Extreme inefficiency of two conventional, technical fishways used by European river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis)

Abstract

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Sea LampreyPetromyzon marinusBiology and Management Across Their Native and Invasive Ranges: Promoting Conservation by Knowledge Transfer

“…The ability of P. fluviatilis to utilize fish passage structures on blockages in European rivers was shown 260 by Aronsuu et al (2015), who revealed that all individuals that used a natural-like fish-way (fish pass) were successful in passing the barrier, with individuals showing a strong preference to using this over a technical fish-way. Other studies have revealed technical fish-265 ways are also problematic for P. fluviatilis to utilize (Laine et al, 1998;Q4 Lucas et al, 2009;Foulds and Lucas, 2013), with Aronsuu et al (2015) suggesting that natural-like fish ramps might be a good solution to enhance their passage over low-head barriers. Nevertheless, 270 Lasne et al (2015) revealed that barrier removal can be the most effective mechanism to enable P. marinus passage, with higher numbers of nests that were more consistently distributed occurring several years after barrier removal in a French coastal stream.…”

“…Elevated water flow increases their migratory activity (Masters et al, 2006) and this assists their passage through barriers that otherwise can be impassable at reduced flows (Lucas et al, 2009;Foulds and Lucas, 2013). Where flows are exces-245 sive, however, movements of both species might be hindered by their elongated body morphology and lack of paired fins that reduces their ability of negotiating highvelocity flows when compared to most other migratory fishes (Keefer et al, 2013;Foulds and Lucas, 2013). They 250 demonstrate typical anguilliform swimming under these velocities, referred to as a "burst-and-attach" pattern (Adams and Reinhardt, 2008), which is generally ineffective in high velocity areas such as weir orifices or salmonid fish passes, as these often lack suitable attachment 255 surfaces and/or the water velocity exceeds their critical swimming speeds (Adams and Reinhardt, 2008;Foulds and Lucas, 2013).…”

“…The blockage of migratory routes can thus significantly affect the lifetime fitness of P. marinus, impacting their population growth 230 and distribution, spawning success and recruitment, and affecting their vulnerability to fishing and predators (Andrade et al, 2007;Klamath River Expert Panel, 2010;Mateus et al, 2012). The passage of river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis over 235 anthropogenic barriers has received some attention in Europe in recent years (Masters et al, 2006;Lucas et al, 2009;Kemp et al, 2011;Russon et al, 2011;Foulds and Lucas, 2013) and this literature might be informative for P. marinus, although some caution is suggested given the 240 larger body sizes of the latter. Elevated water flow increases their migratory activity (Masters et al, 2006) and this assists their passage through barriers that otherwise can be impassable at reduced flows (Lucas et al, 2009;Foulds and Lucas, 2013).…”

“…The passage of river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis over 235 anthropogenic barriers has received some attention in Europe in recent years (Masters et al, 2006;Lucas et al, 2009;Kemp et al, 2011;Russon et al, 2011;Foulds and Lucas, 2013) and this literature might be informative for P. marinus, although some caution is suggested given the 240 larger body sizes of the latter. Elevated water flow increases their migratory activity (Masters et al, 2006) and this assists their passage through barriers that otherwise can be impassable at reduced flows (Lucas et al, 2009;Foulds and Lucas, 2013). Where flows are exces-245 sive, however, movements of both species might be hindered by their elongated body morphology and lack of paired fins that reduces their ability of negotiating highvelocity flows when compared to most other migratory fishes (Keefer et al, 2013;Foulds and Lucas, 2013).…”

“…Where flows are exces-245 sive, however, movements of both species might be hindered by their elongated body morphology and lack of paired fins that reduces their ability of negotiating highvelocity flows when compared to most other migratory fishes (Keefer et al, 2013;Foulds and Lucas, 2013). They 250 demonstrate typical anguilliform swimming under these velocities, referred to as a "burst-and-attach" pattern (Adams and Reinhardt, 2008), which is generally ineffective in high velocity areas such as weir orifices or salmonid fish passes, as these often lack suitable attachment 255 surfaces and/or the water velocity exceeds their critical swimming speeds (Adams and Reinhardt, 2008;Foulds and Lucas, 2013). The ability of P. fluviatilis to utilize fish passage structures on blockages in European rivers was shown 260 by Aronsuu et al (2015), who revealed that all individuals that used a natural-like fish-way (fish pass) were successful in passing the barrier, with individuals showing a strong preference to using this over a technical fish-way.…”