The relationship between shoreline development and resident fish communities in a southeastern US reservoir

Abstract

Many water bodies throughout North America have experienced shoreline development such as armoring with bulkheads or riprap to reduce erosion and protect property. Although research has addressed the influence of such development in systems containing vegetation, systems that experiencewater-level fluctuations, and thus have limited vegetation, have received little attention. Here we quantify the effects of 4 types of shoreline development (bulkhead, riprap, bulkhead with riprap, and undeveloped) on the aquatic community in Lake Martin, Alabama, a reservoir that experiences large annual water-level fluctuations. We quantified abundance and species composition of larval, juvenile, and adult fishes; abundance and species composition of aquatic macroinvertebrates and zooplankton; and water quality characteristics at each site. Abiotic factors and lower trophic levels (i.e., chlorophyll a, zooplankton, macroinvertebrates) did not differ across shoreline types. In contrast, fish abundance was highest at sites with riprap, and fish species richness and species diversity both tended to be highest at undeveloped sites. While bluegill (Lepomis machrochirus)was the most abundant fish species at all shoreline types, the other commonly collected species showed strong association with particular habitats. Centrarchids, including bluegill, were most abundant at developed sites, and cyprinids were most abundant at undeveloped sites. Based on our findings, an interspersion of different shoreline types may be sufficient for maintaining fish community diversity; if shorelines cannot be interspersed, then some undeveloped shorelines should bemaintained in reservoirswith continuing human development, and when shorelines are armored, riprap should be included to provide interstitial spaces and shallow water for fish habitat. © Copyright by the North American Lake Management Society 2013.