Seasonal and diurnal patterns of littoral microhabitat use by fish in gravel pit lakes, with special reference to supplemented deadwood brush piles

Abstract The habitat quality of the littoral zone is key importance for almost all lentic fish species. In anthropogenically created gravel pit lakes, often structurally homogenized with limited habitats. We supplemented deadwood brush piles in eight lakes and investigated diurnal seasonal use this other typical microhabitats by six dominant Shoreline habitats were sampled using point abundance electrofishing during day night four seasons, patterns compared amongst unstructured habitats, emerged macrophytes piles. caught a total 14,458 specimens from 15 species lakes. Complex shoreline structures used that we examined, especially daytime, whilst was highest night. newly added constituted suitable selected species, perch ( Perca fluviatilis ), roach Rutilus rutilus ) pike Esox lucius particularly winter. Supplemented provides may to some degree compensate loss submerged winter offering refuge foraging