A numerical classification of reproductive guilds of the freshwater fishes of south-eastern Australia and their application to river management |
| |
| Authors: | I Growns |
| |
| Institution: | New South Wales Fisheries Office of Conservation, Nelson Bay, NSW, Australia |
| |
| Abstract: | A comprehensive list of freshwater fishes from south‐eastern Australia is classified into five major reproductive guilds, based on numerical analysis of 13 life history or reproductive characteristics. The guilds defined generally support previously proposed, subjective life history‐based classifications of freshwater fish species in this region. The majority of species fell into two groups, with 18 and 19 species, and the remaining guilds each contained from 1 to 12 species. The most important biological characteristics that separated the major groups of species included: care of the eggs or young, the presence of adhesive or non‐adhesive eggs, serial or single spawning, and viviparity. Two of the main guilds could each be divided into two sub‐guilds mainly based upon the requirement for a spawning migration. The objective definition of reproductive guilds allows river and natural resource managers to consider the effects of changes in environmental management on groups of species that are likely to respond in similar ways. |
| |
| Keywords: | index of biological integrity life history strategies reproduction |
|
|
