Integrating biological realism into habitat restoration and conservation strategies for small streams

Successful habitat conservation or restoration must be biologically based, which requires an understanding of habitat variables most influencing fish; the relative influence of each habitat variable and the spatial scale over which each operates. Determining necessary habitat conditions requires examination from several perspectives, including observation of individual fish during all seasons and population analysis over a range of spatial scales. There is a definite spatial hierarchy of influences that must be addressed to separate those habitat conditions responsible for presence and abundance from those habitat conditions responsible for within-stream distribution. A case study of habitat factors influencing smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) in Missouri streams indicates that examination at the smallest spatial scales allows one to determine the influence of habitat conditions (depths, velocities, cover factors) relating mainly to the fish's distribution in a stream reach. Evaluation of populations at the stream-system level allows an understanding of how individual fish preferences relate to amounts of habitat as determined by geomorphic and fluvial dynamic forces and how this influences standing stocks throughout a stream system. Evaluation at the ecoregion level shows the overriding influence of physiographic variables on both the presence and abundance of fish across stream systems, as well as the importance of land use. Resume : La conservation ou la restauration de l'habitat se doivent, pour reussir, de reposer sur des fondements biologiques. Cela suppose de connaitre les variables de l'habitat qui influent le plus sur le poisson de meme que l'incidence relative et l'echelle d'action spatiale de chacune de ces variables. La determination des conditions de l'habitat necessaires exige de realiser un examen sous des angles divers, notamment l'observation de poissons donnes pendant toutes les saisons et une analyse de population portant sur une gamme d'echelles spatiales. Il existe une hierarchie spatiale nette des influences qui doit etre evaluee afin de distinguer entre les conditions de l'habitat regissant la presence et l'abondance et celles regissant la repartition au sein du cours d'eau. Une etude de cas des facteurs de l'habitat influant sur l'achigan a petite bouche de cours d'eau du Missouri montre qu'un examen aux plus petites echelles spatiales permet de determiner l'influence des conditions de l'habitat (profondeur, vitesse du courant, couverture) qui ont surtout trait a la distribution du poisson dans un segment du cours d'eau. L'evaluation des populations a l'echelle des ramifications du cours d'eau permet de comprendre la relation entre les preferences de poissons donnes et le volume d'habitat, lui-meme determine par les forces geomorphiques et dynamiques fluviales, et comment elle influe sur les stocks presents dans le bassin du cours d'eau. L'evaluation au niveau de l'ecoregion montre l'influence preponderante des variables physiographiques sur la presence et l'abondance du poisson dans les bassins de cours d'eau, de meme que l'importance de l'utilisation des terres. (Traduit par la Redaction)

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