Fish and grazing relationships: The facts and some pleas
-
-
Authors: J. N. Rinne
Date: 1999
Journal: Fisheries
Volume: 24
Number: 8
Pages: 12-21
Summary of Methods: The objectives of this review article are to address the relationships of fish, fish habitat, and grazing in the U.S. Forest Service's Southwestern Region, which includes Arizona and New Mexico. Although extensive research exists about grazing in the Rocky Mountain states, Intermountain, and Pacific Northwest regions, there is little literature that addresses fish-grazing relationships. Most of the literature that deals with fish and grazing relationships appears in publications that are not peer-reviewed. This lack of peer-reviewed literature containing sound data on grazing-fish relationships suggests that recommendations are needed for future study design, research, and land management relationships. Based on the author's personal research at 3 sites in Arizona and New Mexico, he concludes that certain factors were obvious from data that confound fish-grazing studies and lead to inconclusive results. For example, most studies of fish-grazing relationships address salmonid species. In the Southwest, cypriniform species have to be separated from trout in delineating grazing effects. Key components, such as definition of linkages, cooperative management and research, and collection of scientific data, rather than regeneration of reviews and opinions, are required for a valid and defensible definition of grazing-fish relationships.
Article Summary / Main Points: Although extensive research exists about the effects of grazing (herbivory) on vegetation and less on streambanks (trampling, compaction), in the Rocky Mountain states, Intermountain and Pacific Northwest regions, there is little literature that addresses specific fish-grazing relationships (e.g., channel morphology, streambanks, cover, instream substrates, water column characteristics). Most of the literature that deals with fish and grazing relationships appears in publications that are not peer-reviewed. Based on the author's personal research at 3 sites in Arizona and New Mexico, he concludes that certain factors confound fish-grazing studies and lead to inconclusive results. For example fish species need to be separated to delineate the effects of grazing. Sound research is required for a valid and defensible definition of grazing-fish relationships.
Vegetation Types:
MLRA Ecoregions:
Agrovoc Control Words: Riparian zones Rangelands Wildlife
Article Review Type: Refereed
Article Type: Scientific Synthesis
Keywords: grazing, fish, fish-grazing management, southwest, riparian ecosystems, watersheds
Annotation: This summary uses both literature and empirical data to illustrate that existing research focuses on the effect grazing (herbivory) on vegetation and less on streambanks (trampling, compaction), in the Rocky Mountain states, Intermountain, and Pacific Northwest regions. This is a good literature review that highlights the challenges with the current research though it may just be when this was published but there is more and more research looking at the specific effects of grazing on the stream all the time.
-
Get article
Cite article with DOI
-