Toward Improved Understanding of Streamflow Effects on Freshwater Fishes
Abstract
Understanding the effects of hydrology on fish populations is essential to managing for native fish conservation. However, despite decades of research illustrating streamflow influences on fish habitat, reproduction, and survival, biologists remain challenged when tasked with predicting how fish populations will respond to changes in flow regimes. This uncertainty stems from insufficient understanding of the context‐dependent mechanisms underlying fish responses to, for example, periods of reduced flow or altered frequency of high‐flow events. We aim to address this gap by drawing on previous research to hypothesize mechanisms by which low and high flows influence fish populations and communities, identifying challenges that stem from data limitations and ecological complexity, and outlining research directions that can advance an empirical basis for prediction. Focusing flow ecology research on testing and refining mechanistic hypotheses can help narrow management uncertainties and better support species conservation in changing flow regimes.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Mar 09, 2022
- Source ID
- 10.1002/fsh.10731
Entities
People
- Allison Roy
- Annika W. Walters
- Charles H. Luce
- Daren M. Carlisle
- David L. Propst
- Edward S. Stowe
- Elise Irwin
- Emmanuel A Frimpong
- Julian D. Olden
- Keith B. Gido
- Kevin R. Bestgen
- Laura Rack
- Mary C. Freeman
- Meryl C. Mims
- N. LeRoy Poff
- Nathan R. Franssen
- S. Kyle McKay
- Seth J. Wenger
- Yoichiro Kanno
Organizations
- Colorado State University
- Engineer Research and Development Center
- Kansas State University
- United States Army Corps of Engineers
- United States Fish and Wildlife Service
- United States Forest Service
- University of Canberra
- University of Georgia
- University of Massachusetts
- University of New Mexico
- University of Washington
- University of Wyoming
- Virginia Tech