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Fish Assemblage Structure Under Variable Environmental Conditions in the Ouachita Mountains

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Abstract - Spatial and temporal variability of fish assemblages in Ouachita Mountain streams, Arkansas, were examined for association with stream size and flow variability. Fishes and habitat were sampled quarterly for four years at 12 sites (144 samples) in the Ouachita Mountains Ecosystem Management Research Project, Phase III watersheds. Detrended and Canonical Correspondence analyses were used to describe spatial and temporal patterns. Considerable spatial and temporal variability in fish assemblage structure was observed among sites. Across all sites and samples, assemblage variability was significantly associated with stream size and flow regime. The flow regime of the Little Glazypeau system differed from that of the Alum Fork system. Differences in flow regime were significantly associated with differences in fish assemblages across sites with trenchant differences noted between the Little Glazypeau and Alum Fork systems. The two systems are historically distinct and reflect large-scale differences in geomorphology, speciation, extinction, and dispersal.

Parent Publication

Citation

Taylor, Christopher M.; Williams, Lance R.; Fiorillo,Riccardo A.; Thomas, R. Brent; Warren, Melvin L., Jr. 2004. Fish Assemblage Structure Under Variable Environmental Conditions in the Ouachita Mountains. Gen. Tech. Rep. SRS-74. Asheville, NC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Southern Research Station. pp. 239-245
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/6576