Fish Assemblage Structure in Lentic Vegetated Microhabitat in South Georgia

Aquatic vegetation provides multiple resources such as shelter, food, and breeding habitats for many fish species. Fishes that occupy habitats with similar ecological characteristics are described as fish assemblages. However, not all vegetation offers the same set of resources. Therefore, I hypothesize not all fish assemblages that occupy aquatic vegetation are identical. Based on vegetated structure complexity in the water column, I predicted that submergent vegetation would contain the most fish diversity. This study involved an analysis of fish assemblages at 18 vegetated lentic sites in south Georgia. Total area, percent vegetated surface area coverage, water volume, and major plant species as well as other physicochemical data were recorded for each locality. Comparative analysis of each location was conducted using, one-way ANOVA, Freidman test, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and linear regression analyses. Thirty-two fish species were collected across all sites, and significant differences in fish assemblages existed between sites. No defining factors related to assemblage structure were identified. PCA identified Gambusia holbrooki, Leptolucania ommata, Elassoma okefenokee, and Lepomis macrochirus as principal species defining fish assemblage structure. From these results, three fish subguilds of aquatic vegetation were identified.I. INTRODUCTION - 1 | The Role of Aquatic Vegetation - 2 | Other Factors’ Effects on Fish Fauna - 5 | Significance - 8 | Species of Interest - 8 | II. METHODS - 10 | Field Data - 10 | Water Chemistry - 12 | Statistical Methods - 13 | III. RESULTS - 14 | IV. DISCUSSION - 30 | Impact of Drought - 30 | Species Diversity - 31 | REFERENCES - 34 | APPENDIX A: Supplemental Figures - 47 | APPENDIX B: Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee Approval - 56 |Bechler, David L.Elder, John F.Waters, Matthew NAlbanese, Brett W.M.S.Biolog