Species–environment relationships of fish and map‐based variables in small boreal streams: Linkages with climate change and bioassessment

• Published in: Ecology and evolution 2021-08, Vol.11 (15), p.10457-10467
• Main Authors: Sutela, Tapio, Vehanen, Teppo, Jounela, Pekka, Aroviita, Jukka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: boreal; Catchments; Climate change; Creeks & streams; Drainage ditches; Fish; Fisheries management; Information systems; Land cover; Land surveys; Land use; logistic regression; Ordination; Original Research; Peatlands; Precipitation; Regression analysis; River networks; Salmo trutta; self‐organizing map; small stream; Species; Statistical analysis; Streams; Temperature gradients; Urban areas; Variables; Water quality; Water temperature
• ISSN: 2045-7758; 2045-7758
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7848

Species–environment relationships were studied between the occurrence of 13 fish and lamprey species and 9 mainly map‐based environmental variables of Finnish boreal small streams. A self‐organizing map (SOM) analysis showed strong relationships between the fish species and environmental variables in a single model (explained variance 55.9%). Besides basic environmental variables such as altitude, catchment size, and mean temperature, land cover variables were also explored. A logistic regression analysis indicated that the occurrence probability of brown trout, Salmo trutta L., decreased with an increasing percentage of peatland ditch drainage in the upper catchment. Ninespine stickleback, Pungitius pungitius (L.), and three‐spined stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus L., seemed to benefit from urban areas in the upper catchment. Discovered relationships between fish species occurrence and land‐use attributes are encouraging for the development of fish‐based bioassessment for small streams. The presented ordination of the fish species in the mean temperature gradient will help in predicting fish community responses to climate change. Species–environment relationships were studied between the occurrence of 13 fish and lamprey species and 9 mainly map‐based environmental variables of Finnish boreal small streams. Modelling fish species occurrence in streams with a logistic regression and self‐organizing map indicated clear species–environment relationships. The results support the development of fish‐based bioassessment for small streams and help in predicting fish assemblage changes in a warming climate.