Thursday, June 7, 2007 - 10:30 AM
396

Changes in Functional Guilds of Fish Assemblages in the Middle Wabash River from 1974 to 1998

Jay S. Beugly1, Mark Pyron1, Thomas E. Lauer1, and James R. Gammon2. (1) Biology, Ball State University, 2000 W Universtiy Ave, Biology Dept CL 121, Muncie, IN 47306, (2) Biology, DePauw University, Olin Biological Sciences Building, DePauw University, Greencastle, IN 46135

We evaluated historic fish collections from 1974 – 1998 for the middle Wabash river to test for changes with time in percent abundance for eight functional guilds. Functional guilds were trophic types, silt tolerance, and habitat preferences described by Poff and Allan (1995) as related to hydrologic alteration of lotic ecosystems. The historic Wabash River collection sites were from Delphi (RM 329) to Montezuma (RM 238). Fish collections were made using a boat electrofisher. Functional relationships with time were examined as correlation coefficients at each of 28 sites in plots by river km. Significant temporal trends were apparent for the majority of the five functional measures (23 subcategories), indicating shifts in functional guilds of the middle Wabash River fish assemblages during this period. Potential causes include improvements in water quality, changes in agricultural practices, and hydrologic alterations.

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