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The effects of flow extremes on native and non-native stream fishes in Puerto Rico

Metadata Updated: July 27, 2024

Globally, freshwater fishes are among the taxa most vulnerable to climate change but are generally understudied in tropical island ecosystems where climate change is predicted to alter the intensity, frequency, and duration of extreme flow events. These changes may impact stream ecosystems and native and non-native biota in complex ways. We compiled an extensive dataset of fish assemblages collected at 119 sites across the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico from 2005 to 2015. We coupled these data with stream flow indices and dam height to understand associations between flow and fish assemblage structure. Sixteen percent of sites contained exclusively non-native species, 34% contained exclusively native species, and 50% contained native and non-native species. We built generalized linear models and conducted all subsets model selection to identify extreme flow variables explaining variation in native and non-native species richness and biomass. We also built models to determine the combined effects of extreme flows and the presence of non-native species on native species richness and biomass. Extreme flows and dam height were important in explaining variations in native and non-native species richness and biomass. Model averages showed native biomass decreased by 0.42 kg/ha with a 1-m increase in dam height, by 0.05 kg/ha with one cm/s increase in maximum mean daily high flow, and by 3.45 kg/ha with each additional day increase in maximum high flow duration and increased by 2.06 kg/ha with each additional day increase in mean high flow duration. Model averages predicted non-native biomass increased by 1.32 kg/ha with a 1-m increase in dam height and by 0.01 kg/ha with each additional day increase in mean high flow duration and decreased by 0.36 with each additional day increase in maximum high flow duration. Model averages also predicted an increase in native and non-native biomass of 0.71 kg/ha and 0.06 kg/ha, respectively, with each additional day increase in maximum low flow duration. The combined effects of non-native species presence and extreme flows changed the relationship between maximum high and low flow durations and native biomass. Model averages showed native biomass increased by 1.83 kg/ha with each additional day increase in maximum high flow duration and decreased by 2.52 kg/ha with each additional day increase in maximum low flow duration when non-native species were present. Native fishes may be able to better cope with longer maximum durations of low flows than expected when non-native fishes are absent. In mixed fish assemblages, extended maximum durations of high flows may act as a control of non-native species and dampen their negative effect on native species, but longer maximum durations of low flows may heighten the negative effects of non-native fishes. Our results are informative for tropical island ecosystems globally and can guide the management and conservation of native fishes, particularly when faced with the dual threats of climate change and non-native species. Managers may consider increasing efforts to conserve native fishes in Caribbean rivers by maintaining connectivity and habitat complexity while preventing non-native species introductions.

Access & Use Information

Public: This dataset is intended for public access and use. License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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Dates

Metadata Created Date July 27, 2024
Metadata Updated Date July 27, 2024

Metadata Source

Harvested from DOI EDI

Additional Metadata

Resource Type Dataset
Metadata Created Date July 27, 2024
Metadata Updated Date July 27, 2024
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Maintainer
@Id http://datainventory.doi.gov/id/dataset/2630889887d3d75393328ea0e3887393
Identifier USGS:66a1515bd34ec831f2c2b6ff
Data Last Modified 20240725
Category geospatial
Public Access Level public
Bureau Code 010:12
Metadata Context https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.jsonld
Metadata Catalog ID https://datainventory.doi.gov/data.json
Schema Version https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema
Catalog Describedby https://project-open-data.cio.gov/v1.1/schema/catalog.json
Harvest Object Id 317c2d52-b6e7-4828-b114-004e90f62b6b
Harvest Source Id 52bfcc16-6e15-478f-809a-b1bc76f1aeda
Harvest Source Title DOI EDI
Metadata Type geospatial
Old Spatial -67.26,17.92,-65.3,18.51
Publisher Hierarchy White House > U.S. Department of the Interior > U.S. Geological Survey
Source Datajson Identifier True
Source Hash 2ffe7ce4cdb382f77ab8023e582501575fe98733e1689959b2b2a1eefedc78ec
Source Schema Version 1.1
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