Impact of flow regulation for hydroelectric production in the movement patterns, growth and condition of a potamodromous fish species

Oliveira, Inês C.; Alexandre, Carlos M.; Quintella, Bernardo R.; Almeida, Pedro R.

doi:10.1002/eco.2250

Cited by 12 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 52 publications

(81 reference statements)

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“…Furthermore, studies of species movement in comparable unregulated river reaches are rare (e.g. Harvey‐Lavoie et al, 2016; Oliveira et al, 2020) but serve as valuable controls to provide evidence supporting flow–ecology relationships to improve flow management to benefit migratory fishes (Jacobson & Galat, 2008; Murchie et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lake sturgeon seasonal movements in regulated and unregulated Missouri River tributaries

et al. 2021

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Spatio‐temporal movement patterns of aquatic organisms drive many ecological processes. However, dams block migrations and alter the hydrologic and thermal regimes influencing movement behaviour of freshwater fishes. In North America, many recovering southern Lake Sturgeon populations occur in rivers with hydroelectric dams, but few studies have examined the impact of hydrologic alteration on their seasonal movements. We conducted a 3‐year telemetry study of 96 adult and subadult Lake Sturgeon to compare their migratory responses to temperature and hydrology in adjacent regulated and unregulated tributaries of the Missouri River. Many other populations of Lake Sturgeon use tributaries primarily for spring spawning; however, in our study, Lake Sturgeon used Missouri River tributaries during 78% of the year. Differences in river size, hydrologic and thermal regimes in the regulated Osage River may have contributed to the greater year‐round residency, later initiation, more frequent directional changes and longer duration of spring migrations compared to the unregulated Gasconade River. Lake Sturgeon made spring upstream migrations at temperatures of 13–19°C and elevated discharges in both rivers. However, Osage River migrants responded less to changes in discharge or temperature during spring migrations, especially those that overwintered at upstream locations. Fall tributary migrations occurred in the Osage River at rising or high discharges but were uncommon in the Gasconade River. Our identification of the influences of abiotic variables on the timing, duration and extent of Lake Sturgeon seasonal migrations can help guide management of habitat and hydrology in regulated rivers to recover migratory fishes globally.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lake sturgeon seasonal movements in regulated and unregulated Missouri River tributaries

et al. 2021

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“…Spring was selected as a particularly vulnerable period as all Iberian Cypriniformes spawn largely during this season (e.g., Rodriguez‐Ruiz & Granado‐Lorencio, 1992; Santos, Rivaes, Boavida, & Branco, 2018). In addition, regular hydropeaking events were considered less impacting, as individual fish appears to memorize spatial and temporal environmental changes and to adopt a “least constraining” habitat (Alexandre et al, 2015; Capra et al, 2017; Costa, Boavida, Almeida, Cooke, & Pinheiro, 2018; Halleraker et al, 2003; Oliveira et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Salmonids can be affected by peaking flows, whereby the most common responses include stranding, downstream displacement, and dewatering of spawning grounds, which have been related to up‐ and down‐ramping rates (Saltveit, Halleraker, Arnekleiv, & Harby, 2001), peak flow magnitude (Auer, Zeiringer, Führer, Tonolla, & Schmutz, 2017), and baseflow duration (Casas‐Mulet, Alfredsen, Brabrand, & Saltveit, 2016). In contrast, information is much scarcer regarding other fish taxa (Alexandre, Almeida, Neves, Costa, & Quintella, 2015; Boavida et al, 2020; Boavida, Santos, Ferreira, & Pinheiro, 2015; Capra et al, 2017; Oliveira, Alexandre, Quintella, & Almeida, 2020), making it difficult to appraise peaking impacts of existing and new hydropower plants in non‐salmonid rivers.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydropeaking impact assessment for Iberian cyprinids and leuciscids: An adaptation of the hydropeaking tool method

Godinho

Alexandre

Almeida

et al. 2022

River Research & Apps

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Hydropeaking negatively affects fish assemblages, but knowledge gaps still constrain our ability to rank and mitigate the impacts of different hydropower operation regimes at particular power plants. This is especially relevant for species and rivers for which the effects of hydropeaking are less investigated, such as the Iberian Cypriniformes and Mediterranean rivers. Recognizing the potential of the hydropeaking tool method (HT) developed for salmonids to systematically assess hydropeaking impacts, we adapted it for Iberian Cypriniformes. The general tool framework developed for the salmonids was kept for the Cypriniformes, with the combined use of factors describing the hydromorphological effects and factors related with fish vulnerability to assess hydropeaking impact. Effect and vulnerability factors were developed for Iberian cyprinids and leuciscids establishing preliminary thresholds for each indicator with three different levels of hydropeaking impact on the targeted taxa. The proposed factors and thresholds were critically reviewed and ranked by experts on Iberian Cypriniformes ecology and Mediterranean rivers functioning. Overall, the timing and distribution of peaking events were ranked higher by the experts in the effect factors, whereas the population size of barbel and smaller native Cypriniformes, as well as the degree of limitations in recruitment, were ranked higher in the vulnerability factors. Although there was some divergence in the expert opinions, a final set of effect and vulnerability factors was established, that retained most of the ones proposed for the salmonids, but included new ones, particularly for vulnerability. The present study provided a comprehensive, straightforward, and systematic assessment tool for evaluating hydropeaking impacts on Iberian Cypriniformes.

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“…The present study aimed to assess the performance of an experimental low-head ramped weir to enhance the passage of a cyprinid species, the Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei (Steindachner, 1864)), a representative of medium-sized benthic potamodromous cyprinids commonly present in Iberian and Western European rivers [23,34], which performs significant migratory movements, mainly for reproductive purposes, and is particularly susceptible to river fragmentation [13,40]. Special attention was given to testing the effects of retrofitting designs (RD), considering the addition of a natural substrate, such as cobbles randomly embedded on the ramp (two scenarios: Control (smooth bottom, with no substrate) vs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of Low-Head Ramped Weirs for a Potamodromous Cyprinid: Effects of Substrate Addition and Discharge on Fish Passage Performance, Stress and Fatigue

Amaral

Branco

Romão

et al. 2021

Water

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Requalification of low-head ramped weirs through the addition of substrates (retrofitting) has attracted attention in recent years. However, few studies are available on how this measure affects the negotiation of ramped weirs by fish. This study aimed to assess the performance of an experimental ramped weir (3.00 m long with 10% slope; 0.30 m head-drop) to enhance the passage of a potamodromous cyprinid species, the Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei). Attention was given to testing the effects of the addition of a substrate, in this case cobbles, to the ramp (Nature) vs. a smooth bottom (Control), and discharge (Q; 55 L·s−1 and 110 L·s−1 (or specific discharge per unit width, q = 92 L·s−1·m−1 and 183 L·s−1·m−1)) on fish passage performance. Fish physiological responses to stress and fatigue, measured by glucose and lactate concentrations in blood samples, were also analysed. Results showed that the Nature design generally increased fish movements and successful upstream passages, and enhanced fish passage performance by enabling faster negotiations. Fish movements were also affected by increasing discharge, registering reductions with 110 L·s−1. Results of the physiological parameters indicate that both glucose and lactate concentrations were also influenced by discharge. The outcomes from this study present important information about fish passage performance across low-head ramped weirs and could provide data needed to help biologists and engineers to develop more effective structures to alleviate small instream obstacles.

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Impact of flow regulation for hydroelectric production in the movement patterns, growth and condition of a potamodromous fish species

Cited by 12 publications

References 52 publications

Lake sturgeon seasonal movements in regulated and unregulated Missouri River tributaries

Lake sturgeon seasonal movements in regulated and unregulated Missouri River tributaries

Hydropeaking impact assessment for Iberian cyprinids and leuciscids: An adaptation of the hydropeaking tool method

Evaluation of Low-Head Ramped Weirs for a Potamodromous Cyprinid: Effects of Substrate Addition and Discharge on Fish Passage Performance, Stress and Fatigue

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