Historical and Contemporary Fish Dispersal in Australia's Northern Rivers

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Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Hughes, Jane
Other Supervisors
Pusey, Brad
Hadwen, Wade
Schmidt, Dan
Year published
2012
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Riverine environments present specific barriers and challenges to dispersing fish, depending on their dispersal capability. While some barriers are obvious and finite (for example a waterfall), the subtle influences of dendritic river network structure can also affect the dispersal, and therefore the genetic structure, of freshwater fish within river catchments. In addition to these natural barriers, artificial barriers like weirs and dams can have significant effects on the flow of genes between populations in rivers.
In order to achieve the effective management and conservation of populations there is a need to understand ...
View more >Riverine environments present specific barriers and challenges to dispersing fish, depending on their dispersal capability. While some barriers are obvious and finite (for example a waterfall), the subtle influences of dendritic river network structure can also affect the dispersal, and therefore the genetic structure, of freshwater fish within river catchments. In addition to these natural barriers, artificial barriers like weirs and dams can have significant effects on the flow of genes between populations in rivers. In order to achieve the effective management and conservation of populations there is a need to understand dispersal and how the movement of individuals impacts populations at a variety of scales. Studies of dispersal are important for the perspective they bring to the movement and migration of individuals and the subsequent flow of genes – both temporally and geographically. It is this spread of genes that largely determines the genetic diversity of populations, which is a quality necessary for the stability and persistence of individuals and populations.
View less >
View more >Riverine environments present specific barriers and challenges to dispersing fish, depending on their dispersal capability. While some barriers are obvious and finite (for example a waterfall), the subtle influences of dendritic river network structure can also affect the dispersal, and therefore the genetic structure, of freshwater fish within river catchments. In addition to these natural barriers, artificial barriers like weirs and dams can have significant effects on the flow of genes between populations in rivers. In order to achieve the effective management and conservation of populations there is a need to understand dispersal and how the movement of individuals impacts populations at a variety of scales. Studies of dispersal are important for the perspective they bring to the movement and migration of individuals and the subsequent flow of genes – both temporally and geographically. It is this spread of genes that largely determines the genetic diversity of populations, which is a quality necessary for the stability and persistence of individuals and populations.
View less >
Thesis Type
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Degree Program
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
School
Griffith School of Environment
Copyright Statement
The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise.
Item Access Status
Public
Subject
Fish dispersal
Australian fish population
Historical fish dispersal
Contemporary fish dispersal
Fish conservation
Genetic markers