HR: 08:30h
AN: NB31F-01 INVITED [Abstracts]
TI: Ecological Trait Composition of Freshwater Fish Across Gradients of Environmental Variability in North-Eastern Australia
AU: * Kennard, M J
EM: m.kennard@griffith.edu.au
AF: Centre for Riverine Landscapes, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Griffith University, Nathan,
Brisbane, QLD 4111 Australia
AU: Pusey, B J
EM: bpusey@westnet.com.au
AF: Centre for Riverine Landscapes, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Griffith University, Nathan,
Brisbane, QLD 4111 Australia
AU: Arthington, A H
EM: a.arthington@griffith.edu.au
AF: Centre for Riverine Landscapes, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Griffith University, Nathan,
Brisbane, QLD 4111 Australia
AB:
North-eastern Australia encompasses 18o of latitude, monsoonal/tropical to sub-tropical/temperate climates,
geomorphologically diverse rivers, and flow regimes with markedly varied seasonality, constancy and predictability. Fish
assemblages in the region vary in relation to the predictability of aquatic habitat availability and other topographic,
climatic and/or biogeographic factors. This paper examines how environmental, biogeographic and phylogenetic factors may
constrain ecological trait composition at local and regional scales. We derived 17 categories of ecological traits to
describe the morphology, behaviour, habitat, life history and trophic characteristics of 114 fish species from 64 river
basins. Trait composition varied substantially across the region. The number of riffle dwelling species, maximum size and
longevity of fishes was greater in the hydrologically predictable and constant rivers of the Wet Tropics region than in more
unpredictable or seasonal environments. The importance of herbivory was also greater in the tropics. Historical
biogeographic and phylogenetic factors may confound our ability to understand the role of environmental factors in
determining spatial variation in ecological trait composition. Understanding the functional linkages between environmental
drivers of fish species distributions via their ecological characteristics should provide a foundation for predicting future
impacts of environmental change in a region of Australia subject to increasing human pressures.
DE: 9800 GENERAL OR MISCELLANEOUS
SC: North American Benthological Society [NB]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly