Behavioral cues enable native fishes to exit a California floodplain while leaving non‐native fishes behind
New Research by Ogaz et al. 2022
Floodplains are highly productive and serve as critical fish habitat. However, fish stranding on floodplains is also possible when water recedes and the dynamics of native and non-native fishes during these events have remained unclear. New research by Mollie Ogaz, Andrew Rypel, Robert Lusardi, Peter Moyle, and Carson Jeffres now shows how behavioral cues enable native fishes to exit a California floodplain while leaving non-native fishes behind. Floodplains in the Central Valley benefit native salmonids and are part of their life histories, therefore understanding their behavior on the floodplains under different environmental conditions can lead to better management and restoration opportunities.