Title:
Assessing Climate Change Effects on Fish Distribution in the Swannanoa River Watershed
Author(s):
Gillian Gavenus
Author Email:
ggavenu1@unca.edu
Department:
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Faculty Mentor(s):
David Gillette
Abstract / Summary:
Climate change is one of the top threats to freshwater ecosystem health and biodiversity. The relationship between fish distribution and water temperature can accurately predict the future impacts of climate change on fish. This study focuses on the water temperature and fish distribution of seven tributaries in the Swannanoa River watershed in Western North Carolina ranging from urban to forested streams. A significant relationship between fish distribution and water temperature averages, and daily variation is hypothesized. Data loggers were placed in these sites from mid-May 2022 until mid-June 2022 documenting water temperature every two hours. In August - September 2022, fish samples were collected using a backpack electrofisher and identified in the field. At each of the sites water quality was measured by conductivity which is an indicator of pollution in streams. I calculated the average maximum temperature, daily temperature variation, and species abundance. Then, I calculated the correlation coefficient between the average maximum temperature of the sites compared to the abundance of each fish species. The relative abundance of seven fish species was significantly correlated with average daily maximum water temperature or daily variation. Of these seven species, four had a significant relationship to warmer temperatures. A significant relationship between fish abundance and conductivity was also found. The data from 2022 was compared to water temperature data in 2023 resulting in a decrease in water temperature over one year. Data from this study could be beneficial in predicting the impacts of warming temperatures on fishes in Western North Carolina streams.
Publication Date:
May-14-2024
Documents: