Predicting the sensitivity of non-target fishes to low-head stream barriers

I tested whether the sensitivity of Great Lakes fishes to low-head barriers could be predicted from ecological and life history traits. The Great Lakes Fishery Commission (GLFC) is intensifying its use of low-head barriers as an alternative method of controlling the parasitic sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). Implementation of the GLFC's interim policy on barrier placement requires knowledge of stream fish sensitivity to barriers, but information is available for only 48 of 192 Great Lakes fishes. Using existing measures of sensitivity, I employed a conceptual model of stream fish colonization and extinction to construct hypotheses and compare predictive models using Akaike's information criteria (AIC). I demonstrated that the sensitivity of fishes to low-head barriers could be predicted using measures of lotic preference and predicted sensitivity for 32 additional species. Predicting sensitivity for species where direct measurements are lacking will assist fishery managers with decisions regarding barrier construction and fish passage research.