Factors Influencing Movements of Two Migratory Fishes within the Tailrace of a Large Neotropical Dam and their Implications for Hydropower Impacts

Suzuki, Fábio Mineo; Dunham, Jason B.; Silva, Luiz G. M.; Alves, Carlos Bernardo Mascarenhas

doi:10.1002/rra.3105

Cited by 17 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(72 reference statements)

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“…When counting the number of kelt approaching the intake zone, our radio telemetry data suggest that acoustic sonar data must be corrected for the number of return visits; in our case, the number of sonar observations would need to be divided by three (average number of visits per fish). Multiple visits to areas around dams have been reported for both upstream-migrating and downstream-migrating fish (Suzuki et al, 2016;Nyqvist et al, 2016b). For example, upstream-migrating fish passing dams via a fishway (where they are counted) have been found to fall back downstream and then re-ascend the fishway (fallbacks).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intake Approach and Dam Passage by Downstream‐migrating Atlantic Salmon Kelts

Nyqvist

Bergman

Calles

et al. 2017

River Research & Apps

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Abstracts Studying fish behaviour at hydropower dams is needed to facilitate the design and improvement of fish passage solutions, but few studies have focused on Atlantic salmon kelts. Here, we used radio telemetry (n = 40, size range = 50–81 cm) and acoustic sonar to study kelt movements in the forebay as well as their dam passage survival and subsequent migration success past multiple dams. We also compare radio telemetry and acoustic sonar observations of fish behaviour and used acoustic sonar to measure the depth distribution of fish approaching the turbine intake zone. Passage success at the dam was 41%, and mortality was largely associated with turbine passage (62%). The two fish that passed via the spill gates survived and continued their downstream migration. At the dam, all but one radio‐tagged kelt approached the intake zone shortly after arrival to the forebay, and sonar data showed that approaching fish were predominantly surface oriented (72%, 88% and 96% of the observations were less than 1, 2 and 3 m deep, respectively). Turbine passage rate from the intake zone was higher at night than at day, indicating that the lack of visual cues may reduce the barrier effect of the 70‐mm conventional trash rack. Turbine passage rate also increased with increasing hydropower generation. The percentage of observed upstream movements away from the intake zone compared with the total number of observations was considerably greater in the radio telemetry data (41%) than in the sonar data (4%). Only one fish survived passage of all eight hydropower dams to reach the lake. This low‐passage survival underscores the need for remedial measures to increase the survival of migrating kelts, and the fish's surface orientation as well as their rapid approach to the intake rack should be taken into account when designing such measures. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intake Approach and Dam Passage by Downstream‐migrating Atlantic Salmon Kelts

Nyqvist

Bergman

Calles

et al. 2017

River Research & Apps

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“…Whereas entire fish communities are impacted by impoundments, migratory species are especially impacted because many need to travel long distances to reach spawning sites, feeding grounds, and refuges (Kraabøl, Johnsen, & Sandlund, 2009;Lucas & Baras, 2001;Skov et al, 2013). When migratory routes are blocked, migrants spend substantial time in tailraces exposed to higher risk of mortality (Suzuki, Dunham, Silva, Alves, & Pompeu, 2016), or are forced to migrate laterally to substandard habitats (M. C. Makrakis et al, 2012). These cumulative effects of impacts imposed by dams imperil fisheries, especially those for large fish species of high commercial value (Baigún, Minotti, & Oldani, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bidirectional connectivity via fish ladders in a large Neotropical river

Celestino

Sanz‐Ronda

Miranda

et al. 2019

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The conservation of migratory fish species worldwide has been threatened by the loss of longitudinal connectivity caused by dams intercepting large rivers. One environmental management strategy for reestablishing connectivity is providing passage through fish ladders. However, ladders in Neotropical rivers have been described as ascending one‐way routes. We analysed the movements of Prochilodus lineatus through a fish ladder at a large dam—Porto Primavera—in the heavily impounded Upper Paraná River, Brazil, to determine whether the ladder connected habitats downstream and upstream of the dam, in both directions. A total of 1,419 specimens of P. lineatus were PIT‐tagged above and below the dam, and continuously monitored for 4 years. We documented bidirectional movements of P. lineatus through the fish ladder. Many individuals repeated these movements annually; one individual as many as six times. It was estimated that the cumulative probability that P. lineatus would return from downstream after descending through the ladder was 0.38, 0.50, and 0.56 in 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. Correspondingly, return probabilities from upstream were 0.15, 0.22, and 0.26 in 1–3 years, respectively. Although return probabilities from upstream were roughly half, our results suggest the Porto Primavera fish ladder contributes to habitat connectivity, bidirectional passage, and preservation of P. lineatus. These results deviate from the perception that fishways are ineffective in Neotropical rivers. We suggest that fishways can restore the bidirectional connectivity denied to some Neotropical species, and until the services of dams are no longer needed, environmental management through fish ladders could continue to be considered as an integral part of broader conservation strategy designed to preserve native fauna.

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“…The use of more modern techniques, particularly biotelemetry, in recent years has made it possible to more accurately monitor migratory movements of fishes in different river basins across the continent (Godinho & Kynard, 2008;Hahn, 2012;Suzuki, Dunham, Silva, Alves, & Pompeu, 2017). The use of more modern techniques, particularly biotelemetry, in recent years has made it possible to more accurately monitor migratory movements of fishes in different river basins across the continent (Godinho & Kynard, 2008;Hahn, 2012;Suzuki, Dunham, Silva, Alves, & Pompeu, 2017).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The combination of different sampling and analysis techniques has the potential to fill some of the knowledge gaps on migration dynamics and may prove useful for developing effective conservation measures. The use of more modern techniques, particularly biotelemetry, in recent years has made it possible to more accurately monitor migratory movements of fishes in different river basins across the continent (Godinho & Kynard, 2008;Hahn, 2012;Suzuki, Dunham, Silva, Alves, & Pompeu, 2017). Egg and larval sampling also has been increasingly used in Neotropical river basins for determining potential spawning sites (Nakatani et al, 2001;Reynalte-Tataje et al, 2012;Suzuki & Pompeu, 2016).…”

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confidence: 99%

The critical importance of an undammed river segment to the reproductive cycle of a migratory Neotropical fish

Lopes

Pompeu

Alves

et al. 2018

Ecology of Freshwater Fish

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Biotelemetry, ichthyoplankton and genetic data can provide detailed information about the migratory dynamics and reproductive cycle of freshwater fishes. However, few studies have combined these techniques in Neotropical systems. The objective of this study was to examine the migratory and reproductive dynamics of Prochilodus costatus in the São Francisco River watershed, south‐east Brazil, by comparing the ecological importance of two rivers to the species, an undammed segment of the São Francisco River and a dammed segment of one of its main tributaries, the Pará River. In total, 215 fish were radio‐tagged over three years (2014–16). Eggs and larvae were sampled at seven locations and analysed by PCR to identify Prochilodus spp. ichthyoplankton. Most radio‐tagged individuals (97%) used the undammed segment of the São Francisco River as spawning migration route, even those captured and released in the Pará River. Fish migrated to spawn from late September to late November with the arrival of the rains and returned to feeding sites from December to May after spawning. The highest densities of fish eggs and larvae were recorded in the upper reaches of the São Francisco River during months of peak river discharge. Returning fish showed high fidelity to sites occupied before spawning migration. Fish spent roughly 71% of the year at feeding sites, 25% at spawning sites and 4% moving between them. This study provides novel information about the migratory dynamics of Neotropical fishes and underscores the key role of undammed river segments for the conservation of Neotropical migratory fish species.

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Factors Influencing Movements of Two Migratory Fishes within the Tailrace of a Large Neotropical Dam and their Implications for Hydropower Impacts

Cited by 17 publications

References 36 publications

Intake Approach and Dam Passage by Downstream‐migrating Atlantic Salmon Kelts

Intake Approach and Dam Passage by Downstream‐migrating Atlantic Salmon Kelts

Bidirectional connectivity via fish ladders in a large Neotropical river

The critical importance of an undammed river segment to the reproductive cycle of a migratory Neotropical fish

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