The Functional Habitat Concept does apply to fish assemblages of the regulated Lower Ord River, Western Australia

摘要: *This paper tests the applicability of Functional Habitat Concept (FHC) to fish fauna regulated Lower Ord River (LOR), a highly lowland tropical river in remote Northern Province Kimberley region Western Australia. The underlying tenet FHC is that instream hydrological and physical processes form distinct habitats, where these habitats support faunal assemblages they are considered ‘functional’ habitats. Eight ‘potential’ in-stream were identified LOR on basis their properties across wet dry seasons. Multivariate species preference analysis data indicated deep shallow water supported assemblages. Shallow characterised by small-bodied juveniles large bodied species, while adults smaller large-bodied fishes. Four season (shallow backwaters, gravel-cobble runs, flooded riparian vegetation channel pools). Most (except pools) also discernable season, together with emergent macrophyte habitat. Individual life stages demonstrated clear habitat preferences, supporting greater richness than Between differences greatest as was number significant preferences specific Given importance susceptibility impacts from further abstraction, environmental flows for must be designed protect maintain current distribution area key types dependent faunas. In has been little studied, potentially aids preservation diversity it identifies critical functional managers maintain.