Altered body size distributions in a large river fish community enriched by sewage
deBruyn, A.M.H.; Marcogliese, D.J.; Rasmussen, J.B. (2002). Altered body size distributions in a large river fish community enriched by sewage. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 59(5): 819-828
In: Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences = Journal canadien des sciences halieutiques et aquatiques. National Research Council Canada: Ottawa. ISSN 0706-652X; e-ISSN 1205-7533, more
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Keywords |
Body size Wastes > Sewage ANW, Canada, St. Lawrence Gulf [Marine Regions]
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Authors | | Top |
- deBruyn, A.M.H.
- Marcogliese, D.J.
- Rasmussen, J.B.
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Abstract |
We used two approaches (interspecific upper bound and normalized biomass spectrum, NBS) to study size distributions in a littoral fish community across a natural gradient of epiphytic primary production and at sites enriched by primary-treated sewage. The upper bound of the interspecific density-body size relationship supported universal energetic constraints on the regional assemblage but revealed substantial variation in size distributions at a local scale. Multivariate analysis of the modes composing the NBS suggested possible mechanisms for this local variation in size distributions. Only the largest organisms had higher densities at higher levels of productivity. Densities of smaller organisms could be explained by a combination of habitat characteristics and feeding interactions. |
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