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Temporal and spatial ecology of an iconic Labeobarbus spp. in a socio-economically important river

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Abstract

Understanding the biological response to increasing anthropogenic stressors is an important consideration to make when evaluating ecosystem well-being. Among aquatic ecological indicators, fish are effective as they are mobile and can be monitored relatively easily. The socio-economically important uMngeni River in South Africa is a highly regulated ‘working river’ and has seen a reduction in the numbers of its iconic Labeobarbus spp. as a result, primarily the KwaZulu-Natal yellowfish Labeobarbus natalensis. To understand how this species has adapted to these anthropogenic changes, we evaluated the reach-scale movements and habitat use of L. natalensis (n = 43) from August 2018 to August 2019 between Midmar and Albert Falls Dams. We included monitoring environmental parameters using radio telemetry methods. We found that L. natalensis showed facultative movements and typically exhibited diurnal activities. Habitat availability was important and appeared to depend on refugia during the austral winter (May to July) and spawning or body condition during austral summer (December to February). Upstream reach-scale movements were cued primarily by water temperature where flow provided access and maintained available habitats for breeding. Maintaining adequate flows during critical periods of movement and spawning is important and will assist in maintaining the population of L. natalensis. Furthermore, removing redundant instream barriers or fitting these with adequate fish passages will improve the fragmented population resilience of L. natalensis. These mitigation measures will improve ecosystem resilience and reduce the impacts of increasing anthropogenic stressors associated with socio-economically important rivers.

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Data availability

The data belong to the University of KwaZulu-Natal and are available from the first author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The Ford Wildlife Foundation (ZA) for vehicle support and SkyBot CC (ZA) for their assistance in locating tagged fish. The Centre for Water Resource and Research (UKZN, ZA) and the Centre for Functional Biodiversity (UKZN, ZA) are thanked for support.

Funding

We are grateful to Umgeni Water (ZA), the National Research Foundation (NRF, ZA, Grant 98404), the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN, ZA), the NRF BRICS Multilateral Joint Science and Technology Research Collaboration study titled, ‘Global and local water quality monitoring by multimodal sensor systems’, the NRF Community of Practice grant and the Durban Research Action Project (D’RAP, ZA) facilitated through UKZN and the University of Mpumalanga (ZA) for funding.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Functional Biodiversity, School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

    Matthew J. Burnett & Colleen T. Downs

  2. Centre for Water Resource and Research, School of Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, P/Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa

    Matthew J. Burnett & Graham Jewitt

  3. School of Biology and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Nelspruit, 1200, South Africa

    Gordon C. O’Brien

  4. Institute for Water Education, IHE Delft, Westvest, Delft 2611, South Holland, Netherlands

    Graham Jewitt

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MB, GOB, GJ and CTD conceptualised the study. MB designed, collected the data, analysed the data and wrote the manuscript. Co-authors provided guidance on statistical analyses, structure and editing on the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Colleen T. Downs.

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Ethics were obtained from the University of KwaZulu-Natal ethics committee (AREC) permit number: AREC 070 017D. Relevant permits were obtained through the local conservation body Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife (EKZN Wildlife) permit number: OP 1432/2018.

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Burnett, M.J., O’Brien, G.C., Jewitt, G. et al. Temporal and spatial ecology of an iconic Labeobarbus spp. in a socio-economically important river. Environ Biol Fish 104, 1103–1119 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-021-01140-5

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