Modelling stream-fish functional traits in reference conditions: regional and local environmental correlates.

ABSTRACT: Identifying the environmental gradients that control the functional structure of biological assemblages in reference conditions is fundamental to help river management and predict the consequences of anthropogenic stressors. Fish metrics (density of ecological guilds, and species richness) from 117 least disturbed stream reaches in several western Iberia river basins were modelled with generalized linear models in order to investigate the importance of regional- and local-scale abiotic gradients to variation in functional structure of fish assemblages. Functional patterns were primarily associated with regional features, such as catchment elevation and slope, rainfall, and drainage area. Spatial variations of fish guilds were thus associated with broad geographic gradients, showing (1) pro

SUBMITTER: Oliveira JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3454361 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature