You are here

FAU Collections » FAU Research Repository » FAU Theses and Dissertations

Fish community structure and organization in neotropical clear and blackwater streams in Guyana

Download pdf | Full Screen View

Date Issued:
1994
Summary:
Small clear and blackwater streams of the neotropics are economically important because they may be nursery grounds for important food and aquarium fishes. At present, these ecosystems are being negatively impacted by current logging, and gold and diamond mining practices. Thus, the role of biotic and abiotic factors in fish community structure was examined in three unimpacted streams in Guyana, South America. These streams had relatively low fish species diversity, but complex feeding guild structure. No significant correlations between abiotic factors and fish species diversity and feeding guild diversity were determined due to small sample size. However, principal component analysis suggested an association between pH and species diversity, and conductivity and guild diversity. Biotic factors, such as competition and predation may be the primary determinant of fish community structure and organization in neotropical blackwater streams.
Title: Fish community structure and organization in neotropical clear and blackwater streams in Guyana.
89 views
25 downloads
Name(s): Bergquist, Teresa Cecilia.
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Bourne, Godfrey R., Thesis advisor
Courtenay, Walter R. Jr., Thesis advisor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Issuance: monographic
Date Issued: 1994
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 152 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Small clear and blackwater streams of the neotropics are economically important because they may be nursery grounds for important food and aquarium fishes. At present, these ecosystems are being negatively impacted by current logging, and gold and diamond mining practices. Thus, the role of biotic and abiotic factors in fish community structure was examined in three unimpacted streams in Guyana, South America. These streams had relatively low fish species diversity, but complex feeding guild structure. No significant correlations between abiotic factors and fish species diversity and feeding guild diversity were determined due to small sample size. However, principal component analysis suggested an association between pH and species diversity, and conductivity and guild diversity. Biotic factors, such as competition and predation may be the primary determinant of fish community structure and organization in neotropical blackwater streams.
Identifier: 15023 (digitool), FADT15023 (IID), fau:11801 (fedora)
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1994.
Subject(s): Fishes--Guyana
Fishes--Tropics
Freshwater fishes--Guyana
Species diversity--Guyana
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/15023
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author, with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
Use and Reproduction: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.