Journal article
Habitat selection as a source of inter-specific differences in recruitment of two diadromous fish species
Robin Hale, Barbara J Downes, Stephen E Swearer
FRESHWATER BIOLOGY | WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC | Published : 2008
Abstract
1. For aquatic species with highly dispersive offspring, the addition of new individuals into an area (recruitment) is a key process in determining local population size so understanding the causes of recruitment variability is critical. While three general causative mechanisms have been identified (the supply of individuals, habitat selection and mortality), we have a limited understanding of how variation in each is generated, and the consequences this may have for the spatial and temporal distribution of recruits. 2. We examined whether active habitat selection during settlement could be the cause of variability in populations of two diadromous fish species using a field survey and labora..
View full abstractGrants
Funding Acknowledgements
This research was supported by an Australian Research Council grant awarded to S. Swearer and B. Downes, as well as a Holsworth Wildlife Research Fund grant and Australian Postgraduate Award to R. Hale. Additional financial support was provided by the School of Social and Environmental Enquiry at the University of Melbourne, and an Albert Shimmins Postgraduate Write-Up Award to R. Hale. Field assistance was provided by N. Barbee, C. Jung, J. Morrongiello, A. Hicks, L. McNiven, L. Rumpff, F. McClean, A. Macqueen, D. Hale and M. Hale. The map was drawn by Chandra Jayasuriya and Fatima Basic. Comments from two anonymous referees improved the final manuscript. These experiments complied with current Australian law.