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Ecoregional, catchment, and reach-scale environmental factors shape functional-trait structure of stream fish assemblages

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Abstract

Patterns of association between functional traits and environmental gradients can improve understanding of species assemblage structure from local to regional scales, and therefore may be useful for natural resource management. We measured functional traits related to trophic ecology, habitat use, and life-history strategies of fishes and examined their associations with environmental factors in the Brazos and Trinity River basins in Central Texas. We also examined the relationship between functional diversity of fish assemblages and indices of biotic integrity and habitat quality. Environmental characteristics at the local reach and catchment scales, including the extent of forested area in the watershed, amount of land developed for urban and agricultural uses, stream size, substrate characteristics, and availability of riffle and pool habitats, were significantly associated with functional trait composition of fish assemblages. Broad physiographic differences between ecoregions also had a large influence on taxonomic and functional assemblage structure. In general, the volume of functional trait space occupied by fish assemblages was greatest in streams with high habitat quality scores located within landscapes having less alteration from agriculture and urban development. Distributions of functional traits in fish assemblages might provide an additional basis for assessment of stream condition in relation to environmental impacts.

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Acknowledgments

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality funded this project (Contract 582–6-80304), and M. Fisher and G. Easley provided valuable advice and logistical support. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department provided collecting permits and Texas Agrilife Research gave administrative support. S. Zeug, D. Hoeinghaus, A. Hoeinghaus, J. V. Montoya, C. Robertson, K. Bulla, C. Montana, S. B. Correa, B. Bachmeyer, W. Weise, Z. Johnson, P. Sims, C. Stanley, J. Grimm, D. Lang, A. Flores, S. Sumpaongoen, E. Hooser, B. Kirchner, and J. Back helped to collect field data. AAP was also supported by the Texas A&M Tom Slick Doctoral Research Fellowship.

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  1. Allison A. Pease

    Present address: Department of Natural Resources Management, Texas Tech University, Box 42125, Lubbock, TX, 79409-2125, USA

  2. Jason M. Taylor

    Present address: Water Quality and Ecology Research Unit, National Sedimentation Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, 598 McElroy Drive, Oxford, MS, 38655, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, 2258 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-2258, USA

    Allison A. Pease & Kirk O. Winemiller

  2. Department of Biology, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, One Bear Place 97388, Waco, TX 76798-7388, USA

    Jason M. Taylor & Ryan S. King

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Correspondence to Allison A. Pease.

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10750_2015_2235_MOESM1_ESM.docx

Appendix: Ordination of RLQ scores of environmental variables (left) and functional traits (right) of fish species for stream reaches in a the Cross Timbers, b Texas Blackland Prairies, and c East Central Texas Plains ecoregions. See Tables 1, 2, and 3 for environmental variables and functional traits that correspond to abbreviations (DOCX 52 kb)

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Pease, A.A., Taylor, J.M., Winemiller, K.O. et al. Ecoregional, catchment, and reach-scale environmental factors shape functional-trait structure of stream fish assemblages. Hydrobiologia 753, 265–283 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-015-2235-z

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