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Method-integrated fish assemblage structure at two spatial scales along a free-flowing stretch of the Austrian Danube

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Abstract

Fish assemblages in large rivers are highly diverse communities. However, a single method to describe these complex systems adequately is not available as of yet. In this paper we propose a combination of normalized catch-per-unit-effort data of three fish sampling methods, thus providing a more inclusive representation of the overall assemblage. We investigate fish species occurrence and abundance in a survey at three consecutive sites in the free-flowing main channel of the Austrian Danube east of Vienna. Using boat and wading electrofishing, as well as longline fishing we collected data in four mesohabitats at each site. We analysed richness, assemblage structure and abundance of single species and tested site and mesohabitat as differentiating forces on the fish assemblage structure, applying PERMANOVA and NMDS. The investigated sites are populated by a species-rich fish assemblage, of which we collected a total of 36 species. The composition of the assemblage was rather consistent except for the occasional occurrence of rare species. At the smaller mesohabitat scale, however, the assemblages differed considerably and hydromorphological conditions were apparently the major structuring force. Overall, the combination of methods considerably improves the assessment across sites and mesohabitats and contributes to our understanding of large river fish assemblages.

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Acknowledgments

The data we refer to was collected in the framework of the § 27 project FA5720061 [TP: Voruntersuchungen 2006 für den Naturversuch Bad Deutsch Altenburg (Pre-Monitoring) im Rahmen des Flussbaulichen Gesamtprojektes Donau östlich von Wien] commissioned by the viadonau—Österreichische Wasserstraßengesellschaft. The eastern facility of the viadonau generously allocated their infrastructure (use of harbour and boat mooring). We would also like to thank the project staff for their work during sampling and Michael Stachowitsch and Tim Kaminskas for the linguistic correction of the manuscript.

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  1. Department of Limnology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Franz Loisl, Gabriel Singer & Hubert Keckeis

  2. WasserCluster Biologische Station GmbH, Dr. Carl-Kupelwieser-Promenade 5, 3293, Lunz am See, Austria

    Gabriel Singer

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  1. Franz Loisl
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Correspondence to Franz Loisl.

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Guest editors: H. Habersack, S. Muhar & H. Waidbacher / Impact of human activities on biodiversity of large rivers

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Loisl, F., Singer, G. & Keckeis, H. Method-integrated fish assemblage structure at two spatial scales along a free-flowing stretch of the Austrian Danube. Hydrobiologia 729, 77–94 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-013-1588-4

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