Spatial and Temporal Ecology of Native and Introduced Fish Larvae in Lower Putah Creek, California

SMC Author

Michael Marchetti

SMC Affiliated Work

1

Status

Faculty

School

School of Science

Department

Environmental and Earth Science

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

5-2000

Publication / Conference / Sponsorship

Environmental Biology of Fishes

Description/Abstract

For two years we studied the distribution and abundance of native and introduced fish larvae in Putah Creek (Yolo County, CA), a low elevation regulated stream. We used light traps and conical drift nets to sample the fish larvae at two spatially separated sites from March through July 1997 and at four sites from February through August 1998. Native larvae occurred both earlier in the year and in higher abundance than those of introduced species. Both native larvae and overall numbers of larvae were more abundant at upstream sites in both years. Sampling of larvae appeared to be sensitive to the detection of rare species. Drift nets and light traps collected similar numbers of larvae, but each method tended to select for different taxa. There were significant trends in diel patterns of abundance, with more fish larvae being found during the hours of darkness. We suggest that differences between the sites were due to habitat changes resulting from an upstream dam that has created a refuge of diverse habitat and cool flowing water for native taxa.

Keywords

ecology of larvae, drift of larvae, introduced species, native species, phenology, Yolo County

Scholarly

yes

DOI

10.1023/A:1007676228910

Volume

58

Issue

1

First Page

75

Last Page

87

Disciplines

Earth Sciences | Environmental Sciences

Original Citation

Marchetti, M.P. and P.B. Moyle, May 2000. Spatial and temporal ecology of native and introduced larval fish in Lower Putah Creek, California. Environmental Biology of Fishes, 58(1):75-87. doi:10.1023/A:1007676228910

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