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Predicting the Potential Distribution of Two Threatened Stream Fish Species in Northeast Ohio

Pinkerton, Jeramy John
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1461189304

Abstract Details

2016, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology.
Stream fish populations are at risk of population isolation due to habitat loss and fragmentation due to a multitude of anthropogenic impacts including dam construction, climate change, and development. Persistence of some stream trout populations has been shown to depend on connectivity with other parts of streams and with other populations. However, in some cases, native stream fish species have benefited from being isolated by barriers from advancing invasive species. Niche models have previously been used to aid in defining the distribution of stream fish populations and facilitating their protection. The goal of our study was to develop niche models using variables derived in GIS and modeled in Maxent to inform the conservation of two state-threatened fish species that reside in northeastern Ohio streams, the brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and the bigmouth shiner (Notropis dorsalis). We used Maxent, a niche model that uses presence-only data, to model the distribution of these two threatened stream fish species. Brook trout may be negatively affected by isolation that prevents dispersal, while bigmouth shiners may be protected by isolation from competition with silverjaw minnows (Notropis buccatus). Because known brook trout populations in Ohio are rare, we used data from nearby Pennsylvania to inform the model of habitat suitability for brook trout in northeast Ohio. In a novel approach, we excluded streams in Pennsylvania that were outside the range of a given variable in northeast Ohio. We then developed an additional model that limited the Pennsylvania dataset to those reaches with habitat variables that fall within the range of variables for streams of the same order in northeast Ohio. Four variables were included in both of our final brook trout models and three were included in our final bigmouth shiner model. We obtained AUC scores of 0.80 and 0.81 respectively for our brook trout models, and 0.94 for our bigmouth shiner model. Model results were the same for both brook trout models. Second and third-order streams with relatively low gradients (between 0.03 and 0.13) and those associated with large amounts of forests near streams were predicted to be most likely to support brook trout. The likelihood of brook trout persistence also increased in streams with an increasing percentage of sandstone in the lithology below the stream. With the addition of a requirement of presence of spawning habitat, the brook trout model suggested 27 more potential brook trout streams in northeast Ohio. Relatively low elevation, high-order streams in relatively unforested landscapes were predicted to be most likely to support bigmouth shiner populations. One hundred and forty-six potential additional bigmouth shiner streams were identified in northeast Ohio. The results of our modeling can be used to aid in the conservation of both of these species in Ohio. We also found that using a surrogate for a primary driver of habitat suitability, such as using stream order as a surrogate for stream temperature, should be used cautiously as the surrogate may affect habitat suitability differently in different areas.
Marschall Elizabeth, Dr. (Advisor)
Pintor Lauren, Dr. (Committee Member)
Hetherington Thomas, De. (Committee Member)
66 p.
Ecology; Environmental Science; Freshwater Ecology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Pinkerton, J. J. (2016). Predicting the Potential Distribution of Two Threatened Stream Fish Species in Northeast Ohio [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1461189304

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Pinkerton, Jeramy. Predicting the Potential Distribution of Two Threatened Stream Fish Species in Northeast Ohio. 2016. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1461189304.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Pinkerton, Jeramy. "Predicting the Potential Distribution of Two Threatened Stream Fish Species in Northeast Ohio." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1461189304

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1461189304
591
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This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.