Ecomorphological Comparison and Habitat Preference of 2 Cyprinid Fishes, Varicorhinus barbatulus and Candidia barbatus, in Hapen Creek of Northern Taiwan

Ling-Chuan Chuang ； Yao-Sung Lin ； Shih-Hsiung Liang

《Zoological Studies》 45卷1期 (2006/01) Pp. 114-123

並列摘要

The morphological traits and habitat preferences of 2 common cyprinid fishes, Varicorhinus barbatulus and Candidia barbatus, were investigated in Hapen Creek, northern Taiwan from Aug. 1996 to Dec. 1998. Results showed that C. barbatus, which has a laterally compressed body and large pectoral fins, is a habitat specialist preferring pools with slow currents over riffles with fast currents, while V. barbatulus, which has a cylindrical body and small pectoral fins, is a habitat generalist with no special preference for either pools or riffles. The results of the stepwise multiple regression analyses suggested that fish density was significantly related to stream width, canopy cover, velocity shelter (IC3), and a combination of visual isolation and velocity shelter (IC4) for adult V. barbatulus, and to stream width, water depth, current velocity, and a combination of visual isolation and velocity shelter (IC4) for juvenile V. barbatulus. The densities of C. barbatus showed significant correlations with current velocity, stream width, and canopy cover for adults, and with current velocity, stream width, and a sand-gravel substrate for juveniles. Ecomorphological characters, such as body form and fin size, may be useful predictors of habitat preferences of freshwater fish and should be taken into account in stream management and ecological engineering.

並列關鍵字

Varicorhinus barbatulus ； Candidia barbatus ； Morphology ； Habitat ； Taiwan