Characterizing the Reach Class Within Narrow Alkaline Cool Stream Valley Sgments in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, Northern Wisconsin
Aaron M. Wunderlin
Characterizing the relationship between species and habitat is very important in understanding stream systems. The narrow alkaline cool (NLO) stream valley segment is one of 13 observed stream valley segments in Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in northern Wisconsin. A Rosgen’s C channel site and an E channel site pair was selected was selected in each of 15 NLO stream valley segments. Each site was blocked off and electroshocked three consecutive times using the capture/removal method. The fish species were weighed and counted. To characterize the stream community, a NLO megaspecies, comprised of creek chub and blacknose dace, was identified. A regression model was used to determine total number of NLO representative fish per site. ANCOVA was used to determine the relationship between physical and biological site attributes and megaspecies biomass. Bankfull width, pH, and volumetric biomass of other, non-trout species were predictive of volumetric biomass of the NLO megaspecies. Fish community populations between channel types were also analyzed. E channel types had higher richness and average fish size than C channel types in these NLO streams. By establishing a relationship between habitat and species populations, fisheries managers will be better able to understand and manage the streams in Northern Wisconsin.