Freshwater Fish (lecture 3a)

Question 1

global extinction crisis

Answer 1

-freshwater ecosystems most threatened
due to reliance and alterance of freshwater

• 1 million dams globally and at least 50% of freshwater runoff captured has greatly altered freshwater
• 25% of evaluated freshwater fish is considered threatened
• freshwater ecosystems represent the ultimate conservation challenge
  
  • impacted by everything upstream, downstream, and around the areas

Question 2

Kimberley Region

Answer 2

• pristine
• rugged
• biodiverse
• high degree of endemism
• refuge for many species
• northwest region of Australia
• highly diverse species

Question 3

Kimberly freshwater fish

Answer 3

• 49 species recorded
• 18 described regionally endemic fish species
• few fish surveys in the region
• little ecological info available for Kimberley endemic fish species

Question 4

congeneric pairs

Answer 4

• species of the same genus in abundance in one area and in sectors in another
• ex. rainbowfish, grunters

model system
7 genera w/widespread-endemic species pairing

Question 5

Potential threats to Kimberly Freshwater ecosystem

Answer 5

• potential large scale dam
• minning(largest diamond mind in the Kimberley)
• invasive species(cane toads, telopea, red claw lobster, future impacts from climate change(increase water temp )

Question 6

characteristics of the fish fauna of the Kimberley

Answer 6

undergo collection data

Question 7

collection fish data

Answer 7

electrofisher-device sends strong electric current through the water

huck and line

gill net-along the edge of water holes

snorkeling

fyke net-deep water

video-deep water

Question 8

Broad scale conservation ecology of Australian freshwater fish

Answer 8

look at body size, range size, relative abundance and conservation status

small body size, small or large geop

Question 9

Triple jeopardy

Answer 9

range size, abundance, and specialization

Question 10

Triple jeopardy extinction risk in Kimberley freshwater fishes

Answer 10

• range size
• abundance
• specialization
• diet
• habitat
• life history
• physiology

ex. rainbowfish and grunter

Question 11

rainbowfish

Answer 11

• has single jeopardy

- slender rainbowfish has restricted range but has a similar diet to the widespread one and is more abundant

Question 12

grunter

Answer 12

• has triple jeopardy

- slender nose grunter has restricted range, is 6x less abundant, and has stricted diet

Question 13

conclusion

Answer 13

-many unlisted species that may require listing across northern Australia, especially in the Kimberley

-potential for triple jeopardy risk in some Kimberly fish
(like the slender nose grunter)

-opportunities for proactive conservation in the Kimberley’s rivers