Guilds

Definition

Probable reactions to environmental changes / disturbance

Reproductive Guild

Lithophils

Eggs deposited in clean gravels, rocks, stones, rubble or pebbles

Choking, desiccation or overly deep submergence of gravel substrates may render them unusable to the fish

Phytophils

Eggs deposited in plants, leaf and/or roots of live or dead vegetation

Generally resistant but can be affected by changes that affect distribution and abundance of submerged and emergent plants

Phytolithiphils

Eggs deposited in submerged plants, if available, or on other submerged items

Resistant to most environmental changes

Psammophils

Eggs deposited in roots or grass above a sandy bottom or on sand itself

Generally resistant but susceptible to excessive sedimentation

Lithopelagophils

Eggs deposited in rocks or gravels

Changes to flow regimes may result in eggs and larvae in the rivers being delayed in impoundments or carried past desirable nursery areas, resulting in mortality

Speleophils

Eggs deposited in interstitial spaces or crevices

Generally resistant

Polyphils

Non-specialised spawners / no preferred habitats

Flow preference guilds

Rheophilic

All freshwater life stages confined to lotic waters

Disturbed by changes to the flow regime that desiccate the pools or leave them for long periods without flow

Eurytopic

All life stages can occur in both lentic and lotic water

Sensitive to the drawdown phase of .the hydrological cycle. Usually non-migratory

Limnophilic

All life stages confined to lentic waters

Tolerant of low dissolved oxygen tensions