Downstream migration of Atlantic salmon smolts past a low head hydropower station equippped with Archimedes screw and Francis turbines

Havn, Torgeir Børresen; Sæther, Stig Arve; Thorstad, Eva B.; Teichert, Maxim; Heermann, Lisa; Diserud, Ola Håvard; Borcherding, Jost; Tambets, Meelis; Økland, Finn

doi:10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.04.043

Cited by 44 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…We rather attribute the lack of a significant effect to the limited sample of euthanized smolts. The lack of any significant proportion of the much larger sample of live fish with severe new scale loss is indicative of no substantive impact to live fish at the AST studied and supports the findings of some assessments (Kibel, ; Kibel & Coe, ; Kibel et al, ; Brackley et al, ) though impacts may be higher in other studies (Havn et al, ). Nevertheless the grinding effect observed on euthanized fish identifies a potentially important hazard.…”

Section: Sample Numbers Of Live and Euthanized Salmo Salar Smolts Usesupporting

confidence: 70%

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Comparison of damage to live v. euthanized Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts from passage through an Archimedean screw turbine

Brackley

Lucas

Thomas

et al. 2018

Journal of Fish Biology

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This study assessed the usefulness of passing euthanized Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts through an Archimedean screw turbine to test for external damage, as compared with live, actively swimming smolts. Scale loss was the only observed effect. Severe scale loss was 5·9 times more prevalent in euthanized turbine-passed fish (45%) than the live fish (7·6%). Additionally, distinctive patterns of scale loss, consistent with grinding between the turbine helices and housing trough, were observed in 35% of euthanized turbine-passed smolts. This distinctive pattern of scale loss was not seen in live turbine-passed smolts, nor in control groups (live and euthanized smolts released downstream of the turbine), which suggests that the altered behaviour of dead fish in turbine flows generates biased injury outcomes.

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Section: Sample Numbers Of Live and Euthanized Salmo Salar Smolts Usesupporting

confidence: 70%

“…Mortality of radio‐tagged hatchery‐reared Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. 1758 smolts passing through an AST has been estimated as <10% (Havn et al, ). Other studies have reported low rates and severity of sub‐lethal damage by ASTs to multiple species, life stages and sizes.…”

Section: Sample Numbers Of Live and Euthanized Salmo Salar Smolts Usementioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of damage to live v. euthanized Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts from passage through an Archimedean screw turbine

Brackley

Lucas

Thomas

et al. 2018

Journal of Fish Biology

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“…The latter disperse at more developed ontogenetic stages (smolts, smelts, and fry), when can swim independently (Lucas and Baras, 2001). Consequently, these species can successfully overcome hydropower pass systems and maintain population recruitment (McCormick et al, 1998;Accou et al, 2008, Havn et al, 2017.…”

Section: /9mentioning

confidence: 99%

Spawning and Recruitment Areas of Migratory Fish in the Uruguay River: Applying for Rivers Connectivity Conservation in South America

et al. 2019

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Identifying spawning and recruitment areas of Neotropical migratory fish is an important conservation issue, because it allows to define connectivity between habitats used during the initial life cycle of these species. In this sense, the objective of this study was to delimit spawning and recruitment areas of three migratory fish (Megaleporinus obtusidens, Salminus brasiliensis and Prochilodus lineatus) along of an altitude gradient of the Uruguay River. Samplings of ichthyoplankton and juveniles were applied with five different fishing devices in four river stretches, one in reservoir and three in a free section, for two consecutive years (2015-2016 and 2016-2017), during the reproductive period of the species. Larvae and juveniles were not collected in the reservoir and, in the free section, larvae in the early stages of development were found only at an intermediate stretch, and the most larvae at more advanced stages (~80%) and juveniles (~95%) were recorded in the lower sampling stretch. Based on the larval stage and abundance of juveniles, spawning-recruitment connectivity sections were presumed for these migratory species. After, these sections were associated to the location of future hydroelectric dams in the study area, with possible negative implications for the conservation of these populations in the Uruguay River.

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“…It may also be possible in some situations to distinguish dead from survived fish based on information on the dead fish other than distribution of drift distances, like movement speed or distinctive aspects of behavior, such as movements indicating that they have been taken by scavengers. At one power station, we used recordings of dead smolts to estimate the probability of detecting mortality of live smolts potentially killed when passing an Archimedes screw and Francis turbines, based on both movement distance and the proportion of fish disappearing from the river [19]. We were able to estimate a probable upper threshold of the true mortality and the uncertainty in the estimate [19].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…At one power station, we used recordings of dead smolts to estimate the probability of detecting mortality of live smolts potentially killed when passing an Archimedes screw and Francis turbines, based on both movement distance and the proportion of fish disappearing from the river [19]. We were able to estimate a probable upper threshold of the true mortality and the uncertainty in the estimate [19].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Movements of dead fish in rivers

et al. 2017

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Background: The aim of telemetry studies is often to determine the fate and mortality rates of fish. A moving fish is usually regarded as alive and a long-term stationary fish as dead-and the site where it became stationary as the site where it died. Downstream transport of dead fish in rivers can lead investigators to mistake dead fish for live fish. We examined downstream movements of 60 dead Atlantic salmon smolts and 55 dead European silver eels, equipped with radio transmitters and released at hydropower stations in three German rivers.Results: Overall, dead smolts drifted up to 2.4 km downstream and dead eels up to at least 30.1 km downstream. Smolts released in an Archimedes screw turbine drifted up to 1.1 km and eels up to at least 5.1 km downstream. Most smolts stopped moving further downstream within 1 week after release, whereas the eels (or their transmitters) moved downstream over several weeks, or even months, after release. However, the distance moved varied considerably also within species and among release sites. Eighteen (30%) dead smolts and nine (16%) dead eels moved upstream or disappeared from the rivers, indicating that they had been taken by scavengers. Some of these (four smolts and one eel) had recordings, indicating that they had been taken out of the river by birds. Conclusions:Fish can drift considerable distances downstream after they have died in a river. This can make it difficult to identify dead fish, and the exact site and time of death from telemetry studies. Furthermore, dead fish can be moved within the river, or taken out of the river, by scavengers. These results are relevant for studies of mortality at power stations, but also for studies of tagged fish in rivers in general. When designing telemetry studies and interpreting telemetry data, investigators should keep in mind that dead fish (or their transmitters) may drift downstream. Investigators may also consider if it is useful to release dead fish as a control groups when planning and performing fish mortality studies.

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Downstream migration of Atlantic salmon smolts past a low head hydropower station equippped with Archimedes screw and Francis turbines

Cited by 44 publications

References 44 publications

Comparison of damage to live v. euthanized Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts from passage through an Archimedean screw turbine

Comparison of damage to live v. euthanized Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolts from passage through an Archimedean screw turbine

Spawning and Recruitment Areas of Migratory Fish in the Uruguay River: Applying for Rivers Connectivity Conservation in South America

Movements of dead fish in rivers

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