The importance of surrogate habitats in lowland river floodplains for fish community composition

0332154 - ÚBO 2010 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Ryšavá-Nováková, Michaela - Ondračková, Markéta - Jurajda, Pavel
The importance of surrogate habitats in lowland river floodplains for fish community composition.
Fisheries Management and Ecology. Roč. 16, č. 6 (2009), s. 468-477. ISSN 0969-997X. E-ISSN 1365-2400
R&D Projects: GA MŠMT LC522
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60930519
Keywords : fish community * fish recruitment * flood * rehabilitation * substitute habitats
Subject RIV: EH - Ecology, Behaviour
Impact factor: 1.264, year: 2009

Fish community structure and reproduction success in three borrow pits located in the channelised floodplain of the River Dyje, Czech Republic were studied over 3 years. Short-term floods supported the spawning of phytophilic and phyto-lithophilic species; batch spawners capitalised on late summer flood conditions. The highest species richness of 0+ juvenile fishes occurred at sites with extended periods of flooding, at least for 2 months. Flooded vegetation was inhabited mainly by juvenile cyprinids, while 0+ percids were distributed evenly along the littoral zone. Shoreline remained bare even during higher water levels before complete inundation because of the steep banks, and therefore fish were not able to benefit from higher water levels. Borrow pits appear to function as a substitute habitat for fish and their reproduction, but only if they are properly constructed with shallow areas providing appropriate nursing conditions for 0+ fish growth and survival
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0177484