Microhabitat use by minnow, gudgeon and stone leach in three rivers in southwestern France

Microhabitat use by minnow, Phoxinus phoxinus (L.), gudgeon, Gobio gobio (L.) and stone loach, Barbatula barbatula (L.) was studied during winter and summer reduced discharge periods in the Rivers Ariege, Nive and Gave de Pau, southwestern France. Fish samples were collected using point abundance electrofishing and data on eleven environmental variables was obtained simultaneously. Interspecific relationships and species-habitat relationships were determined and compared by season in the three rivers. The observed seasonal variations of interspecific and species-habitat relationships were related to substrate variables and instream cover which play an important role in the spatial distribution of the three fish species studied.