SHORT-TERM RECOLONIZATION BY FISHES OF EXPERIMENTALLY DEFAUNATED POOLS OF A COASTAL-PLAIN STREAM

Citation
Al. Sheldon et Gk. Meffe, SHORT-TERM RECOLONIZATION BY FISHES OF EXPERIMENTALLY DEFAUNATED POOLS OF A COASTAL-PLAIN STREAM, Copeia, (4), 1995, pp. 828-837
Citations number
47
Categorie Soggetti
Zoology
Journal title
CopeiaACNP
ISSN journal
00458511
Issue
4
Year of publication
1995
Pages
828 - 837
Database
ISI
SICI code
0045-8511(1995):4<828:SRBFOE>2.0.ZU;2-0
Abstract
Fishes were removed from pools in a South Carolina stream to observe s ubsequent recolonization patterns and development of community structu re. Recolonization, measured between two and 32 days, was rapid; and d ownstream sites attained preexperimental density, richness, and propor tional composition by day 32. However, recovery of upstream sites was incomplete in that time. Species colonized in proportion to abundance, and rare species returned later; both of these results are interprete d as simple proportional sampling of a mobile fauna. In a longer exper iment, defaunated pools did not differ from controls; and density, ric hness, and composition showed no temporal trend over 31-63 days. Movem ent, measured by directional trapping, was dominated by spawning yello wfin shiners (Notropis lutipinnis), but 16 of 26 species present were trapped, demonstrating active movement by much of the fauna. Rapid rec olonization of defaunated areas is plausibly explained by a combinatio n of high mobility and equilibrium with source populations.