title: Linking mesohabitat selection and ecological traits of a fish assemblage in a small tropical stream (Tinggi River, Pahang Basin) of the Malay Peninsula.
abstract: Mesohabitat selection in fluvial fishes was studied in a small tropical stream of the Malay Peninsula. A total of 681 individuals representing 24 species were sampled at 45 stations within heterogeneous stream (ca. 1 km in length), in which water depth, water velocity, substrate size, and riparian canopy cover were measured as environmental variables. A canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) yielded a diagram that shows a specific mesohabitat selection of the fish assemblage, in which the species were plotted widely on the CCA1-CCA2 biplot. Generalized linear model also revealed a significant pattern of the mesohabitat selection of several species. Water velocity and substrate size mainly separated on CCA1, indicating variation of pool (deep, slow-flow section) and riffle (shallow, fast-flow section) structures is a primary factor of mesohabitat selection in the fluvial fish assemblage. The mean body weight of species significantly correlated with CCA1; larger species tended to inhabit pools, while small ones occupied riffles. The riparian canopy cover separated on CCA2. The trophic level of species significantly correlated with CCA2; herbivorous species (low trophic level) selected open sites without riparian cover, whereas omnivorous/carnivorous (middle-high trophic level) species preferred highly covered sites. In conclusion, our results suggest that mesohabitat selection is closely related to the species feeding habit, which is consistent with the results of previous studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan. kano@species.jp
authors.forename: Yuichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kano
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Yuta
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tomiyama
authors.forename: Chika
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mitsuyuki
authors.forename: Shin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.forename: Zulkafli A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Rashid
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D005399:Fishes / Q000145:classification* / Q000502:physiology; D006802:Human Activities; D008296:Malaysia; D045483:Rivers; D014329:Tropical Climate