Corner and sloped culvert baffles improve the upstream passage of adult European eels (Anguilla anguilla)

Newbold, L.R.; Karageorgopoulos, Perikles; Kemp, Paul S.

doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.09.076

Cited by 14 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Eel occurrences were also fewer upstream in the catchment than near the river mouths (Figure 3). Even short culverts can reduce the upstream passage of eels if water velocity is high (Newbold, Karageorgopoulos, & Kemp, 2014). Data on road culverts were not included in the present study owing to a lack of such data.…”

Section: Upstream Migrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coastal river connectivity and the distribution of ascending juvenile European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.): Implications for conservation strategies regarding fish‐passage solutions

Tamario

Calles

Watz

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

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Many diadromous fish populations are declining and at risk of collapse. Lack of river connectivity is a major contributor to these declines, as free migration routes between marine and freshwater habitats are crucial for life‐history completion. For the conservation and ultimately recovery of such species, it is imperative that remedial measures aimed at increasing connectivity are effective. This study investigated the distribution patterns of ascending juvenile European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) in rivers in south‐western Sweden, with a focus on the effects of barriers and measures that aim to reduce the impact of barriers, i.e. fish‐passage solutions (FPSs). Eel occurrence data were spatially and temporally integrated with the national databases of dams and FPSs in a Geographic Information System (GIS) environment to evaluate their effect on ascending eel distribution. The types of barriers assessed were: (i) dams with nature‐like fishways; (ii) dams with eel ramps; (iii) dams with technical fishways; and (iv) dams without FPSs. Dams fitted with eel ramps or technical fishways, as well as dams without FPSs, produced a significant negative effect on the probability of eel occurrence upstream. This negative effect was not found for dams fitted with nature‐like fishways, indicating that these solutions may function better than the other FPS types in this study. The probability of eel occurrence decreased with distance from the sea and increased with area sampled, number of electrofishing runs, water temperature, and with the size of the bottom substrate. We suggest that future conservation strategies for improving the natural immigration of juvenile eels should include optimizing FPS function (e.g. placement and design), the continued maintenance of FPSs, the construction of nature‐like fishways, and preferably the removal of dams, which will also benefit the downstream migration of maturing eels as well as restoring other ecosystem services.

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Section: Upstream Migrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coastal river connectivity and the distribution of ascending juvenile European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.): Implications for conservation strategies regarding fish‐passage solutions

Tamario

Calles

Watz

et al. 2019

Aquatic Conservation

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show abstract

“…culverts) tend to be abundant in river systems globally ( Januchowski-Hartley et al , 2013 ; Mantel et al , 2017 ; Jones et al , 2019; Belletti et al , 2020 ), so, based on our data, selective effects based on swimming ability and body size are likely to be widespread. Passage of culverts by weaker swimming fish can be facilitated by adding baffles ( Newbold et al , 2014 ), and decreasing baffle spacing can improve passage of small-bodied fish ( Cabonce et al , 2019 ). Our results also serve to highlight the challenge of designing efficient fish passes for diverse groups of fish.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

One size does not fit all: inter- and intraspecific variation in the swimming performance of contrasting freshwater fish

Jones

Svendsen

Börger

et al. 2020

Conservation Physiology

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Artificial barriers cause widespread impacts on freshwater fish. Swimming performance is often used as the key metric in assessing fishes’ responses to river barriers. However, barrier mitigation is generally based on the swimming ability of salmonids and other strong swimmers because knowledge of swimming ability for most other freshwater fish is poor. Also, fish pass designs tend to adopt a ‘one size fits all’ approach because little is known about population or individual variability in swimming performance. Here, we assessed interspecific and intraspecific differences in the sustained swimming speed (Usus) of five freshwater fish with contrasting body sizes, morphologies and swimming modes: topmouth gudgeon, European minnow, stone loach, bullhead and brown trout. Significant Usus variation was identified at three organizational levels: species, populations and individual. Interspecific differences in Usus were as large as 64 cm s−1, upstream populations of brown trout showed mean Usus 27 cm s−1 higher than downstream populations, and species exhibited high individual variation (e.g. cv = 62% in European minnow). Sustained swimming speed (Usus) increased significantly with body size in topmouth gudgeon, European minnow and brown trout, but not in the two benthic species, bullhead and stone loach. Aerobic scope had a significant positive effect on Usus in European minnow, stone loach and brown trout. Sustained swimming speed (Usus) decreased with relative pectoral fin length in European minnow and brown trout, whereas body fineness was the best predictor in stone loach and bullhead. Hence, swimming performance correlated with a diverse range of traits that are rarely considered when predicting fish passage. Our study highlights the dangers of using species’ average swimming speeds and illustrates why a ‘one size fits all’ approach often fails to mitigate for barrier effects. We call for an evidence-based approach to barrier mitigation, one that recognizes natural variability at multiple hierarchical levels.

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“…For example, green roofs (Brenneisen, 2006), motorway wildlife passages (Berthinussen and Altringham, 2012;Mata et al, 2008), coir rolls on river walls (Hoggart and Francis, 2014) and bird/mammal nest boxes (Arnett and Hayes, 2000) have all been widely implemented, allowing some evaluation of their efficacy in practice. There has also been research into the optimal design of culverts and dams for fish migration (Newbold et al, 2014). Consequently, the principles of eco-engineering and green infrastructure are embedded in urban planning practice for terrestrial and freshwater development projects and restoration initiatives (e.g.…”

Section: Ocean Sprawl: Proliferation and Impactsmentioning

confidence: 99%

From ocean sprawl to blue-green infrastructure – A UK perspective on an issue of global significance

Evans

Firth

Hawkins

et al. 2019

Environmental Science & Policy

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Artificial structures are proliferating in the marine environment, resulting in 'ocean sprawl'. In light of the potential environmental impacts of this, such as habitat loss and alteration, it is becoming increasingly important to incorporate ecologically-sensitive design into artificial marine structures. The principles of eco-engineering and green infrastructure are embedded in urban planning practice for terrestrial and freshwater development projects. In marine planning, however, eco-engineering of blue-green infrastructure remains an emerging concept. This note provides a UK perspective on the progress towards uptake of eco-engineering approaches for enhancing biodiversity on artificial marine structures. We emphasise that, despite a clear 'policy pull' to incorporate biodiversity enhancements in marine structures, a range of proof-of-concept evidence that it is possible to achieve, and strong cross-sectoral stakeholder support, there are still few examples of truly and purposefully-designed blue-green artificial structures in the UK. We discuss the barriers that remain and propose a strategy towards effective implementation. Our strategy outlines a step-wise approach to: (1) strengthening the evidence base for what enhancements can be achieved in different scenarios; (2) improving clarity on the predicted benefits and associated costs of enhancements; (3) packaging the evidence in a useful form to support planning and decision-making; and (4) encouraging implementation as routine practice. Given that ocean sprawl is a growing problem globally, the perspective presented here provides valuable insight and lessons for other nations at their various states of progress towards this same goal.

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Corner and sloped culvert baffles improve the upstream passage of adult European eels (Anguilla anguilla)

Cited by 14 publications

References 47 publications

Coastal river connectivity and the distribution of ascending juvenile European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.): Implications for conservation strategies regarding fish‐passage solutions

Coastal river connectivity and the distribution of ascending juvenile European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.): Implications for conservation strategies regarding fish‐passage solutions

One size does not fit all: inter- and intraspecific variation in the swimming performance of contrasting freshwater fish

From ocean sprawl to blue-green infrastructure – A UK perspective on an issue of global significance

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