Seasonal Movements of Coarse Fish in Lowland Rivers and their Relevance to Fisheries Management

Lucas, Martyn C.; Mercer, T.; Peirson, Graeme; Frear, P. A.

doi:10.1002/9780470696026.ch7

Cited by 18 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…For example, in North American rivers, dispersal on a relatively large scale is the main mechanism through which trout ( Salvelinus fontinalis and Salmo trutta ) increase after habitat enhancement (Gowan & Fausch 1996). While coarse fishes may move considerable distances (Lucas & Batley 1996; Lucas et al . 2000), it is possible that the response to rehabilitation at some of our study sites was limited by the impoverished assemblage within reach of the rehabilitation scheme.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

River rehabilitation and fish populations: assessing the benefit of instream structures

Pretty

Harrison

Shepherd

et al. 2003

Journal of Applied Ecology

210

215

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Summary1. River rehabilitation schemes are now widespread in the UK and elsewhere, but there have been few systematic assessments of their ecological effect, particularly on target organisms such as fish. Fish populations were therefore assessed in 13 lowland rivers using point abundance measures and depletion electrofishing. Each river was sampled in two reaches, respectively containing a small-scale rehabilitation scheme (artificial riffles or flow deflectors) and an unrehabilitated control reach. Detailed geomorphological surveys were undertaken for the two study reaches in each river to assess the physical and hydraulic effect of rehabilitation. 2. There were large qualitative and quantitative differences among rivers and some had relatively impoverished fish faunas. Overall, total fish abundance, species richness, diversity and equitability were not significantly different between rehabilitated and control reaches. This was true for both the sampling methods used. Bullhead Cottus gobio and stone loach Barbatula barbatula tended to be more abundant in rehabilitated reaches, but this was significant only for artificial riffles. There was a significant between-year difference in fish abundance. 3. In general, rehabilitation schemes increased depth and flow heterogeneity, and fish species richness and diversity appeared to respond positively to increased flow velocity in restored reaches. However, there were few significant relationships between the fish fauna and physical variables, indicating that increasing physical (habitat) heterogeneity does not necessarily lead to higher biological diversity. We therefore caution against the use of physical responses to rehabilitation as a surrogate or reliable predictor of ecological response. 4. The weak response of fishes to rehabilitation may have been because the schemes were inappropriate in design and scale for low-gradient rivers. Furthermore, fish assemblages may have lacked the potential for recovery because of poor water quality and /or because the schemes were isolated within longer sections of degraded river. More extensive and directed biological monitoring is essential to improve understanding and enable future improvements in the design of schemes and the selection of sites with greater potential for successful rehabilitation. 5. Synthesis and applications. From this substantial sample of lowland rivers, there is little evidence of any general benefit to fish of small-scale instream structures in river rehabilitation. From present ecological knowledge it may be that resources would be better devoted to promoting the development of lateral and off-channel habitats within the river corridor. Physical restoration will be most effective when used alongside other strategies to augment fish populations such as water quality management.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

River rehabilitation and fish populations: assessing the benefit of instream structures

Pretty

Harrison

Shepherd

et al. 2003

Journal of Applied Ecology

210

215

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Diurnal and nocturnal preferences in migration have been observed in cyprinids (Winfield and Nelson 1991; Lucas et al. 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Diurnal and nocturnal preferences in migration have been observed in cyprinids (Win®eld and Nelson 1991;Lucas et al 2000). Hourly activity was more sustained during the night in the cyprinids studied.…”

Section: Daily Patterns Of Migrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Performance of fish lift recently built at the Touvedo Dam on the Lima River, Portugal

Santos¹,

Ferreira²,

Godinho³

et al. 2002

J Appl Ichthyol

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From March 1998 to February 1999, upstream fish passage was continuously monitored by video tape analysis at the fish lift Touvedo Dam on the Lima River, northern Portugal. A total of 1194 individuals from seven species were transferred by the lift. Cyprinids were the dominant group collected, with Iberian nase Chondrostoma polylepis (Steindachner) (31.8%) being the most abundant species, followed by Iberian barbel Barbus bocagei (Steindachner) (21.1%), Iberian dace Leuciscus carolitertii (Doadrio) (19.2%) and Iberian red roach Rutilus arcasii (Steindachner) (7.1%). Brown trout Salmo trutta fario (L.) and European eel Anguilla anguilla (L.) accounted for 10.8%, whereas Atlantic salmon Salmo salar (L.) was rarely observed. Most cyprinid seasonal movements were observed in the spring and were associated with reproduction. The timing of the run varied and its beginning appeared to be mainly dependent on water temperature. Roach, dace and nase used the fish lift intensively from mid‐April until the end of summer. Barbel use of the lift intensified in mid‐May in association with warmer water. Salmonids migrated in June–July and autumn. Significant differences were not found in hourly activity, except for nase and barbel, in June and July, respectively. Fish passage was not related to river discharge. The relative effectiveness of the fish lift is discussed in relation to the various species.

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“…However, the ability to reach appropriate spawning habitats is the elementary key for successful reproduction of many species, and thus fish repeatedly try to pass these obstacles (Lucas and Baras, 2001). During these attempts diurnal rhythms in cyprinids with activity peaks at night or early morning are usually preserved (Lucas and Frear, 1997; Lucas et al., 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioural pattern in cyprinid fish below a weir as detected by radio telemetry

et al. 2007

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Changes in the behaviour of cyprinids belonging to different ecology groups were observed below a weir that was restricting their upstream migrations during the spawning period MayJuly. Positions of chub Leuciscus cephalus (L.), Prussian carp Carrasius auratus gibelio (Bloch 1783), bream Abramis brama (L.) and white bream Blicca bjoerkna (L.) were recorded every 12 min over a 24-h period using an automatic data logger (ALS) in the upper Elbe River, Czech Republic. For all observed species, two activity peaks occurred; however, the interspecies timing of these peaks differed. Peak times for chub, bream and white bream occurred at night and during daylight, whereas Prussian carp was active mostly at night. Specimens belonging to the rheophilous group suggested more efficient behavioural tactics in passing the weir, staying below the obstacle one month longer than did eurytopic species.

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Seasonal Movements of Coarse Fish in Lowland Rivers and their Relevance to Fisheries Management

Cited by 18 publications

References 26 publications

River rehabilitation and fish populations: assessing the benefit of instream structures

River rehabilitation and fish populations: assessing the benefit of instream structures

Performance of fish lift recently built at the Touvedo Dam on the Lima River, Portugal

Behavioural pattern in cyprinid fish below a weir as detected by radio telemetry

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