Barbel habitat alterations due to hydropeaking

Boavida, Isabel; Santos, José Maria; Ferreira, Maria Teresa; Pinheiro, António N.

doi:10.1016/j.jher.2014.07.009

Cited by 69 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Hydropower is considered as an inexpensive and renewable energy source [7] because it uses the water from the river to generate electricity and produces lower amounts of greenhouse gases compared to hydrocarbon-fueled power generation [47]. Hydropower has an advantage over other renewable sources as it can respond rapidly to energy demands, has a high storage capacity and is a more stable and reliable means of generating electricity.…”

Section: Driversmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dam construction and operation are pressures that can cause changes in the state of river geomorphology [47] and hydrology [54]. Furthermore, the construction and presence of hydropower dams can affect the physical-chemical and morphological conditions in a river and thus alter the habitat suitability for riverine communities [18,55].…”

Section: Statementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Flow is used as the input variable for hydrodynamic and water quality models to predict the physical and chemical impacts such as a change in water depth, velocity and other variables that are driven by flow regulations [25,47,112,113]. In some cases, outputs from water quality or hydrodynamic models have been used as the input variables to predict the impact of dams on habitat suitability.…”

Section: Model Processes and Outputsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A major advantage of model simulations is that they can detect specific adverse effects on the aquatic biota, allowing restoration strategies to be focused [96]. Habitat modelling is a suitable tool to explore the impacts of for example hydropeaking flows on habitat availability, thus improving the understanding of long-term effects of hydropeaking on different life-stages of organisms and their abundance [47].…”

Section: Strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Models can be used to quantify the ecosystems' disturbance level compared to a given reference state [47]. They can be used for generating baseline data (e.g., simulation of conditions without dam) and predicting the habitat losses or habitat recovery.…”

Section: Strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modelling Tools to Analyze and Assess the Ecological Impact of Hydropower Dams

Nguyen

Everaert

Boets

et al. 2018

Water

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Abstract:We critically analyzed a set of ecological models that are used to assess the impact of hydropower dams on water quality and habitat suitability for biological communities. After a literature search, we developed an integrated conceptual model that illustrates the linkages between the main input variables, model approaches, the output variables and biotic-abiotic interactions in the ecosystems related to hydropower dams. We found that variations in water flow and water depth coupled with increased nutrient availability are major variables that contribute to structural and functional ecosystem changes. We also found that ecological models are an important tool to assess the impact of hydropower dams. For instance, model simulation of different scenarios (e.g., with and without the dam, different operation methods) can analyze and predict the related ecosystem shifts. However, one of the remaining shortcomings of these models is the limited capacity to separate dam-related impacts from other anthropogenic influences (e.g., agriculture, urbanization). Moreover, collecting sufficient high-quality data to increase the statistical power remains a challenge. The severely altered conditions (e.g., generation of very deep lakes) also lead to difficulties for standardized data collection. We see future opportunities in the integration of models to improve the understanding of the different processes affected by hydropower dam development and operation, as well as the use of remote sensing methods for data collection.

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Section: Driversmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Statementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Model Processes and Outputsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Strengths-weaknesses-opportunities-threats Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modelling Tools to Analyze and Assess the Ecological Impact of Hydropower Dams

Nguyen

Everaert

Boets

et al. 2018

Water

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Structural microhabitat use by endemic cyprinids in a Mediterranean‐type river: Implications for restoration practices

Santos

Rivaes

Boavida

et al. 2017

Aquatic Conservation

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1. Endemic freshwater fish from the Mediterranean region are among the most threatened species in the world owing to increasing river degradation. Because of such threats, the number of river restoration projects has greatly increased. However, they are seldom planned with consideration of the species' life history, often resulting in erroneous practices that compromise their success.2. This study assessed the seasonal and size-related microhabitat use by three endemic cyprinids (Iberian barbel, Luciobarbus bocagei; Iberian straight-mouth nase, Pseudochondrostoma polylepis;and calandino, Squalius alburnoides) using a modified point electrofishing procedure in a Mediterranean river. A multivariate approach was then employed to analyse both structural resource use and availability data.3. All species showed non-random microhabitat use. The barbel and nase shifted to fasterflowing positions (>25 cm s −1 ) with a coarser substratum (>150 mm particle size) during spring and to sheltered positions (50-100% instream cover) during autumn. Calandino selected more covered areas in autumn (>60% cover) and shifted to shallower positions from this season (>40 cm) to summer (<35 cm).4. Significant size-related differences in microhabitat use were consistent for the three species, with smaller individuals occupying on average shallower microhabitats. Significant resourceuse overlap between species size classes increased from autumn to summer, occurring mainly between juvenile and small adult barbel and calandino. 5. The present study helped develop recommendations for river restoration practices that may have a wider application, particularly for other Mediterranean-type rivers. Cover was found to be critical for all species, in particular for calandino, which could be classified as a shelter-oriented eurytopic species. Restoration scenarios should therefore consider maintaining cover habitats during unfavourable flow conditions for these species. Lithophilic spawners, which were highly responsive to velocity and substratum, could particularly benefit from the creation of gravel bedforms and artificial riffles to enhance depth and flow variability.

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Do artificial velocity refuges mitigate the physiological and behavioural consequences of hydropeaking on a freshwater Iberian cyprinid?

et al. 2018

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The rapid flow fluctuations experienced downstream of hydropeaking facilities can alter the river hydromorphology. Given the dependence of riverine fish on physical habitat, those alterations have the potential to change the physiology and behaviour of fish. We assessed whether artificial velocity refuges mitigated the physiological and behavioural consequences of hydropeaking for the Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei). Hydropeaking trials were conducted in an indoor flume equipped with deflectors that created low flow velocity areas to serve as refuges. The FLOW‐3D was used to obtain detailed characterizations of the different velocity fields, which facilitated the interpretation of fish responses. Changes in flow magnitude and duration triggered stress responses, demonstrated by the increased blood glucose levels in the single up‐ramping event for 60 L s−1 and in the step up‐ramping event. Fish tended to seek out velocity refuges to avoid higher flow velocities and harsh hydraulic conditions at peak flows, and during the longer events. The movement behaviour frequency increased when fish were subjected to the highest peak flow (60 L s−1), particularly the individual sprints and the drifts. For the base flow (7 L s−1) and the lowest peak flow (20 L s−1) conditions, fish swam freely in the flume, whereas in the harshest hydraulic conditions they showed more difficulty in finding velocity refuges. This research presents a novel approach by combining physiology and behavioural observations with hydraulic modelling to assess the extent to which artificial flow refuges mitigate the consequences of hydropeaking. Our work serves as a model approach for future mitigation studies for fish in hydropeaking rivers.

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Barbel habitat alterations due to hydropeaking

Cited by 69 publications

References 32 publications

Modelling Tools to Analyze and Assess the Ecological Impact of Hydropower Dams

Modelling Tools to Analyze and Assess the Ecological Impact of Hydropower Dams

Structural microhabitat use by endemic cyprinids in a Mediterranean‐type river: Implications for restoration practices

Do artificial velocity refuges mitigate the physiological and behavioural consequences of hydropeaking on a freshwater Iberian cyprinid?

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