Size-structured habitat selection by arapaima in floodplain lakes of the Lower Amazon

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dc.contributor.authorRichard, Jordan C.en
dc.contributor.authorCastello, Leandroen
dc.contributor.authorGurdak, Daniel J.en
dc.contributor.authorPeoples, Brandon K.en
dc.contributor.authorAngermeier, Paul L.en
dc.contributor.departmentFish and Wildlife Conservationen
dc.date.accessioned2020-06-30T13:16:12Zen
dc.date.available2020-06-30T13:16:12Zen
dc.date.issued2018-12en
dc.description.abstractHuman modification of floodplain ecosystems is widespread and a major threat to fish populations, particularly in the tropics where fish diversity and rates of floodplain degradation are high. Identifying measures to minimize the susceptibility of floodplain fishes to habitat modification requires understanding dry-season lake habitat selection for species of conservation concern. This study examined the effects of environmental factors on dry-season floodplain lake habitat selection by arapaima (Arapaima spp.) and determined the extent to which they differed across three size classes. In floodplain lakes of the lower Amazon River, variables were measured at locations representing habitat availability and compared with measurements taken where arapaima were observed during surface breathing. Regression models were used to account for between-lake variation in the presence of arapaima owing to nearby fishing communities. The probability of arapaima presence at each sample location was modelled based on the variables measured. The results indicated that arapaima expressed distinct habitat selection patterns, which differed significantly across size classes. The general pattern observed was that all arapaima were more likely to be found in deeper, more turbid, and higher conductivity locations, whereas smaller arapaima were more likely to remain near dense beds of floating macrophytes. The probability of arapaima presence differed among fishing community territories, reflecting differences in management schemes. Deeper, macrophyte-rich sections of floodplain lakes appear to provide key habitats for arapaima and deserve consideration for becoming priority targets for conservation of the rich diversity of fish species in these systems.en
dc.description.adminPublic domain – authored by a U.S. government employeeen
dc.description.notesRonei, C.C. Arantes and Poly provided valuable assistance in the field. D. Orth gave valuable input to research design, data analysis and the main text. The Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit is jointly sponsored by US Geological Survey, Virginia Tech, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and the Wildlife Management Institute. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. The authors declare no conflict of interest.en
dc.description.sponsorshipUS Geological Survey, Virginia Tech, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries; Wildlife Management Instituteen
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.2969en
dc.identifier.eissn1099-0755en
dc.identifier.issn1052-7613en
dc.identifier.issue6en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/99176en
dc.identifier.volume28en
dc.language.isoenen
dc.rightsCreative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedicationen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/en
dc.subjectcommunity-based managementen
dc.subjectfish conservationen
dc.subjecthabitat degradationen
dc.subjectlake depthen
dc.subjectmacrophyte bedsen
dc.subjectvarzeaen
dc.subjectwater transparencyen
dc.titleSize-structured habitat selection by arapaima in floodplain lakes of the Lower Amazonen
dc.title.serialAquatic Conservation-Marine and Freshwater Ecosystemsen
dc.typeArticle - Refereeden
dc.type.dcmitypeTexten
dc.type.dcmitypeStillImageen

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