Laub, B.G., and P. Budy. 2015. Assessing the likely effectiveness of multi-species management for imperiled desert fishes using niche overlap analysis. Conservation Biology. DOI: 10.1111.
Abstract
A critical decision in species conservation is whether to target individual species or a complex
of ecologically similar species. Management of multispecies complexes is likely to be most effective when
species share similar distributions, threats, and response to threats. We used niche overlap analysis to assess
ecological similarity of 3 sensitive desert fish species currently managed as an ecological complex. We measured
the amount of shared distribution of multiple habitat and life history parameters between each pair of species.
Habitat use and multiple life history parameters, includingmaximum body length, spawning temperature, and
longevity, differed significantly among the 3 species. The differences in habitat use and life history parameters
among the species suggest they are likely to respond differently to similar threats and that most management
actions will not benefit all 3 species equally. Habitat restoration, frequency of stream dewatering, non-native
species control, and management efforts in tributaries versus main stem rivers are all likely to impact each
of the species differently. Our results demonstrate that niche overlap analysis provides a powerful tool for
assessing the likely effectiveness of multispecies versus single-species conservation plans.
Keywords: Catostomus discobolus, Catostomus latipinnis, ecological similarity, Gila robusta, habitat