Within-channel flows promote spawning and recruitment of golden perch, Macquaria ambigua ambigua – implications for environmental flow management in the River Murray, Australia
Brenton P. Zampatti A B C and Sandra J. Leigh AA Inland Waters and Catchment Ecology Program, SARDI Aquatic Sciences, PO Box 120, Henley Beach, SA 5022, Australia.
B School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: Brenton.Zampatti@sa.gov.au
Marine and Freshwater Research 64(7) 618-630 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF12321
Submitted: 12 November 2012 Accepted: 22 March 2013 Published: 8 May 2013
Abstract
Restoring fish populations in regulated rivers requires an understanding of relationships between hydrology and population dynamics. In the present study, spawning and recruitment of golden perch, Macquaria ambigua ambigua, were investigated in relation to flow in the regulated lower River Murray. All life stages were sampled in three successive years, with peak flows of 8500 (2004–05), 15 000 (2005–06) and 7000 ML day–1 (2006–07). Larvae occurred only in November/December 2005, and young-of-year fish only in early 2006. Counts of daily increments in otolith microstructure indicated spawning in late October/early November 2005. Back-calculated birth years for adults, derived from otoliths and compared with the hydrograph for the preceding 25 years, revealed the dominance of three year classes spawned in association with increased discharge in 2000, 1998 and 1996. In 2007, an additional year class of 1-year-old fish appeared, following spawning in 2005. In each case, strong recruitment followed spring–summer spawning, when peak flows were >14 000 ML day–1 and water temperatures would have exceeded 20°C. Restoration of within-channel flows of 15–25 000 ML day–1 from late spring through summer would promote spawning and recruitment and improve the resilience of golden perch populations in the lower Murray.
Additional keywords: Chowilla, freshwater fish, Murray–Darling Basin, restoration, river regulation.
References
Allen, G. R., Midgley, S. H., and Allen, M. (2002). ‘Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia.’ (Western Australian Museum: Perth.)Anderson, J. R., Morison, A. K., and Ray, D. J. (1992). Validation of the use of thin-sectioned otoliths for determining the age and growth of golden perch, Macquaria ambigua (Perciformes: Percichthyidae), in the lower Murray–Darling Basin. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 43, 1103–1128.
| Validation of the use of thin-sectioned otoliths for determining the age and growth of golden perch, Macquaria ambigua (Perciformes: Percichthyidae), in the lower Murray–Darling Basin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Arthington, A. H., and Pusey, B. J. (2003). Flow restoration and protection in Australian rivers. River Research and Applications 19, 377–395.
| Flow restoration and protection in Australian rivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Balcombe, S. R., Arthington, A. H., Foster, N. D., Thoms, M. C., Wilson, G. G., and Bunn, S. E. (2006). Fish assemblages of an Australian dryland river: abundance, assemblage structure and recruitment patterns in the Warrego River, Murray–Darling Basin. Marine and Freshwater Research 57, 619–633.
| Fish assemblages of an Australian dryland river: abundance, assemblage structure and recruitment patterns in the Warrego River, Murray–Darling Basin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Barrett, J. (2004). Introducing the Murray–Darling Basin native fish strategy and initial steps towards demonstration reaches. Ecological Management & Restoration 5, 15–23.
| Introducing the Murray–Darling Basin native fish strategy and initial steps towards demonstration reaches.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Beechie, T., Buhle, E., Ruckelshaus, M., Fullerton, A., and Holsinger, L. (2006). Hydrologic regime and the conservation of salmon life history diversity. Biological Conservation 130, 560–572.
| Hydrologic regime and the conservation of salmon life history diversity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bradford, M. J., Higgins, P. S., Korman, J., and Sneep, J. (2011). Test of an environmental flow release is a British Columbia river: does more water mean more fish? Freshwater Biology 56, 2119–2134.
| Test of an environmental flow release is a British Columbia river: does more water mean more fish?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brown, L. R., and Ford, T. (2002). Effects of flow on the fish communities of a regulated California river: implications for managing native fishes. River Research and Applications 18, 331–342.
| Effects of flow on the fish communities of a regulated California river: implications for managing native fishes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brown, P., and Wooden, I. (2007). Age at first increment formation and validation of daily growth increments in golden perch (Macquaria ambigua: Percicthyidae) otoliths. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 41, 157–161.
| Age at first increment formation and validation of daily growth increments in golden perch (Macquaria ambigua: Percicthyidae) otoliths.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bunn, S. E., and Arthington, A. H. (2002). Basic principles and ecological consequences of altered flow regimes for aquatic biodiversity. Environmental Management 30, 492–507.
| Basic principles and ecological consequences of altered flow regimes for aquatic biodiversity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12481916PubMed |
Cadwallader, P. L. (1977). J. O. Langtry’s 1949–50 Murray River investigations. Fisheries and Wildlife Paper No. 13. Ministry for Conservation, Fisheries and Wildlife Division, Melbourne.
Cadwallader, P. L. (1978). Some causes of the decline in range and abundance of native fish in the Murray–Darling River system. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 90, 211–224.
Cambray, J. A., King, J. M., and Brewer, C. (1997). Spawning behaviour and early development of the Clanwilliam yellowfish (Barbus capensis: Cyprinidae), linked to experimental dam releases in the Olifants River, South Africa. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 13, 579–602.
| Spawning behaviour and early development of the Clanwilliam yellowfish (Barbus capensis: Cyprinidae), linked to experimental dam releases in the Olifants River, South Africa.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Campana, S. E. (2001). Accuracy, precision and quality control in age determination, including a review of the use and abuse of age validation methods. Journal of Fish Biology 59, 197–242.
| Accuracy, precision and quality control in age determination, including a review of the use and abuse of age validation methods.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Close, A. (1990). Impact of man on the natural flow regime. In ‘The Murray’. (Eds N. Mackay and D. Eastburn.) pp. 61–74. (Murray–Darling Basin Commission: Canberra.)
Commonwealth Environmental Water Office (CEWO) (2012). Commonwealth environmental water holdings: how much is there? Available at http://www.environment.gov.au/ewater/about/holdings.html [accessed 2 April 2012].
Ebner, B. C., Scholz, O., and Gawne, B. (2009). Golden perch Macquaria ambigua are flexible spawners in the Darling River, Australia. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 43, 571–578.
| Golden perch Macquaria ambigua are flexible spawners in the Darling River, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Elsdon, T. S., Wells, B. K., Campana, S. E., Gillanders, B. M., Jones, C. M., Limburg, K. E., Secor, D. H., Thorrold, S. R., and Walther, B. D. (2008). Otolith chemistry to describe movements and life-history parameters of fishes: hypotheses, assumptions, limitations and inferences. Oceanography and Marine Biology – an Annual Review 46, 297–330.
| Otolith chemistry to describe movements and life-history parameters of fishes: hypotheses, assumptions, limitations and inferences.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Faragher, R. A., and Rodgers, M. (1997). Performance of sampling-gear types in the New South Wales rivers survey. In ‘Fish and Rivers in Stress’. (Eds. J. H. Harris and P. C. Gehrke.) pp. 251–267. (NSW Fisheries Office of Conservation: Cronulla.)
Faulks, L. K., Gilligan, D. M., and Beheregaray, L. B. (2010). Clarifying an ambiguous evolutionary history: range-wide phylogeography of an Australian freshwater fish, the golden perch (Macquaria ambigua). Journal of Biogeography 37, 1329–1340.
| Clarifying an ambiguous evolutionary history: range-wide phylogeography of an Australian freshwater fish, the golden perch (Macquaria ambigua).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Floyd, K. B., Courtenay, W. H., and Hoyt, R. D. (1984). A new larval fish light trap – the quatrefoil trap. Progressive Fish-Culturist 46, 216–219.
| A new larval fish light trap – the quatrefoil trap.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gehrke, P. C. (1994). Influence of light intensity and wavelength on phototactic behaviour of larval silver perch Bidyanus bidyanus and golden perch Macquaria ambigua and the effectiveness of light traps. Journal of Fish Biology 44, 741–751.
Gehrke, P. C., Brown, P., Schiller, C. B., Moffatt, D. B., and Bruce, A. M. (1995). River regulation and fish communities in the Murray–Darling River system, Australia. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 11, 363–375.
| River regulation and fish communities in the Murray–Darling River system, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gilligan, D., and Schiller, C. (2003). Downstream transport of larval and juvenile fish in the Murray River. NRMS Project No. R7019. NSW Fisheries Final Report Series No. 50.(NSW Fisheries: Cronulla.)
Harris, J. H., and Gehrke, P. C. (1993). Development of predictive models linking fish population recruitment with streamflow. In ‘Population Dynamics for Fisheries Management: Australian Society for Fish Biology Workshop, Sorrento, Western Australia, 23–24 August 1993’. (Ed. D. A. Hancock.) pp 195–199. (Australian Government Publishing Service: Canberra.)
Hobbs, J. A., Yin, Q., Burton, J., and Bennett, W. A. (2005). Retrospective determination of natal habitats for an estuarine fish with otolith strontium isotope ratios. Marine and Freshwater Research 56, 655–660.
| Retrospective determination of natal habitats for an estuarine fish with otolith strontium isotope ratios.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2MXmsVyqsbo%3D&md5=83403c21184d1efe8891c4d331dfbc3aCAS |
Humphries, P., King, A. J., and Koehn, J. D. (1999). Fish, flows and floodplains: links between freshwater fishes and their environment in the Murray–Darling River system, Australia. Environmental Biology of Fishes 56, 129–151.
| Fish, flows and floodplains: links between freshwater fishes and their environment in the Murray–Darling River system, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Humphries, P., Serafini, L. G., and King, A. J. (2002). River regulation and fish larvae: variation through space and time. Freshwater Biology 47, 1307–1331.
| River regulation and fish larvae: variation through space and time.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Humphries, P., Brown, P., Douglas, J., Pickworth, A., Strongman, R., Hall, K., and Serafini, L. (2008). Flow-related patterns in abundance and composition of the fish fauna of a degraded Australian lowland river. Freshwater Biology 53, 789–813.
| Flow-related patterns in abundance and composition of the fish fauna of a degraded Australian lowland river.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXltlSltrY%3D&md5=1e36a2b9b8c7e73913ab3179a26b865cCAS |
Junk, W. J., Bayley, P. B., and Sparks, R. E. (1989). The flood pulse concept in river-floodplain ecosystems. Canadian Special Publication of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 106, 110–127.
Kailola, P. J., Williams, M. J., Stewart, P. C., Reichelt, R. E., McNee, A., and Grieve, C. (1993). ‘Australian Fisheries Resources.’ (Bureau of Resource Sciences: Canberra.)
Kerezsy, A., Balcombe, S. R., Arthington, A. H., and Bunn, S. E. (2011). Continuous recruitment underpins fish persistence in the arid rivers of far-western Queensland, Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research 62, 1178–1190.
| Continuous recruitment underpins fish persistence in the arid rivers of far-western Queensland, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
King, J., Cambray, J. A., and Impson, N. D. (1998). Linked effects of dam-released floods and water temperature on spawning of the Clanwilliam yellowfish Barbus capensis. Hydrobiologia 384, 245–265.
| Linked effects of dam-released floods and water temperature on spawning of the Clanwilliam yellowfish Barbus capensis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
King, A. J., Crook, D. A., Koster, W. M., Mahoney, J., and Tonkin, Z. (2005). Comparison of larval fish drift in the lower Goulburn and mid-Murray Rivers. Ecological Management & Restoration 6, 136–139.
| Comparison of larval fish drift in the lower Goulburn and mid-Murray Rivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
King, A. J., Tonkin, Z., and Mahoney, J. (2009). Environmental flow enhances native fish spawning and recruitment in the Murray River, Australia. River Research and Applications 25, 1205–1218.
| Environmental flow enhances native fish spawning and recruitment in the Murray River, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
King, A. J., Ward, K. A., O’Connor, P., Green, D., Tonkin, Z., and Mahoney, J. (2010). Adaptive management of an environmental watering event to enhance native fish spawning and recruitment. Freshwater Biology 55, 17–31.
| Adaptive management of an environmental watering event to enhance native fish spawning and recruitment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lake, J. S. (1967). Rearing experiments with five species of Australian freshwater fishes. I. Inducement to spawning. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 18, 137–153.
| Rearing experiments with five species of Australian freshwater fishes. I. Inducement to spawning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lloyd, L. (1990). Fish communities. In ‘Chowilla Floodplain Biological Study’. (Eds C. O’Malley and F. Sheldon.) pp. 183–193. (Nature Conservation Society of South Australia: Adelaide.)
Longhurst, A. (2002). Murphy’s law revisited: longevity as a factor in recruitment to fish populations. Fisheries Research 56, 125–131.
| Murphy’s law revisited: longevity as a factor in recruitment to fish populations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lucas, M. C., and Baras, E. (2001). ‘Migration of Freshwater Fishes.’ (Blackwell Science: Oxford, UK.)
Macdonald, J. I., Shelley, J. M. G., and Crook, D. A. (2008). A method for improving the estimation of natal chemical signatures in otoliths. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 137, 1674–1682.
| A method for improving the estimation of natal chemical signatures in otoliths.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mackay, N. J. (1973). Histological changes in the ovaries of the golden perch, Plectroplites ambiguus, associated with the reproductive cycle. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 24, 95–101.
| Histological changes in the ovaries of the golden perch, Plectroplites ambiguus, associated with the reproductive cycle.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Maheshwari, B. L., Walker, K. F., and McMahon, T. A. (1995). Effects of regulation on the flow regime of the River Murray, Australia. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 10, 15–38.
| Effects of regulation on the flow regime of the River Murray, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Malcolm, I. A., Gibbins, C. N., Sousby, C., Tetzlaff, D., and Moir, H. J. (2012). The influence of hydrology and hydraulics on salmonids between spawning and emergence: implications for the management of flows in regulated rivers. Fisheries Management and Ecology 19, 464–474.
| The influence of hydrology and hydraulics on salmonids between spawning and emergence: implications for the management of flows in regulated rivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mallen-Cooper, M. (1996). Fishways and freshwater fish migration in south-eastern Australia’. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Technology, Sydney.
Mallen-Cooper, M., and Stuart, I. G. (2003). Age, growth and non-flood recruitment of two potamodromous fishes in a large semi-arid/temperate river system. River Research and Applications 19, 697–719.
| Age, growth and non-flood recruitment of two potamodromous fishes in a large semi-arid/temperate river system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Minckley, W. L., Marsh, P. C., Deacon, J. E., Dowling, T. E., Hedrich, P. W., Matthews, W. J., and Mueller, G. (2003). A conservation plan for fishes of the lower Colorado River. Bioscience 53, 219–234.
| A conservation plan for fishes of the lower Colorado River.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Murchie, K. J., Hair, K. P. E., Pullen, C. E., Redpath, T. D., Stephens, H. R., and Cooke, S. J. (2008). Fish response to modified flow regimes in regulated rivers: research methods, effects and opportunities. River Research and Applications 24, 197–217.
| Fish response to modified flow regimes in regulated rivers: research methods, effects and opportunities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Musyl, M. K., and Keenan, C. P. (1992). Population genetics and zoogeography of Australian freshwater golden perch, Macquaria ambigua (Richardson 1845) (Teleostei: Percicthyidae), and electrophoretic identification of a new species from the Lake Eyre Basin. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 43, 1585–1601.
| Population genetics and zoogeography of Australian freshwater golden perch, Macquaria ambigua (Richardson 1845) (Teleostei: Percicthyidae), and electrophoretic identification of a new species from the Lake Eyre Basin.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pierce, B. E. (1990). ‘Chowilla Fisheries Investigations.’ (South Australian Department of Fisheries: Adelaide.)
Poff, N. L., and Zimmerman, K. H. (2010). Ecological responses to altered flow regimes: a literature review to inform science and management of environmental flows. Freshwater Biology 55, 194–205.
| Ecological responses to altered flow regimes: a literature review to inform science and management of environmental flows.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Poff, N. L., Olden, J. D., Merritt, D. M., and Pepin, D. M. (2007). Homogenization of regional river dynamics by dams and global biodiversity implications. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 104, 5732–5737.
| Homogenization of regional river dynamics by dams and global biodiversity implications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2sXkt1Kgsb4%3D&md5=b0292d8cced608c47ef8be7fd6ea81a7CAS | 17360379PubMed |
Poff, N. L., Richter, B. D., Arthington, A. H., Bunn, S. E., Naiman, R. J., Kendy, E., Acreman, M., Apse, C., Bledsoe, B. P., Freeman, M. C., Henriksen, J., Jacobson, R. B., Kennen, J. G., Merritt, D. M., O’Keeffe, J. H., Olden, J. D., Rogers, K., Tharme, R. E., and Warner, A. (2010). The ecological limits of hydrologic alteration (ELOHA): a new framework for developing regional environmental flow standards. Freshwater Biology 55, 147–170.
| The ecological limits of hydrologic alteration (ELOHA): a new framework for developing regional environmental flow standards.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Puckridge, J. T., Sheldon, F., Walker, K. F., and Boulton, A. J. (1998). Flow variability and the ecology of large rivers. Marine and Freshwater Research 49, 55–72.
| Flow variability and the ecology of large rivers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Roberts, D. T., Duivenvoorden, L. J., and Stuart, I. G. (2008). Factors influencing recruitment patterns of golden perch (Macquaria ambigua oriens) within a hydrologically variable and regulated Australian tropical river system. Ecology Freshwater Fish 17, 577–589.
| Factors influencing recruitment patterns of golden perch (Macquaria ambigua oriens) within a hydrologically variable and regulated Australian tropical river system.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schiller, C. B., and Harris, J. H. (2001) Native and alien fish. In ‘Rivers as Ecological Systems: the Murray–Darling Basin’. (Ed. W. J. Young.) pp. 229–258. (Murray–Darling Basin Commission: Canberra.)
Serafini, L. G., and Humphries, P. (2004). Preliminary guide to the identification of larvae of fish, with a bibliography of their studies, from the Murray Darling Basin. Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology, NSW.
Souchon, Y., Sabaton, C., Deibel, R., Reiser, D., Kershner, J., Gard, M., Katopodis, C., Leonard, P., Poff, N. L., Miller, W. J., and Lamb, B. L. (2008). Detecting biological responses to flow management: missed opportunities; future directions. River Research and Applications 24, 506–518.
| Detecting biological responses to flow management: missed opportunities; future directions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stuart, I. (2006). Validation of otoliths for determining age of golden perch, a long-lived freshwater fish of Australia. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 26, 52–55.
| Validation of otoliths for determining age of golden perch, a long-lived freshwater fish of Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Vilizzi, L., Meredith, S. N., Sharpe, C. P., and Rehwinkel, R. (2008). Evaluating light trap efficiency by application of mesh to prevent inter- and intra-specific in situ predation on fish larvae and juveniles. Fisheries Research 93, 146–153.
| Evaluating light trap efficiency by application of mesh to prevent inter- and intra-specific in situ predation on fish larvae and juveniles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Walker, K. F. (2006). Serial weirs, cumulative effects: the lower River Murray, Australia. In ‘Ecology of Desert Rivers’. (Ed. R. Kingsford.) pp. 248–279. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)
Walker, K. F., and Thoms, M. (1993). Environmental effects of flow regulation on the lower River Murray, Australia. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 8, 103–119.
| Environmental effects of flow regulation on the lower River Murray, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Walker, K. F., Sheldon, F., and Puckridge, J. T. (1995). A perspective on dryland river ecosystems. Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 11, 85–104.
| A perspective on dryland river ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |