Assessing Patterns and Risk to Chilean Freshwater Fish Distributions Using Multi‐Species Occupancy Models
ABSTRACT To advance our understanding of freshwater biodiversity in data‐limited systems, this study used multispecies occupancy models to predict species richness and individual species occupancy, providing critical insights for the conservation of these rapidly declining ecosystems. Chilean waters...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71719 |
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| author | Erin E. Tracy Evelyn Habit Konrad Górski Nann A. Fangue Andrew L. Rypel |
| author_facet | Erin E. Tracy Evelyn Habit Konrad Górski Nann A. Fangue Andrew L. Rypel |
| author_sort | Erin E. Tracy |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT To advance our understanding of freshwater biodiversity in data‐limited systems, this study used multispecies occupancy models to predict species richness and individual species occupancy, providing critical insights for the conservation of these rapidly declining ecosystems. Chilean watersheds were chosen as the study system as they support a highly endemic and vulnerable assemblage of freshwater fishes in need of increased research and management. We tested several model types and ultimately pursued latent spatial multispecies occupancy models, which gained popularity in wildlife ecology, but are relatively underutilized in fisheries ecology. Advantages include simultaneously modeling multiple species to infer both species‐specific and assemblage‐level responses to hydro‐geomorphological conditions while also accounting for imperfect species detections. Model results showed that fish species richness is primarily driven by negative relationships with elevation; however, individual species responses were variable across all environmental drivers. We present maps of predicted occupancies, representing niche model results for selected native and nonnative species. Finally, to put our results in the context of the rapid development in hydropower taking place throughout Chile, we analyzed predicted species richness and occupancy patterns in relation to aquatic ecosystem fragmentation risk from current and planned dams throughout Chile. Results showed a large number of dams are planned for the diverse lower elevation areas of the Biobio, Valdivia, and Puelo River Basins, highlighting the potential for negative impacts to the species that inhabit them. As over half the species modeled are currently listed as endangered, critically endangered, or data deficient by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), model outputs could aid in conservation planning. This approach not only enhances our ability to protect Chile's unique and vulnerable freshwater fish species but also provides a robust framework for integrating modeled ecological insights of data‐limited systems into conservation planning. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-5ebd1436edf74dc19904dd228d28596a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-5ebd1436edf74dc19904dd228d28596a2025-08-20T03:58:44ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582025-07-01157n/an/a10.1002/ece3.71719Assessing Patterns and Risk to Chilean Freshwater Fish Distributions Using Multi‐Species Occupancy ModelsErin E. Tracy0Evelyn Habit1Konrad Górski2Nann A. Fangue3Andrew L. Rypel4Department of Wildlife, Fish & Conservation Biology University of California Davis Davis California USADepartamento de Sistemas Acuáticos Facultad de Ciencias Ambientales, Universidad de Concepción Concepción ChileInstituto de Ciencias Marinas y Limnológicas Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile Valdivia ChileDepartment of Wildlife, Fish & Conservation Biology University of California Davis Davis California USADepartment of Wildlife, Fish & Conservation Biology University of California Davis Davis California USAABSTRACT To advance our understanding of freshwater biodiversity in data‐limited systems, this study used multispecies occupancy models to predict species richness and individual species occupancy, providing critical insights for the conservation of these rapidly declining ecosystems. Chilean watersheds were chosen as the study system as they support a highly endemic and vulnerable assemblage of freshwater fishes in need of increased research and management. We tested several model types and ultimately pursued latent spatial multispecies occupancy models, which gained popularity in wildlife ecology, but are relatively underutilized in fisheries ecology. Advantages include simultaneously modeling multiple species to infer both species‐specific and assemblage‐level responses to hydro‐geomorphological conditions while also accounting for imperfect species detections. Model results showed that fish species richness is primarily driven by negative relationships with elevation; however, individual species responses were variable across all environmental drivers. We present maps of predicted occupancies, representing niche model results for selected native and nonnative species. Finally, to put our results in the context of the rapid development in hydropower taking place throughout Chile, we analyzed predicted species richness and occupancy patterns in relation to aquatic ecosystem fragmentation risk from current and planned dams throughout Chile. Results showed a large number of dams are planned for the diverse lower elevation areas of the Biobio, Valdivia, and Puelo River Basins, highlighting the potential for negative impacts to the species that inhabit them. As over half the species modeled are currently listed as endangered, critically endangered, or data deficient by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), model outputs could aid in conservation planning. This approach not only enhances our ability to protect Chile's unique and vulnerable freshwater fish species but also provides a robust framework for integrating modeled ecological insights of data‐limited systems into conservation planning.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71719aquatic conservationbiodiversitydata‐limitedfreshwater fishmultispecies occupancy modelsrivers |
| spellingShingle | Erin E. Tracy Evelyn Habit Konrad Górski Nann A. Fangue Andrew L. Rypel Assessing Patterns and Risk to Chilean Freshwater Fish Distributions Using Multi‐Species Occupancy Models Ecology and Evolution aquatic conservation biodiversity data‐limited freshwater fish multispecies occupancy models rivers |
| title | Assessing Patterns and Risk to Chilean Freshwater Fish Distributions Using Multi‐Species Occupancy Models |
| title_full | Assessing Patterns and Risk to Chilean Freshwater Fish Distributions Using Multi‐Species Occupancy Models |
| title_fullStr | Assessing Patterns and Risk to Chilean Freshwater Fish Distributions Using Multi‐Species Occupancy Models |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing Patterns and Risk to Chilean Freshwater Fish Distributions Using Multi‐Species Occupancy Models |
| title_short | Assessing Patterns and Risk to Chilean Freshwater Fish Distributions Using Multi‐Species Occupancy Models |
| title_sort | assessing patterns and risk to chilean freshwater fish distributions using multi species occupancy models |
| topic | aquatic conservation biodiversity data‐limited freshwater fish multispecies occupancy models rivers |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71719 |
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