Regional and Local Variation in Fish Assemblages Across a Successional Landscape Influenced by Beaver

Publisher: USGS | Science Center: Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC, Columbia) | Format: URL

www.cerc.usgs.gov — Significant modification of aquatic ecosystems has occurred on the 294 km 2 Kabetogama Peninsula in Voyageurs National Park where beaver activity has transformed more than 300 km of existing stream channels. The fundamental goal of this research will be to assess the critical role that regional and local environmental boundaries might play in More... Significant modification of aquatic ecosystems has occurred on the 294 km 2 Kabetogama Peninsula in Voyageurs National Park where beaver activity has transformed more than 300 km of existing stream channels. The fundamental goal of this research will be to assess the critical role that regional and local environmental boundaries might play in controlling the spatial attributes of fish assemblages in the uppermost reaches of drainages that historically have been strongly influenced by beaver activity. The objective is to assess how the shifting mosaic of local habitat patches created by beaver activity influences the number, identity, and relative abundance of component species in fish assemblages and to evaluate this as part of processes operating at larger regional scales. Less...