Modeling freshwater fish distributions using multiscale landscape data: A case study of six narrow range endemics

Species distribution models (SDMs) have become integral tools in scientific research and conservation planning. Despite progress in the assessment of various statistical models for use in SDMs, little has been done in way of evaluating appropriate ecological models. In this paper, we evaluate the multiscale filter framework as a suitable theoretical model for predicting freshwater fish distributions in the upper Green River system (Ohio River drainage), USA. The spatial distributions of six fishes with contrasting biogeographies were modeled using boosted regression trees and multiscale landscape data. Species biogeography did not appear to affect predictive performance and all models performed well statistically with receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (AUC) ranging from 0.87 to 0.98. Predictive maps show accurate estimations of ranges for five of six species based on historical collections. The relative influence of each type of environmental feature and spatial scale varied markedly with between species. A hierarchical effect was detected for narrowly distributed species. These species were highly influenced by soil composition at larger spatial scales and land use/land cover (LULC) patterns at more proximal scales. Conversely, LULC pattern was the most influential feature for widely distributed at all spatial scales. Using multiscale data capable of capturing hierarchical landscape influences allowed production of accurate predictive models and provided further insight into factors controlling freshwater fish distributions.     

Assessment of impacts of invasive fishes on the food web structure and ecosystem properties of a tropical reservoir in India

A network model of trophic interactions in a tropical reservoir in India was developed with the objective to quantify matter and energy flows between system components and to study the impact of invasive fishes on the ecosystem. Structure of flows and their distribution within and between trophic levels were analysed by aggregating single flows into combined flows for discrete trophic levels. The trophic flows primarily occurred in the first four trophic level (TL) and the food web structure in this reservoir ecosystem was characterized by the dominance of low TL organisms, with the highest TL of only 3.57 for the top predator. Highest system omnivory index (SOI) was observed for indigenous catfishes (0.422), followed by the exotic fish Mozambique Tilapia (0.402). Nile Tilapia and Pearl spots show the highest niche overlap which suggests high competition for similar resources. The mixed trophic impact routine reveals that an increase in the abundance of the African catfish would negatively impact almost all fish groups such as Indian major carps, Pearl spots, indigenous catfishes and Tilapines. The other invasive fish Mozambique Tilapia adversely affects the indigenous catfishes. The most interesting observation in this study is that the most dominant invasive fish in this reservoir, the Nile Tilapia does not negatively impact any of the fish groups. In fact it positively impacts the Indian major carps. The direct and indirect effects of predation between system components (i.e. fish, invertebrates, phytoplankton and detritus) are quantitatively described and the possible influence and role in the ecosystem's functioning of the invasive fish species are discussed.     

黄海常见鱼类体内汞含量的种内和种间差异研究

海洋鱼类体内的汞含量及其影响因素是研究汞在海洋生态系统中生物放大效应的关键问题.为探明黄海鱼类体内汞含量的种内差异和种间差异,于2012年8~10月采集了9种共164条常见经济野生鱼类,用直接测汞仪测定了鱼体肌肉中的汞含量(总汞),同时测量了每个样品的体长、体重,并分析了不同种鱼类的食性和营养级.164条鱼类样品肌肉中汞含量(以干重计)变化范围为0.025~0.526μg·g-1,平均值为(0.124±0.096)μg·g-1.同一种鱼类,汞含量与体长、体重显著正相关.营养级大于2.8的捕食性鱼类体内汞含量高于营养级小于2.8的滤食性鱼类.此外,体重增长快的鱼类在生长稀释作用下,肌肉中的汞含量也较低.结果表明,体长、体重是影响黄海常见鱼类体内汞含量种内差异的重要因素,食性、营养级水平和体重增长速率的差异是影响黄海常见鱼类汞生物累积种间差异的重要因素.     

渤海湾海域10种鱼类中二（口恶）英类及指示性多氯联苯的污染特征研究及风险评价

多氯联苯(PCBs)具有高毒性和生物蓄积性,是列入公约优先控制的持久性有机污染物之一.多氯联苯在水生食物链中蓄积,同时人类食用鱼肉会对人体健康产生一定影响.近渤海地区具有焚烧、钢铁冶炼及水泥等PCBs非故意潜在排放源,而对此区域PCBs产生的环境污染及造成的人体健康效应的研究较少.本研究利用高分辨气相色谱/高分辨质谱(HRGC/HRMS)首次对近渤海地区10种不同鱼类中的二噁英类多氯联苯(dl-PCBs)和指示性PCBs进行了分析.12种dl-PCBs的含量(以湿重计)为28.9~1067.6 pg·g-1,其中PCB-118和PCB-105是主要贡献单体,贡献率分别是41%~56%和15%~21%.指示性PCBs的浓度范围是185.5~8371.7 pg·g-1,其中PCB-153和PCB-138是主要的贡献单体,贡献率分别是27%和22%.与国内外其他海域的研究相比,近渤海区海水鱼中PCBs残留量处于较低水平,对人体产生健康风险比较小.     

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF STREAM CHANNELIZATION1

ABSTRACT Geologic, engineering, and biological investigations of six Pennsylvania coldwater streams were undertaken to determine the impact of channel modifications instituted both prior to and following Hurricane Agnes. The primary focus of the study was on the ecological changes brought about by stream channelization. No long-term deleterious effects on water quality, attached algae, benthic fauna, or forage fish populations were found. Trout, however, were found to be greater in numbers and weight in natural than in channelized stream reaches. Lack of suitable physical habitat appears to be the primary cause of reduced trout populations in stream reaches which have been channelized.     

Heavy metal analysis in fish‐kill cases in rivers in Guipuzcoa (Spain)∗

Some fish‐kills in Basque rivers were studied by gill tissue analysis: Samples were wet digested and the solution was analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy. In three cases, the cause was linked to the effluents of an aluminium anodizing factory, cyanide caused one kill and copper wastes were related with another. Three cases were attributed to natural reasons and one of the kills was of unknown origin.     

洱海表层沉积物与鱼体中四溴双酚A的环境暴露水平

应用UPLC-MS-MS,对洱海表层沉积物和5种鱼类(白鲢、鲤鱼、鲫鱼、白条鱼和太湖短吻银鱼)样品中TBBPA(四溴双酚A)的质量分数进行了测定. 结果表明,洱海表层沉积物中w(TBBPA) (以干质量计,下同)为21.06~52.72ng/g,平均值为37.72ng/g,呈西部、南部和北部湖区明显高于中部和东部湖区的分布特征,其分布受所处区域的经济发展水平和生活生产状态等影响. 白鲢、鲤鱼、鲫鱼、白条鱼和太湖短吻银鱼肌肉中w(TBBPA)平均值分别为13.53、8.20、8.86、7.55和10.87ng/g,w(TBBPA)与鱼的体长度特征无关,可能与鱼类的食性、所处营养级有关. 在鱼体的内脏器官中,肾脏中w(TBBPA)最高,平均值为7.64ng/g;其次为鳃和肝脏,分别为7.07和5.68ng/g;卵巢和精巢中没有检测到TBBPA的存在. 与国内其他地区相比,洱海表层沉积物中w(TBBPA)呈较低水平,鱼体中w(TBBPA)为中等水平.      

Predicting barrier passage and habitat suitability for migratory fish species

Fish migrate to spawn, feed, seek refuge from predators, and escape harmful environmental conditions. The success of upstream migration is limited by the presence of barriers that can impede the passage of fish. We used a spatially explicit modeling strategy to examine the effects of barriers on passage for 21 native and non-native migratory fish species and the amount of suitable habitat blocked for each species. Spatially derived physical parameter estimates and literature based fish capabilities and tolerances were used to predict fish passage success and habitat suitability. Both the fish passage and the habitat suitability models accurately predicted fish presence above barriers for most common, non-stocked species. The fish passage model predicted that barriers greater than or equal to 6 m block all migratory species. Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) was expected to be blocked the least. The habitat suitability model predicted that low gradient streams with intact habitat quality were likely to support the highest number of fish species. The fish passage and habitat suitability models were intended to be used by environmental managers as strategy development tools to prioritize candidate dams for field assessment and make decisions regarding the management of migratory fish populations.     

Assessment of heavy metal accumulation in freshwater fish of Dongting Lake, China: Effects of feeding habits, habitat preferences and body size

We measured the concentrations of Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and Hg, and the stable isotope ratios( δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) in 87 fish samples within 12 economic fish species collected from the Dongting Lake, the second largest freshwater lake in China. With few exceptions in concentration of Cr, most of fish species showed lower concentrations of the 8 metals than legislation thresholds. Piscivorous fishes had significantly higher values of δ¹⁵N（possessing higher trophic...