The effect of hydrological variability on stepped fishways
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: River systems are highly dynamic, affecting all associated structures and their derived uses. This is particularly relevant for applications such as hydropower production and other water abstractions. This dynamic nature also extends to mitigation measures like fishways, which are vital for reducing the impact of river fragmentation on fish populations. Fishways must be designed to balance biological and hydraulic fish requirements, needing adaptability to varying boundary conditions. This study examines the effect of hydrological variability on fish passage through fishways, particularly for the Iberian barbel ( Luciobarbus bocagei ). We hypothesized that hydrological scenarios can significantly affect upstream fish passage. To test this, we conducted laboratory and field studies, assessing fish movement under different boundary conditions. We compared passage rates, time metrics, and their correlations with the evolution of fishway hydraulics, and employed survival analysis to determine biometric limits. Our findings show that hydrological changes markedly influenced fish passage rates and timings, producing fish size selection and highlighting the impact of factors such as maximum velocity and power dissipation in the studied metrics. These insights underline the necessity of incorporating hydrological variability into fishway design and management, enhancing their effectiveness for fish conservation in river ecosystems, particularly under growing climatic uncertainties. This research underscores and discusses the need for comprehensive, long-term hydrodynamic studies in fishway assessment and design, advocating for adaptive management strategies to accommodate environmental changes.
Source: Journal of Hydrology
Language: English
Subfield: Nature and Landscape Conservation
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,790
Awards: G1105844351, G2261162432, G2262748287, G2601397997, Adapting fishways to hydrological and climatic uncertainty, Centro de Estudos Florestais, G300979063, Laboratório para a Sustentabilidade do Uso da Terra e dos Serviços dos Ecossistemas, G3480869486, G3681454997, G3725025645, G4042783231, G425668148, G434337789, G4493931264, G4639404217, G5080475149, G5385376234, G7805626310, G7863371703, Dammed Fish: Impacto da perda de conectividade estrutural e funcional de redes hidrográficas na biodiversidade piscícola – optimizando soluções de gestão, G8497050386
OpenAlex ID: W4402573472