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<p>Recent ecological research has emphasized the value of “big data,” but small or imperfect datasets can still yield valuable insights when analyzed rigorously. To demonstrate this, we conducted a case study examining how habitat variable relationships and interspecific interactions function together to shape fish communities under conditions of habitat alteration. Despite extensive theoretical discussions on this topic, empirical studies remain limited due to data collection challenges. We analyzed electrofishing data and 15 habitat variables from three sampling events across four experimental sites. Habitat conditions and species composition varied among the sites. Correlation analyses identified 30 statistically significant species-habitat variable relationships and 20 statistically significant interspecific relationships (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05, <i>rho</i> &lt; − 0.60 or <i>rho</i> &gt; 0.60). The vast majority of these relationships were supported by previously conducted research and the species life history. A biomass-per-volume analysis showed no significant differences in overall biomass capacity among the four sites (<i>p</i> &gt; 0.05). These findings suggest that habitat change drives species-specific shifts in biomass, with some species increasing at the expense of others, influenced by habitat suitability and interspecific interactions. The results highlight how habitat modification drives biomass redistribution within fish communities and emphasize that complex community level responses can be detected even with imperfect data.</p>

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Fish community responses to habitat alteration: Interactions, biomass shifts, and the value of imperfect data

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2025年6月10日

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  • Eric A. Bonk,
  • Robert H. Hanner,
  • Adrienne J. Bartlett,
  • Gerald R. Tetreault

摘要

Recent ecological research has emphasized the value of “big data,” but small or imperfect datasets can still yield valuable insights when analyzed rigorously. To demonstrate this, we conducted a case study examining how habitat variable relationships and interspecific interactions function together to shape fish communities under conditions of habitat alteration. Despite extensive theoretical discussions on this topic, empirical studies remain limited due to data collection challenges. We analyzed electrofishing data and 15 habitat variables from three sampling events across four experimental sites. Habitat conditions and species composition varied among the sites. Correlation analyses identified 30 statistically significant species-habitat variable relationships and 20 statistically significant interspecific relationships (p < 0.05, rho < − 0.60 or rho > 0.60). The vast majority of these relationships were supported by previously conducted research and the species life history. A biomass-per-volume analysis showed no significant differences in overall biomass capacity among the four sites (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that habitat change drives species-specific shifts in biomass, with some species increasing at the expense of others, influenced by habitat suitability and interspecific interactions. The results highlight how habitat modification drives biomass redistribution within fish communities and emphasize that complex community level responses can be detected even with imperfect data.