Benthic habitat selection in juvenile European eel <scp><i>Anguilla anguilla</i></scp>: implications for coastal habitat management and restoration

Christoffersen, Mads; Svendsen, Jon Christian; Kuhn, Jesper A.; Nielsen, Anders; Martjanova, Anastasija; Støttrup, Josianne

doi:10.1111/jfb.13807

Cited by 17 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Without contradicting these findings, the probability of eel occurrence in our study was significantly higher in specific riverine habitats than others. Moreover, our results are corroborated in an experimental study of elvers in marine habitat, where coarse substrate was preferred (Christoffersen et al 2018). In experimental studies on yellow eel, Nyman (1972) showed that eels were highly selective with regard to bottom substrate, with a shift from hibernating in soft bottom (mud) at low temperatures to hiding in coarse bottom substrate at water temperatures [ 8-9°C.…”

Section: Habitat Usesupporting

confidence: 80%

Occurrence and habitat use of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in running waters: lessons for improved monitoring, habitat restoration and stocking

et al. 2019

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To improve the management of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in freshwater, it is essential to define important lotic habitats. Electrofishing data from 289 wadeable, hard-bottom sites in 69 Swedish coastal rivers and streams, originally surveyed for salmonid monitoring, were used to evaluate the effects of sampling-and habitat-related factors on eel occurrence. Probability of eel occurrence, as influenced by sampling procedure (sampled area, number of consecutive runs and ambient water temperature) and habitat characteristics (size of catchment, dominating bottom substrate, shade, water velocity, mean depth), was evaluated for small (total length B 150 mm) and large ([ 150 mm) yellow eels. Data were analysed in a mixed presence/absence generalized linear model with dispersal (distance to mouth from sampled site), habitat and samplingrelated variables as covariates. The two models explained variation in occurrence to 81.5% for small eel and 76.2% for large eel. Probability of eel occurrence decreased with distance from the river mouth, and increased with sampled area, number of runs, water temperature, coarser substrate and size of river. We suggest that future eel habitat restoration should focus on lower reaches of larger rivers with suitable coarse bottom habitats. Stocking of young eel should be carried out in comparable accessible habitats in the upper reaches where eel densities are low. The results also strongly indicate that eel may be sampled together with young salmonids with DC electrofishing in wadeable habitats.

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Section: Habitat Usesupporting

confidence: 80%

Occurrence and habitat use of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in running waters: lessons for improved monitoring, habitat restoration and stocking

et al. 2019

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“…These results agree with those of previous studies on microhabitat uses in other young anguillid eels (Johnson & Nack, ; Laffaille et al, ). In fact, these animals have been reported to settle and hide in various types of riverbed materials (Aoyama et al, ; Christoffersen et al, ; Tomie et al, ). This suggests that substrate complexity is an important factor determining microhabitat use of young eels.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Their growth rate in coastal/brackish waters is higher than that in freshwaters (Kaifu, Miller, Yada, et al, ; Yokouchi et al, ), as shown in other anguillids (Cairns, Secor, Morrison, & Hallett, ; Daverat & Tomás, ). Yellow eels are known to use various types of riverbed materials as refuges to avoid predators and fast flows (Aoyama, Shinoda, Sasai, Miller, & Tsukamoto, ; Christoffersen et al, ; Tomie et al, ). Even though there are several studies about across‐life‐stage distribution of eels in rivers, including for Japanese eels (e.g., White & Knights, ; Lasne & Laffaille, ; Yokouchi et al, ; Kwak, Engman, & Lilyestrom, ), the use of micro‐ and reach‐scale habitats by elvers and early yellow eels (hereafter referred to as “young eels”) in natural environments is not sufficiently studied (Johnson & Nack, ; Laffaille et al, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Longitudinal distribution and microhabitat use of young Japanese eelAnguilla japonicain a small river flowing through paddy areas

et al. 2019

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Although the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica is a commercially important species, its habitat use is not well understood during its life stages in the river. In this study, we investigated the longitudinal distribution and microhabitat use of young Japanese eels (<200 mm in total length [TL], which correspond to elver and early yellow stages) using 180 quadrates (1 m × 1 m) in six stations in a small river (approximately 11.5 km long, 3.0–25.0 m wide) that flows through paddy areas in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. No differences were observed in the TL of eels among the sampling stations. The analysis using generalized linear models showed that eel density increased as number of weirs decreased. The analysis using generalized additive models showed that water depth, current velocity, and substrate complexity were important factors determining microhabitat use. Eels used shallow habitats (<35 cm) with slow currents (5–40 cm/s) and high complex riverbeds (>0.35 in index of substrate complexity). These findings provide useful information to conserve and manage wild eels inhabiting small rivers flowing through paddy areas.

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“…Elvers have been indicated to prefer coarse and heterogeneous habitats ( e.g ., Christoffersen et al ., 2018; Degerman et al ., 2019; Silberschneider et al ., 2004), whereas elver substrate choice in the absence versus presence of predator cues has to our understanding hitherto not been experimentally examined. If habitats differ in protection from predation, perceived predator presence could affect habitat choice.…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

Substrate‐size choice in European eel (Anguilla anguilla)elvers is not altered by piscivore chemical cues

Nilsson

Pettersson

Tamario

et al. 2020

Journal of Fish Biology

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The European eel Anguilla anguilla Linnaeus 1758 is critically endangered with recruitment estimated at 5-10% of historical levels. Enhancing survival of recruits is pivotal for conservation, and restoration should consider habitat choice of elvers ascending river systems. We experimentally show that newly ascended elvers choose small pebble habitat over finer and larger substrates, regardless of the presence or absence of piscivore chemical cues, indicating no predator-induced change in substrate choice. Enriching habitats with this substrate fraction should enhance eel recruitment as well as biodiversity at large.

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Benthic habitat selection in juvenile European eel Anguilla anguilla: implications for coastal habitat management and restoration

Cited by 17 publications

References 32 publications

Occurrence and habitat use of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in running waters: lessons for improved monitoring, habitat restoration and stocking

Occurrence and habitat use of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in running waters: lessons for improved monitoring, habitat restoration and stocking

Longitudinal distribution and microhabitat use of young Japanese eelAnguilla japonicain a small river flowing through paddy areas

Substrate‐size choice in European eel (Anguilla anguilla)elvers is not altered by piscivore chemical cues

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