title: Clear as mud: a meta-analysis on the effects of sedimentation on freshwater fish and the effectiveness of sediment-control measures.
abstract: Increase in fine sediments in freshwater resulting from anthropogenic development is a potential stressor for fish and thus may cause population declines. Though a large body of literature exists on the topic, there have been few attempts to synthesize this information in a quantitative manner. Through meta-analysis we investigated the effects of sediment in lotic environments on resident ichthyofauna using ecologically-relevant endpoints for tolerant (e.g., northern pike Esox lucius) and intolerant (e.g., brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis) species. Further, the efficiency of sediment-control devices was explored to inform mitigation measures. An increase in suspended and deposited sediments was demonstrated to have a negative effect on all parameters and tolerances tested (feeding behavior [feeding rate, reaction distance to food item]; spawning success [survival of fry to eyed stage, fry emergence]; species richness; P < 0.001) except fish abundance (P = 0.058). Heterogeneity between studies was a factor in all analyses. Although there were insufficient studies to conduct meta-analysis on sediment-control devices, weighted percent efficiency estimates revealed that properly installed sediment-control fences tended to have a higher percent efficiency (73-80%) than sediment traps and basins (40-52%). These results highlight the negative impact that increases in suspended and deposited sediments can have on resident fishes from the individual to the population, and the need for more transparent and thorough statistical reporting. The analysis also identifies a clear need for rigorous experimental studies contrasting different sediment-control devices and strategies given that little such work has been published. That alone is remarkable given that sediment-control devices are often a requirement of regulators for riparian development activities, yet the evidence to support the effectiveness of the primary mitigative strategies is weak.
authors.affiliation: Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada. Electronic address: jacqchapman@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jacqueline M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 9A4, Canada.
authors.forename: Catherine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Proulx
authors.affiliation: Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada.
authors.forename: Maxime A N
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Veilleux
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 9A4, Canada.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Levert
authors.affiliation: Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada.
authors.forename: Shireen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bliss
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie Private, Ottawa, ON K1N 9A4, Canada.
authors.forename: Marie-Ève
authors.initials: MÈ
authors.lastname: André
authors.affiliation: Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada; Nature Conservancy of Canada, 35 O'Connor Street, Suite 304, Ottawa, ON K1P 5M4, Canada.
authors.forename: Nicolas W R
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Lapointe
authors.affiliation: Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada; Canadian Cluster in Evidence-Based Conservation and Environmental Management, Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada.
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Cooke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D005618:Fresh Water; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D014873:Water Pollutants
chemical_list: D014873:Water Pollutants
keywords: Embryo development; Fish assemblage; Fish feeding; Mitigation devices; Sedimentation