A meta-analysis of the relationship between habitat condition and mortality in freshwater fishes

Session: 34. - Aquatic Habitat Evaluation and Assessment

Georgina Braoudakis, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, [email protected]
Andrew Drake, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, [email protected]
Marten Koops, Fisheries & Oceans Canada, [email protected]
Robert Randall, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, [email protected]

Abstract

There is often a lack of information on the nature of relationships between habitat condition (e.g., dissolved oxygen concentration; extent of structure and cover) and demographic processes, such as mortality, making it difficult to understand the range of expected population responses to habitat change. Moreover, when driver-response relationships are derived, they are often assumed to be linear, which can be at odds with expectations under ecological theory. Meta-analysis can be used to draw broad conclusions about driver-response relationships across a variety of species and ecosystems. In the absence of species- or system-specific information, relationships derived using meta-analytical methods can increase our understanding of population responses to habitat change and inform management decision-making (e.g., extent of habitat necessary to achieve population objectives). To this end, we conducted a literature review of relevant studies focusing on freshwater fishes. We extracted species-habitat information and evaluated whether driver-response relationships were linear, non-linear, or not significant, and the distribution of response types among classes of habitat drivers. We will present results of the meta-analysis and examine the effect of co-variates such as sample size and species attributes on these results.

1. Keyword
fish populations

2. Keyword
productivity

3. Keyword
risk assessment

4. Additional Keyword
habitat condition