Integrating theory and empirical patterns: Fish body size distributions, life history traits, and environmental flows in streams

Taylor Woods; Daniel J. McGarvey; Matthew J. Cashman; Michael R. Meador; Daren M. Carlisle; Ken Eng; Darin A. Kopp; Kelly O. Maloney

doi:10.1126/sciadv.adu4026

Integrating theory and empirical patterns: Fish body size distributions, life history traits, and environmental flows in streams

Science Advances

By: Taylor Woods, Daniel J. McGarvey, Matthew J. Cashman, Michael R. Meador, Daren M. Carlisle, Ken Eng, Darin A. Kopp, and Kelly O. Maloney

https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adu4026

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Abstract

Individual size distributions (ISDs) are prominent in ecological research and may support resource managers with ecosystem-scale objectives. We use a database of individual size measurements for US stream fishes to test for direct and indirect effects of traits, flow regimes, and land use on the interspecific ISD exponent. Path analysis indicates that traits have strong, direct effects on ISD. Flow and land use effects on the exponent are largely indirectly mediated by their influences on species traits. ISD exponents increase (abundances of larger-bodied individuals increase, relative to smaller-bodied) when environments favor higher trophic levels, warmer thermal tolerances, and periodic life histories. Alternatively, ISD exponents decrease in systems that favor opportunistic life histories. Our flexible modeling framework that includes direct and indirect effects of traits, flow regimes, and land use on ISD could be expanded to incorporate additional variables that interact with flow (e.g., temperature and physical habitat) to assess of effects of multiple stressors on aquatic ecosystem functioning.

Suggested Citation

Woods, T., McGarvey, D.J., Cashman, M.J., Meador, M.R., Carlisle, D.M., Eng, K., Kopp, D.A., Maloney, K.O., 2025, Integrating theory and empirical patterns: Fish body size distributions, life history traits, and environmental flows in streams: Science Advances, v. 11, no. 51, eadu4026, 11 p., https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adu4026.

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Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Integrating theory and empirical patterns: Fish body size distributions, life history traits, and environmental flows in streams
Series title	Science Advances
DOI	10.1126/sciadv.adu4026
Volume	11
Issue	51
Year Published	2025
Language	English
Publisher	American Association for the Advancement of Science
Contributing office(s)	Eastern Ecological Science Center
Description	eadu4026, 11 p.
Country	United States