Copp, G. H. (1989).  The habitat diversity and fish reproductive function of 
floodplain ecosystems. Environmental Biology of Fishes.  26:1-27.
	
Fish reproduction in floodplain ecosystems, based on relative abundance and 
total biomass of 0+ juveniles, was studied using the synchronic approach to 
typological analysis in conjunction with Point Abundance Sampling by modified 
electrofishing. In 3 different flood plains of the Upper Rhone River, 1015 point 
samples yielding 4573 juveniles (0+) from 21 species were collected from 48 
ecosystems of various geomorphological origin. The results demonstrate the 
lotic-to-lentic succession of floodplain ecosystems to be a series of non-
sequential reproductive zones, with spawning conditions being reflected by the 
specific composition and guild structure of the YOY fish assemblages. The 
habitat diversity and the fish reproductive potential of floodplain ecosystems 
are strongly influenced by geomorphological origin and by past and present 
hydrological conditions.