Correlations Between Stream Correlations Between Stream Order and Diversity of Fishes Order and Diversity of Fishes

in the Blackburn Fork in the Blackburn Fork Drainage, Tn.Drainage, Tn.

Michael H. GrafMichael H. GrafUndergraduate Student Undergraduate Student

Fisheries Biology Concentration,Fisheries Biology Concentration,Department of Biology, Tennessee Tech.Department of Biology, Tennessee Tech.

Univiversity , Cookeville, TN 38505Univiversity , Cookeville, TN 38505

IntroductionIntroduction

In 1957, Arthur Newell Strahler was the In 1957, Arthur Newell Strahler was the first person to publish a paper that defined first person to publish a paper that defined stream size based on a hierarchy of its stream size based on a hierarchy of its tributaries.tributaries.

He was the person who coined the term He was the person who coined the term “stream order” to classify streams. “stream order” to classify streams.

IntroductionIntroduction

Stream Order (Strahler 1957) has been Stream Order (Strahler 1957) has been used to describe some variations in used to describe some variations in stream fish assemblages, and several stream fish assemblages, and several authors have observed a strong authors have observed a strong association between stream order and fish association between stream order and fish species richness (Smith and Kraft 2005).species richness (Smith and Kraft 2005).

IntroductionIntroduction

As biotic and abiotic stream characteristics As biotic and abiotic stream characteristics change from low-order headwater streams change from low-order headwater streams to high-order downstream locations, the to high-order downstream locations, the distribution and abundance of fish species distribution and abundance of fish species may also change (Matthews and Robinson may also change (Matthews and Robinson 1998).1998).

Diagram of Strahler’s Stream OrderDiagram of Strahler’s Stream Order

Strahler’s Stream OrderStrahler’s Stream Order

11stst order streams are headwater streams order streams are headwater streams

22ndnd order occur at the confluence of two 1 order occur at the confluence of two 1stst order order streamsstreams

33rdrd order occur at the confluence of two 2 order occur at the confluence of two 2ndnd order order streamsstreams

The order can only increase if two streams of the The order can only increase if two streams of the same order intersect. same order intersect.

Streams of lower order joining a higher order Streams of lower order joining a higher order stream do not change the order of the higher stream do not change the order of the higher stream. stream.

Objective/HypothesisObjective/Hypothesis

Objective – The objective of the Objective – The objective of the experiment was to determine if stream experiment was to determine if stream order had an effect on the diversity of order had an effect on the diversity of stream fishes.stream fishes.

Hypothesis – Stream order will have an Hypothesis – Stream order will have an effect on diversity of fish populations.effect on diversity of fish populations.

Method of CollectionMethod of Collection

Stream orders of 2 and 4 were used as the test, Stream orders of 2 and 4 were used as the test, while a third order stream was used as the while a third order stream was used as the control. control.

Seining was done to sample the fish species in Seining was done to sample the fish species in both the test and control streams. both the test and control streams.

For both the control and test streams, a section For both the control and test streams, a section 100 meters (328.08 ft) long was marked off and 100 meters (328.08 ft) long was marked off and sampled using a 10 foot (3.048 meter) seine. sampled using a 10 foot (3.048 meter) seine.

MaterialsMaterials

10 Foot (3.048 meter) seine10 Foot (3.048 meter) seine 5 Gallon (18.93 liter) buckets5 Gallon (18.93 liter) buckets Dip NetDip Net Marking tapeMarking tape Tape measureTape measure Dichotomous Key (Dichotomous Key (Fishes of Fishes of

TennesseeTennessee by Etnier and by Etnier and Starnes) Starnes)

Data FormData Form

Third Order Sample SiteThird Order Sample Site

The The controlcontrol stream location was where stream location was where Gainsboro Grade crosses the Blackburn Fork. Gainsboro Grade crosses the Blackburn Fork.

Fourth Order Sample SiteFourth Order Sample Site

This site is where Cummings Mill Rd. crosses This site is where Cummings Mill Rd. crosses the Blackburn Fork.the Blackburn Fork.

It is a Fourth order stream that I used as test. It is a Fourth order stream that I used as test.

Second Order Sample SiteSecond Order Sample Site

This is the Second This is the Second Order test location.Order test location.

It is located where It is located where Gainsboro Grade Gainsboro Grade crosses Little Creekcrosses Little Creek

First Order StreamFirst Order Stream(Location not sampled)(Location not sampled)

Results Results The table below lists the species that were detected at The table below lists the species that were detected at

the sample sites and the overall richness.the sample sites and the overall richness. The site with the greatest diversity was the third order The site with the greatest diversity was the third order

stream, with a total of nine species found. stream, with a total of nine species found. I failed to accept the hypothesis,I failed to accept the hypothesis,

DiscussionDiscussion

There could be a number of reasons the There could be a number of reasons the results did not prove the hypothesis. results did not prove the hypothesis.

The local habitat of the three locations The local habitat of the three locations varied greatly between the sides and was varied greatly between the sides and was probably of much more significance that probably of much more significance that the order of the stream. the order of the stream.

DiscussionDiscussion The third order most definitely had the most suitable The third order most definitely had the most suitable

habitat for fish when compared to the other two sites. habitat for fish when compared to the other two sites. The amount of physical structure is closely related to the The amount of physical structure is closely related to the abundance of certain species of fish (Orth and White abundance of certain species of fish (Orth and White 1999). The complexity of physical habitats is often 1999). The complexity of physical habitats is often correlated with diversity of fishes and resilience of fish correlated with diversity of fishes and resilience of fish assemblages (Pearsons et al. 1992). This site had the assemblages (Pearsons et al. 1992). This site had the most structure such as submerged tree limbs, boulders, most structure such as submerged tree limbs, boulders, and root wads along the bank, which may account for and root wads along the bank, which may account for why it had the highest diversity. It may have also had why it had the highest diversity. It may have also had the most suitable spawning habitat. Many stream fish the most suitable spawning habitat. Many stream fish spawn over or in rock material of special sizes (Shirvell spawn over or in rock material of special sizes (Shirvell and Dungey 1983).and Dungey 1983).

DiscussionDiscussion

The fourth order site was mostly open The fourth order site was mostly open bedrock and shallow gravel bars, with very bedrock and shallow gravel bars, with very little structure. little structure.

The second order site had the highest The second order site had the highest amount of sedimentation, which may amount of sedimentation, which may explain why it had the least species explain why it had the least species richness.richness.

DiscussionDiscussion

Landscape attributes are often successful Landscape attributes are often successful predictions of broad patterns of fish predictions of broad patterns of fish assemblages at large spatial extents but may fail assemblages at large spatial extents but may fail under specific circumstances (Smith and Kraft under specific circumstances (Smith and Kraft 2005). 2005).

Fish assemblages are clearly influenced at small Fish assemblages are clearly influenced at small scales by local biotic and abiotic factors scales by local biotic and abiotic factors (Jackson et al. 2001). (Jackson et al. 2001).

The sites of my research may not be a fair and The sites of my research may not be a fair and true representation of the entire watershed.true representation of the entire watershed.

ConclusionsConclusions

The stream order of the three locations did The stream order of the three locations did not seem have as much effect as the local not seem have as much effect as the local habitat factors. The characteristics of the habitat factors. The characteristics of the streams were very different. In order to streams were very different. In order to make a correlation between stream order make a correlation between stream order and the diversity of fish assemblages, the and the diversity of fish assemblages, the study would need to be broadened to study would need to be broadened to include as many habitat types as possible include as many habitat types as possible within each stream order. within each stream order.

Literature CitedLiterature Cited Bowlby, J. L. , and J. C. Roff. 1996. Trout biomass and habitat relationships in southern Bowlby, J. L. , and J. C. Roff. 1996. Trout biomass and habitat relationships in southern

Ontario, Canada, Ontario, Canada, streams. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 115: 503-514.streams. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 115: 503-514. Gorman, O. T. 1986. Assemblage organization of stream fishes: the effect of adventitious Gorman, O. T. 1986. Assemblage organization of stream fishes: the effect of adventitious

streams. The streams. The American Naturalist 128: 611-616.American Naturalist 128: 611-616. Jackson, D. A., P. R. Peres Neto, and J. D. Olden. 2001. What controls who is where in Jackson, D. A., P. R. Peres Neto, and J. D. Olden. 2001. What controls who is where in

freshwater fish freshwater fish assemblages: the roles of biotic, a biotic, and spatial factors. Canadian assemblages: the roles of biotic, a biotic, and spatial factors. Canadian Journal of Fisheries aJournal of Fisheries a nd nd Aquatic Sciences 58: 157-170.Aquatic Sciences 58: 157-170.

Matthews, W. J., and H. W. Robinson. 1998. Influence of drainage connectivity, drainage Matthews, W. J., and H. W. Robinson. 1998. Influence of drainage connectivity, drainage area, and regional sarea, and regional s pecies richness on fishes of the interior highlands in Arkansas. pecies richness on fishes of the interior highlands in Arkansas. American Midland Naturalist 139: 1-19American Midland Naturalist 139: 1-19

Orth, D. J., and R. J. White. 1999. Stream Habitat Management. Pages 249-281 in C. C. Orth, D. J., and R. J. White. 1999. Stream Habitat Management. Pages 249-281 in C. C. Kohler and W. A. Kohler and W. A. Hubert, editors. Inland Fisheries Management in North America, 2nd Hubert, editors. Inland Fisheries Management in North America, 2nd edition. American Fisheries edition. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland.Society, Bethesda, Maryland.

Pearsons, T. N., H. W. Li, and G. A. Lamberti. 1992. Influence of habitat complexity on Pearsons, T. N., H. W. Li, and G. A. Lamberti. 1992. Influence of habitat complexity on resistance to resistance to flooding and resilience of stream fish assemblages. Transactions of the flooding and resilience of stream fish assemblages. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society American Fisheries Society 121: 427-436.121: 427-436.

Poff, N. L. 1997. Landscape filters and species traits: towards mechanistic understanding Poff, N. L. 1997. Landscape filters and species traits: towards mechanistic understanding and prediction in and prediction in stream ecology. Journal of the North American Benthological Society stream ecology. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 16: 134-145. 16: 134-145.

Smith, T. A., and C. E. Kraft. 2005. Stream Fish Assemblages in Relation to Landscape Smith, T. A., and C. E. Kraft. 2005. Stream Fish Assemblages in Relation to Landscape Position and Local Position and Local Habitat Variables. Transactions of the Habitat Variables. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 134: American Fisheries Society 134: 430-440.430-440.

Shirvell, C. S. and R. G. Dungey. 1983. Microhabitats chosen by brown trout for feeding Shirvell, C. S. and R. G. Dungey. 1983. Microhabitats chosen by brown trout for feeding and spawning and spawning in rivers. Transactions of the American Fisheries in rivers. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 112: 355-367.Society 112: 355-367.

Strahler, A. N. 1957. Dynamic basis of geomorphology. Geological Society of America Strahler, A. N. 1957. Dynamic basis of geomorphology. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 63, 923 – 938.Bulletin, 63, 923 – 938.

PosterPoster

The EndThe End