Poster Details
MUSSEL-FISH DIVERSITY RELATIONSHIPS AT DIFFERENT SPATIAL SCALES
Species richness of freshwater mussels and fish is often positively correlated. However, the strength of the correlation observed varies considerably among studies. This variability raises the question of how important fish hosts versus abiotic environmental factors are to mussel diversity. In this study, we hypothesized that mussel-fish richness correlation is dependent on 1) the spatial scales used; and 2) the completeness of species inventory. Using extensive fish and mussel data compiled for Illinois waters over a century by Illinois Natural History Survey and IL Department of Natural Resources, we examined the mussel-fish correlation in species richness at three spatial scales, USGS-HUC6, HUC8 watershed, and sampling site. The correlation in species richness increased with spatial scales (Pearson r = 0.42. 0.59, 0.77). Intensive mussel sampling at the site scale also improved the correlation (r = 0.50). These results suggest that environmental constrains (e.g., water and habitat quality) could be be as important as fish hosts at the local scale; however, increased habitat heterogeneity at a broader scale could moderate the effects of those local factors, and fish-host diversity thus play a greater role in shaping the pattern of mussel diversity.
Yong Cao (Primary Presenter/Author), Illinois Natural History Survey, University of illinois, yongcao@illinois.edu;