Anadromous fish as keystone species in vertebrate communities
Willson MF and Halupka KC. 1995. Anadromous fish as keystone species in vertebrate communities. Conservation Biology. 9(3):489-497
Many wildlife species feed on anadromous fishes of several life-history stages. There is evidence for some wildlife species that the availability of anadromous fish is critically important for survival or reproduction. In some regions anadromous fishes in fresh water appear to be keystone food resources for vertebrate predators and scavengers, forging an ecologically significant link between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The spatial distribution of anadromous fish in fresh water, including the occurrence of runs in very small streams, has important consequences for wildlife biology (social interactions, distribution, activity patterns, possibly survivorship) and conservation of biodiversity.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Willson, M; Halupka, K
- Units
- GLBA , KLGO , SITK , SEAN
- Keywords
- Atlantic salmon, Bald Eagles, Birds, Ducks, eastern vancouver island, Ecology, food-searching behavior, juvenile pacific salmon, Merganser Mergus-merganser, Salmon Oncorhynchus-kisutch, Seabirds, selective predation, watefowl