Predicting biomass of resident kokopu (Galaxias) populations using local habitat characteristics.

ABSTRACT: With the global decline of freshwater fishes, quantifying the body size-specific habitat use of vulnerable species is crucial for accurately evaluating population health, identifying the effects of anthropogenic stressors, and directing effective habitat restoration. Populations of New Zealand's endemic kōkopu species (Galaxias fasciatus, G. argenteus, and G. postvectis) have declined substantially over the last century in response to anthropogenic stressors, including habitat loss, migratory barriers, and invasive species. Despite well-understood habitat associations, key within-habitat features underpinning the reach-scale biomass of small and large kōkopu remain unclear. Here, we investigated whether the total biomass of large (> 90 mm) size classes of each kōkopu species and the compos

SUBMITTER: Crichton BRJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10013890 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature