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Vol. 45 No. 1, 2006
Ecomorphological Comparison and Habitat Preference of 2 Cyprinid Fishes, Varicorhinus barbatulus and Candidia barbatus, in Hapen Creek of Northern Taiwan
Ling-Chuan Chuang1,2, Yao-Sung Lin1,2, and Shih-Hsiung Liang3,*
1Department of Life Science, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan 106
2Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, College of Life Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan 106
3Institute of Life Science, National Kaohsiung Normal University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 824
Ling-Chuan Chuang, Yao-Sung Lin, and Shih-Hsiung Liang (2006) The morphological traits and habitat preferences of 2 common cyprinid fishes, Varicorhinus barbatulus and Candidia barbatus, were investigated in Hapen Creek, northern Taiwan from Aug. 1996 to Dec. 1998. Results showed that C. barbatus,
which has a laterally compressed body and large pectoral fins, is a
habitat specialist preferring pools with slow currents over riffles
with fast currents, while V. barbatulus,
which has a cylindrical body and small pectoral fins, is a habitat
generalist with no special preference for either pools or riffles. The
results of the stepwise multiple regression analyses suggested that
fish density was significantly related to stream width, canopy cover,
velocity shelter (IC3), and a combination of visual isolation and
velocity shelter (IC4) for adult V. barbatulus,
and to stream width, water depth, current velocity, and a combination
of visual isolation and velocity shelter (IC4) for juvenile V. barbatulus. The densities of C. barbatus
showed significant correlations with current velocity, stream width,
and canopy cover for adults, and with current velocity, stream width,
and a sand-gravel substrate for juveniles. Ecomorphological characters,
such as body form and fin size, may be useful predictors of habitat
preferences of freshwater fish and should be taken into account in
stream management and ecological engineering.
Key words: Varicorhinus barbatulus, Candidia barbatus, Morphology, Habitat, Taiwan.
*Correspondence: Tel: 886-7-6051355. Fax: 886-7-6051365. E-mail: shliang@nknucc.nknu.edu.tw
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