Mechanisms that drive species co-occurrence are poorly documented for intermittent rivers of semiarid regions. Here, we investigated fish community assembly in response to habitat types and physicochemical conditions ...Mechanisms that drive species co-occurrence are poorly documented for intermittent rivers of semiarid regions. Here, we investigated fish community assembly in response to habitat types and physicochemical conditions in intermittent rivers of the lower Okavango Delta, Botswana. Using Joint Species Distribution Models, we inferred relative influences of environmental filtering and species interactions on patterns of species co-occurrence. Fishes were surveyed from multiple locations during drought and flood phases of the annual hydrological cycle. Species were classified into trophic guilds to facilitate inference about the types of species interactions that influence community structure. Water physicochemistry (depth, temperature, and dissolved oxygen concentration) was significantly associated with species distributions, whereas habitat type (ephemeral vs. permanent) was not significantly associated with species distribution. Controlling for the influence of environmental covariates resulted in three negative residual correlations, of which two involved non-predatory fishes from different trophic guilds, suggesting a behavioral selection of, or enhanced survival within, habitats with different environmental conditions. There was a negative residual correlation between a predator and a potential prey species, suggesting a role for predation mortality or threat in species segregation. Our results demonstrate that using trophic guilds in conjunction with JSDMs can enhance inferences about mechanisms of community assembly.展开更多
Contamination of water bodies by inorganic mercury (Hg[II]) used in placer mining of gold deposits in the Madre de Dios Department, Perú, contributes to the bioaccumulation of methylmercury (MeHg) in fish tissue....Contamination of water bodies by inorganic mercury (Hg[II]) used in placer mining of gold deposits in the Madre de Dios Department, Perú, contributes to the bioaccumulation of methylmercury (MeHg) in fish tissue. We measured MeHg and total Hg (THg) concentrations (mg/kg wet weight [ww] tissue) of thirteen fish species from the Tambopata River, Perú, and the connected oxbow lake Tres Chimbadas. We also used stable isotope analysis (δ15N and δ13C) to estimate trophic positions of fishes. Average MeHg concentrations of fish species ranged from 0.042 mg/kg ww (Satanoperca jurupari) to 0.463 mg/kg ww (Hoplias malabaricus) in the main channel and from 0.090 mg/kg ww (Parauchenipterus sp.) to 1.282 mg/kg ww (Pimelodina flavipinnis) in the lake. Spearman rank correlation indicated that trophic position had no influence on MeHg concentrations of species in the main channel, but in the lake, trophic positions of species were positively associated with MeHg. Migrations of the pimelodid catfish surveyed from the main channel are well documented. Because little gold mining occurs at our study site, fishes from the main channel may be bioaccumulating MeHg from areas where mining is widespread. Fish species that reside in the lake are relatively sedentary and migration is limited by the brief period of floodplain inundation and the long, narrow corridor that connects the lake to the main channel;lake sediments are therefore the likely source for MeHg bioaccumulation. Five out of the eight fish species surveyed from the main channel and two out of the five species from the lake had MeHg levels higher than United States Environmental Protection Agency fish tissue criterion for human consumption.展开更多
文摘Mechanisms that drive species co-occurrence are poorly documented for intermittent rivers of semiarid regions. Here, we investigated fish community assembly in response to habitat types and physicochemical conditions in intermittent rivers of the lower Okavango Delta, Botswana. Using Joint Species Distribution Models, we inferred relative influences of environmental filtering and species interactions on patterns of species co-occurrence. Fishes were surveyed from multiple locations during drought and flood phases of the annual hydrological cycle. Species were classified into trophic guilds to facilitate inference about the types of species interactions that influence community structure. Water physicochemistry (depth, temperature, and dissolved oxygen concentration) was significantly associated with species distributions, whereas habitat type (ephemeral vs. permanent) was not significantly associated with species distribution. Controlling for the influence of environmental covariates resulted in three negative residual correlations, of which two involved non-predatory fishes from different trophic guilds, suggesting a behavioral selection of, or enhanced survival within, habitats with different environmental conditions. There was a negative residual correlation between a predator and a potential prey species, suggesting a role for predation mortality or threat in species segregation. Our results demonstrate that using trophic guilds in conjunction with JSDMs can enhance inferences about mechanisms of community assembly.
文摘Contamination of water bodies by inorganic mercury (Hg[II]) used in placer mining of gold deposits in the Madre de Dios Department, Perú, contributes to the bioaccumulation of methylmercury (MeHg) in fish tissue. We measured MeHg and total Hg (THg) concentrations (mg/kg wet weight [ww] tissue) of thirteen fish species from the Tambopata River, Perú, and the connected oxbow lake Tres Chimbadas. We also used stable isotope analysis (δ15N and δ13C) to estimate trophic positions of fishes. Average MeHg concentrations of fish species ranged from 0.042 mg/kg ww (Satanoperca jurupari) to 0.463 mg/kg ww (Hoplias malabaricus) in the main channel and from 0.090 mg/kg ww (Parauchenipterus sp.) to 1.282 mg/kg ww (Pimelodina flavipinnis) in the lake. Spearman rank correlation indicated that trophic position had no influence on MeHg concentrations of species in the main channel, but in the lake, trophic positions of species were positively associated with MeHg. Migrations of the pimelodid catfish surveyed from the main channel are well documented. Because little gold mining occurs at our study site, fishes from the main channel may be bioaccumulating MeHg from areas where mining is widespread. Fish species that reside in the lake are relatively sedentary and migration is limited by the brief period of floodplain inundation and the long, narrow corridor that connects the lake to the main channel;lake sediments are therefore the likely source for MeHg bioaccumulation. Five out of the eight fish species surveyed from the main channel and two out of the five species from the lake had MeHg levels higher than United States Environmental Protection Agency fish tissue criterion for human consumption.
