Microhabitat use by 0+ and older fishes in a small English chalk stream

Abstract

The microhabitat use of two size/age classes of fish (0+, ≤ 1+) in the River Lee, based on measurements of 14 environmental variables, was studied using point abundance sampling by electrofishing over the summer and autumn of 1995. Microhabitat use by all cyprinid species (barbel Barbus barbus, minnow Phoxinus phoxinus, chub Leuciscus cephalus and gudgeon Gobio gobio) differed between 0+ and older (≤1+) with lentic, shallow, littoral environments being important for 0+ fishes, whereas deeper, faster areas in mid-channel were important for ≤1+ fishes. There was more overlap in microhabitat use by 0+ juvenile cyprinids in the River lee than in larger systems such as the River Danube (Slovakia/Hungary) and River Great Ouse (U.K.).