Fish Structure in Channel Networks of a Large Anabranching Floodplain: Effect of Isolation/Connection Processes

Channel networks of floodplain rivers are the main routes for water, sediment, organic matter, and aquatic organisms between main channels and lakes, playing a substantial role in floodplain dynamics. Despite their importance most investigations in large floodplain rivers focus on main channels and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Water resources research Vol. 55; no. 12; pp. 10993 - 11006
Main Authors:	Abrial, E., Espínola, L. A., Amsler, M. L., Rabuffetti, A. P., Latosinski, F. G., Szupiany, R. N., Eurich, M. F., Blettler, M. C. M.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Washington John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-12-2019
Subjects:	Aquatic organisms Channels connectivity changes Ecological effects Environmental factors Fish fish assemblages Fish conservation Flood predictions Flooded areas Floodplains geomorphic and hydraulic features Geomorphology Heterogeneity Lakes lotic environments Low water levels Networks Organic matter Paraná River River channels River networks Rivers Seasonal variations Seasonality Water conservation Water levels Water quality
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Summary:	Channel networks of floodplain rivers are the main routes for water, sediment, organic matter, and aquatic organisms between main channels and lakes, playing a substantial role in floodplain dynamics. Despite their importance most investigations in large floodplain rivers focus on main channels and lentic water bodies. This research deals with fish assemblage variations in different lotic sites (scour holes and straight reaches) of one of the many channels which shape the wide anabranching floodplain of the middle reach of the Paraná River. We considered the influence of environmental factors, such as hydro‐geomorphological features and water quality of the channel, connections with surrounding lentic water bodies, seasonality, and interannual flow variations. The results showed two main ecological patterns closely related to floodplain connectivity. In‐channel habitat heterogeneity has low influence on fish assemblages when minor channels are connected to significant flooded areas (sampling period 2013–2016). Spatial or temporal predictions of fish structure during these stages are not easy due to the interaction of several environmental factors. However, during very low water levels (winter of 2018) most lentic areas become isolated from the nearby channel network, and floodplain fish are forced to move into the numerous scour holes of the floodplain channels where water conditions resemble those in lentic habitats. Our work highlights the importance of in‐channel characteristics of floodplain river networks and their crucial role for fish conservation, particularly during very low water stages. Key Points Weak relationship between local hydro‐morphological features of floodplain channels and fish assemblages when surrounding lakes are available Scour holes in floodplain channels as refuges for fish when isolation stages approach Ecological relevance of the interaction of geomorphology and hydrology in a large anabranching floodplain
ISSN:	0043-1397 1944-7973
DOI:	10.1029/2019WR025063