Poster Details
RESPONSE OF FISH COMMUNITIES TO AN EXPERIMENTAL ADDITON OF LARGE WOOD IN THREE NORTHERN MICHIGAN STREAMS
Large wood (LW) additions to streams have been used as an effective management tool to create pool habitat and increase food resources for fishes. In comparison with the Pacific Northwest, little evidence exists on the effect of LW in Midwestern US systems, which are typically lower gradient and possess lower densities of LW at present. The objective of this study was to evaluate responses of stream fishes to a replicated addition of LW in Midwestern streams. In 2004, 25 logs were added to a 100-m reach (treatment) in three streams, while a 100-m reach located upstream of each treatment did not receive any LW additions (control). Fishes were sampled using triple-pass electrofishing from 2003 to 2018. Mean total abundance and biomass, along with mean Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis abundance and biomass did not statistically differ between treatment and control reaches. Responses did vary among the three streams, and the stream with the lowest level of natural wood recruitment exhibited an increase in abundance and biomass in the treatment reaches. Our findings suggest that LW additions may be beneficial as a management tool in streams where natural LW recruitment is limited.
Amanda Popovich (Primary Presenter/Author), Lake Superior State University, apopovich@lssu.edu;
Ashley Moerke (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), Center for Freshwater Research and Education, Lake Superior State University, amoerke@lssu.edu;
Patrick Shirey (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of Pittsburgh, patrickdshirey@gmail.com;
Gary Lamberti (Co-Presenter/Co-Author), University of Notre Dame, glambert@nd.edu;