Broom, CJ, Weyl, OLF and South, J orcid.org/0000-0002-6339-4225 (2023) Habitat associations of imperilled fishes after conservation intervention in the Cape Fold Ecoregion, South Africa. Journal of Fish Biology, 102 (2). pp. 317-327. ISSN 0022-1112
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the habitat associations of a native cyprinid community of the recovering Rondegat River in the Cape Fold Ecoregion of South Africa as part of a long-term native fish abundance monitoring project. Relative abundance data were extracted from underwater video camera footage across the longitudinal gradient of the river in three sampling instances. Using multivariate methods the authors assessed community composition with respect to habitat, its overlap with a protected area and species-specific abiotic predictors of relative abundance. Distance from the uppermost site in the river was the most significant predictor of species abundance, indicating spatial segregation and varying overlap between species. The protected status of sites in the upper reaches, vegetated substrates and the size of individual sites were the most impactful on the relative abundance of the endangered fiery redfin Pseudobarbus phlegethon. The results of this study indicate that underwater video monitoring is an effective and low-cost approach that can inform conservation recommendations. Reducing agricultural runoff and sedimentation in the lower reaches may be useful further interventions to maintain key habitats of submerged vegetation.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2022 Fisheries Society of the British Isles. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Broom, C. J., Weyl, O. L. F., & South, J. (2022). Habitat associations of imperilled fishes after conservation intervention in the Cape Fold Ecoregion, South Africa. Journal of Fish Biology, 102( 2), 317– 327, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.15262. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited. |
Keywords: | fresh water, habitat, headwater streams, remote underwater video, river restoration, rotenone |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Biological Sciences (Leeds) > School of Biology (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 17 Nov 2022 15:35 |
Last Modified: | 01 Nov 2023 01:13 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Wiley |
Identification Number: | 10.1111/jfb.15262 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:193373 |