Examining the relationship between species richness of fish communities and their biomass in freshwater ecosystems

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dc.contributor.authorLennox, Preston A.
dc.contributor.authorUniversity of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
dc.contributor.supervisorRasmussen, Joseph B.
dc.date.accessioned2019-06-19T17:25:58Z
dc.date.available2019-06-19T17:25:58Z
dc.date.issued2019
dc.degree.levelPh.Den_US
dc.description.abstractModels used to predict fish biomass in freshwater ecosystems are integral to fisheries management, however, are to date limited to predictions from either chemical (total phosphorus, nitrogen) or physical (morphometric) variables, and do not consider the implications of species and their influence on trophic energy transfer. Here, using empirical data, we first demonstrate that a significant relationship exists between species richness and fish biomass, which behaves similar to models proposed in terrestrial ecosystems. Second, we demonstrate the utility of modern food web analyses to quantify functional richness in freshwater fisheries, and relate functional richness to the species richness-biomass relationship. Finally, we apply this relationship to current models predicting biomass from chemical and physical drivers, and using data compiled from over 500 sites across North America, acquired from both the literature and this project, successfully demonstrate its ability to describe much of the regional variance in existing fish biomass models.en_US
dc.embargoNoen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10133/5408
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.proquest.subjectEcology [0329]en_US
dc.proquest.subjectAquatic sciences [0792]en_US
dc.proquest.subjectEnvironmental science [0768]en_US
dc.proquestyesYesen_US
dc.publisherLethbridge, Alta. : University of lethbridge, Dept. of Biological Sciencesen_US
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciencesen_US
dc.publisher.facultyArts and Scienceen_US
dc.relation.ispartofseriesThesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science)
dc.subjectFishen_US
dc.subjectFisheries managementen_US
dc.subjectFreshwater ecosystemsen_US
dc.titleExamining the relationship between species richness of fish communities and their biomass in freshwater ecosystemsen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
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