Source-sink dynamics sustain central stonerollers (Campostoma anomalum) in a heavily urbanized catchment

Abstract

Relating local demographic processes to spatial structure (e.g. habitat heterogeneity) is essential for understanding population and species persistence (Hanski & Gilpin, 1997; Fagan, 2002). Yet few studies have tested general hypotheses about the importance of spatial patterns in determining population dynamics within river­stream networks (Lowe, Likens & Power, 2006). Metapopulation studies of stream biota such as freshwater fishes often relate site occupancy to the hierarchical structure of river­stream networks (Dunham & Rieman, 1999; Taylor & Warren, 2001), but rarely consider how colonization varies according to connectivity, dispersal geometry and spatial scale (Pannell & Charlesworth, 1999; Fagan, 2002; Lowe et al., 2006). Similarly, studies focusing on movement of stream fishes often identify habitat and conditions that favour or constrain dispersal (Power, 1984; Skalski & Gilliam, 2000), but few effectively link movement patterns to the spatial distribution of source and sink habitats (Lowe et al., 2006).

Citation

Waits, Eric R.; Bagley, Mark J.; Blum, Michael J.; McCormick, Frank H.; Lazorchak, James M. 2008. Source-sink dynamics sustain central stonerollers (Campostoma anomalum) in a heavily urbanized catchment. Freshwater Biology. 53: 2061-2075.