Dataset Information

Fine scale characteristics of catfish aquaculture ponds influencing piscivorous avian species foraging use in the Mississippi Delta.

ABSTRACT: Piscivorous avian species are the main source of catfish depredation at aquaculture facilities in Mississippi, resulting in the economic loss of millions of dollars every year. Most notable of these avian species are the double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), great blue heron (Ardea herodias), and great egret (A. alba). Understanding why these species select specific ponds can increase management efficiency directed at avian dispersal and provide insight into their decision making with respect to foraging behavior. We collected species presence data on catfish ponds by flying 35 surveys from October through April of 2015-2017, during which an average of 973 catfish ponds were observed each year. We collected data associated with each pond's physical surroundings and contents and used occupancy modeling to determine their influence on avian occupancy probability. We also collected data associated with stocking practices and catfish health on a subset of ponds, and constructed resource selection functions to model their influence on avian presence. Pond area was positively related to occupancy probability of each species. Cormorant occupancy increased as pond distance from forest cover and activity centers, such as workshops and offices, increased. Distance to nearest activity center was positively related to egret occupancy, while distance to nearest forested area was negative. Ponds containing diseased catfish had an increased probability of use by both herons and egrets. In general, cormorants and egrets showed greater probability of use on the periphery of pond clusters. The abundance of catfish was positively related to cormorant and heron presence. Specific pond contents and characteristics influenced presence of each avian species in different ways, including fish species cultured, production methods, pond systems, and fish types. Many pond selection relationships were species-specific, illustrating inherent differences in their foraging ecology. Consequently, specific management actions aimed to reduce avian presence will depend on the targeted species.

SUBMITTER: Burr PC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7043738 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Fine scale characteristics of catfish aquaculture ponds influencing piscivorous avian species foraging use in the Mississippi Delta.

Burr Paul C PC Avery Jimmy L JL Street Garrett M GM Strickland Bronson K BK Dorr Brian S BS

PloS one 20200226 2

Piscivorous avian species are the main source of catfish depredation at aquaculture facilities in Mississippi, resulting in the economic loss of millions of dollars every year. Most notable of these avian species are the double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus), great blue heron (Ardea herodias), and great egret (A. alba). Understanding why these species select specific ponds can increase management efficiency directed at avian dispersal and provide insight into their decision making wit ...[more]

PMID: 32101563

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Project description:Despite fungi playing an important role in nutrient decomposition in aquatic ecosystems and being considered as vital actors in the ecological processes, they received limited attention regarding the community in aquaculture pond sediments which are extremely important and typically disturbed habitats. Using an ITS1 region of fungal rDNA, this study aimed to investigate sediment fungal communities in fish, crab, and crayfish ponds for decades of farming practices at representative aquaculture regions in the middle Yangtze River basin, China. We then aimed to explore the community patterns associated with species-based farming practices in the ponds at 18 farms. The results showed that the pond sediments harbored more than 9,000 operational taxonomic units. The sediments had significantly higher alpha diversity in crab ponds compared to that in fish and crayfish ponds. The fungal phyla largely belonged to Ascomycota and Chytridiomycota, and the dominance of Rozellomycota over Basidiomycota and Aphelidiomycota was observed. The majority of sediment fungal members were ascribed to unclassified fungi, with higher proportions in fish ponds than crab and crayfish ponds. Further, the fungal communities were markedly distinct among the three types of ponds, suggesting divergent patterns of fungal community assemblages caused by farming practices in aquaculture ponds. The community diversity and structure were closely correlated to sediment properties, especially sediment carbon content and pH. Thus, the distribution and pattern of fungal communities in the sediments appear to primarily depend on species-based farming practices responsible for the resulting sediment carbon content and pH in aquaculture ponds. This study provides a detailed snapshot and extension of understanding fungal community structure and variability in pond ecosystems, highlighting the impacts of farming practices on the assembly and succession of sediment fungal communities in aquaculture ponds.

Dataset Information

Fine scale characteristics of catfish aquaculture ponds influencing piscivorous avian species foraging use in the Mississippi Delta.

Publications

Fine scale characteristics of catfish aquaculture ponds influencing piscivorous avian species foraging use in the Mississippi Delta.

Similar Datasets

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