (2002) ArticleTitleTemporal variability in fish assemblages from disturbed and undisturbed streams Journal of Aquatic Ecosystems Stress and Recovery 9 149–158
T. Penczak (1995) ArticleTitleEffects of removal and regeneration of bankside vegetation on fish populations dynamics in the Warta River, Poland Hydrobiologia 303 207–210
T. Penczak L. G. Gomes (2000) ArticleTitleImpact of engineering on fish diversity and community structure in the Gwda river basin, north Poland Polskie Archiwum Hydrobiologia 47 131–141
W. S. Platts W. F. Megahan G. Minshall (1983) Methods for evaluating stream, riparian and biotic conditions Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station Odgen, USA
W. S. Platts R. L. Nelson (1989) ArticleTitleStream canopy and its relationship to salmonid biomass in the intermountain west North-American Journal of Fisheries Management 9 446–457
I. Poudevigne D. Alard R. S. E. W. Leuven P. H. Nienhuis (2002) ArticleTitleA systems approach to river restoration: a case study in the lower Seine valley, France River Research and Applications 18 239–247
A. J. P. Raat (2001) ArticleTitleEcological rehabilitation on the Dutch part of the river Rhine with special attention to the fish Regulated Rivers: Research & Management 17 131–144
Saínz de los Terreros M. 2002. Estudio de los efectos de los dragados y canalizaciones en los macroinvertebrados bentónicos y en los peces en río navarros. Ph.D. Thesis, Polytechnic University of Madrid.
I. J. Schlosser (1982) ArticleTitleTrophic structure, reproductive success, and growth rate of fishes in a natural and modified headwater stream Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 39 968–978
I. J. Schlosser (1991) ArticleTitleStream fish ecology: a landscape perspective BioScience 41 704–712
G. A. F. Seber E. D. LeCren (1967) ArticleTitleEstimating population parameters from catches large relative to the population Journal of Animal Ecology 36 631–643
F. D. Shields S. S. Knight C. M. Cooper (1998) ArticleTitleRehabilitation of aquatic habitats in warmwater streams damaged by channel incision in Mississippi Hydrobiologia 382 63–86
H. E. Simpson (1949) ArticleTitleMeasurement of diversity Nature 163 668
M. C. VanZyllDe Jong I. G. Cowx D. A. Scruton (1997) ArticleTitleAn evaluation of instream habitat restoration techniques on salmonid populations in a Newfoundland stream Regulated Rivers: Research & Management 13 603–614
D. E. Walling B. W. Webb (1992) Water quality I. Phisical characteristics P. Calow G. E. Petts (Eds) The River Handbook (I) Blackwell Scientific Publications Oxford 48–72
J. V. Ward K. Tockner U. Uehlinger F. Malard (2001) ArticleTitleUnderstanding natural patterns and processes in river corridors as the basis for effective river restoration Regulated Rivers: Research & Management 17 331–323
R. B. Williamson R. K. Smith J. M. Quinn (1992) ArticleTitleEffects of riparian grazing and channelisation on streams in Southland, New Zealand. 1. Channel form and stability New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 26 241–258
U. Zika A. Peter (2002) ArticleTitleThe introduction of woody debris into a channelized stream: effect on trout populations and habitat River Research and Applications 18 355–366
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Oscoz, J., Leunda, P.M., Miranda, R. et al. River channelization effects on fish population structure in the Larraun river (Northern Spain). Hydrobiologia 543, 191–198 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-004-7422-2
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-004-7422-2