Dataset for 'Effects of gravel extraction and habitat restoration on fish populations in a braided river'

Mean environmental variables among treatments across sampling months. Environmental variables included are depth, nutrients (total phosphorus and total nitrogen), velocity and discharge. All variables were sampled monthly in February, March, and April, apart from POND depth which was sampled in February and April only.The growth of upland bullies in their second year (1+) was estimated to test the effect of treatment on fish growth. The annual growth increments (annuli) of 40 sagittal otoliths from 40 upland bullies (four per site, all captured in March 2023) were independently counted by two observers. A general linear model was used to test the influence of treatment on growth.Repeated measures ANOVAs were run on parasite load (<i>Apatemon jamiesoni - </i>the most abundant parasite) of upland bully (<i>Gobiomorphus breviceps</i>) among three treatments.Repeated measures ANOVAs were run on diversity (based on shannon diversity index) of upland bully (<i>Gobiomorphus breviceps</i>) diet among three treatments.EPT taxa in upland bully (<i>Gobiomorphus breviceps</i>) diet among three treatments. The percentage abundance by number (%N) of EPT taxa in each treatment was determined by calculating the %N of each EPT taxon for each treatment and month ((number of each EPT taxon per treatment per month / total number of taxa per treatment per month) × 100). These values were averaged across sampling months, followed by summing all taxa per EPT order.The three treatments were: sites where a novel beach skimming gravel extraction method that aims to restore braided river functioning is being trialled (RES), pit mining ponds, which are homogenous in structure and located on the riverbed, but separated from the active channel (POND), and unmodified,<b> </b>degraded river reaches that were used as “controls’’ (UNRES).