Habitat separation of prickly sculpin, Cottus asper, and coastrange sculpin, Cottus aleuticus, in the mainstem Smith River, northwestern California

Abstract

Sympatric coastrange sculpin, Cottus aleuticus, and prickly sculpin, C. asper, occupied distinct habitats in the mainstem Smith River, northwestern California. For example, 90% of coastrange sculpin (n = 294) used habitat with water velocity > 5 cm s^-1, whereas 89% of prickly sculpin (n = 981) used habitat with water velocity ≤ 5 cm s^-1. Sixty-five percent of coastrange sculpin were found at depths < 1 m, whereas 37% of prickly sculpin occupied depths > 7 m. The strong spatial separation of coastrange and prickly sculpin in the mainstem Smith River contrasts with the overlap in their use of habitat in the nearby Eel River. Differences between the rivers in habitat availability, intensity of piscivory, and density of sculpins may contribute to this contrast.

Citation

White, Jason L.; Harvey, Bret C. 1999. Habitat separation of prickly sculpin, Cottus asper, and coastrange sculpin, Cottus aleuticus, in the mainstem Smith River, northwestern California. Copeia. 1999(2): 371-375.