Effects of Avian Predators on Stream Fish Assemblages

The first chapter provides background material. The second chapter focuses on foraging behavior of kingfishers and great blue herons, and shows that netting and perches can be used to successfully manipulate avian predation pressure. The third chapter uses this technique to examine what effects kingfishers and wading birds are having on stream fish assemblages, and shows that there are effects are on two of the most abundant minnow species, striped shiners and central stonerollers. The fourth chapter documents how facilitation occurs between avian and aquatic predators, resulting in more prey being consumed when both predators are together than expected based upon the number of prey each prey consumes in isolation. The last chapter shows that both birds and bass produce non-lethal effects on prey habitat use, movement rates, and foraging activity. Taken together, this work shows that avian predators play an important role in affecting fish populations in aquatic systems.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Steinmetz, Jeff

Contributors dc:contributor

• Steven L. Kohler
• Daniel A. Soluk

• Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3086187

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/85348