Drainage-wide effects of timber harvesting on the structure of stream fish assemblages in southeastern oklahoma

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1992

Abstract

We examined associations between timber harvesting (clear-cutting and associated activities) and structure of assemblages of stream fishes across 89 localities in the Little River drainage, Oklahoma. Timber-harvesting activities were quantified as the percentage of the water shed (upstream from each locality) covered by clear-cuts in each of eight different age-classes. We found significant associations with one or more age-classes of clear-cut for three indices of species diversity, 14 of 29 common fish species, and three of five multivariate axes (principal components) of covariation among species abundances. Further analyses indicated a nonrandom association between life history strategy (r- or K-selection) and whether the abundance of individual species was related positively or negatively to clear-cuts of different ages. The results suggest that r-selected species (small, short-lived) may respond quickly to clear-cutting perturbations whereas K-selected species (large, long-lived) exhibit a delayed response. The results of this study, together with an earlier survey of faunal changes, suggest that the effects of clear-cutting in the Little River system are limited to temporary changes in local fish assemblage structure. © 1992 by the American fisheries society.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Transactions of the American Fisheries Society

First Page

716

Last Page

728

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