Individual movements, home ranges and habitat use by native rheophilic cyprinids and non‐native catfish in a large regulated river

Abstract

The mobility patterns of two native species, barbel, Barbus barbus (L.) and chub, Squalius cephalus (L.), and of one non‐native fish species, the catfish Silurus glanis (L.), were assessed on a 35.5‐km reach of the Upper Rhône River, a strong flowing river with notable thermal regime alterations. An active acoustic tracking technique adapted to large rivers allowed (1) the identification of longitudinal home ranges, movements and preferred habitat at large scale, and (2) the analysis of the influence of discharge and water temperature on the movement patterns of the fish. The active fish‐tracking system recorded 1,572 fish localisations over 7 months on a weekly basis for 80% of the tagged fish (37 barbel, 23 chub and 13 catfish). Compared with the catfish, barbel and chub showed wider longitudinal home ranges, more movements >1 km and higher interindividual variability. The catfish preferred artificially heated habitats with less morphological diversity. The three species were more often localised in river sections with high density of woody debris. The results suggest that habitat degradation is more damaging for cyprinids in large modified rivers, while the catfish seemed less, impacted.

Seasonal changes in depth position and temperature of European catfish (Silurus glanis) tracked by acoustic telemetry in the Danube River

“…In previously published results concerning European catfish telemetry (Breve et al, 2014; Capra et al, 2017, 2018; Carol et al, 2007; Danek et al, 2014, 2016; Kalous et al, 2014; Slavik et al, 2007) different types of telemetry were used to investigate the behavior and movement patterns. Carol et al (2007) used acoustic tags and tracked five catfish (body weight, 6.85–16.16 kg) from 9 to 12 days.…”

“…Danek et al (2014, 2016) used radio transmitters for 2 years period tracking 19 juveniles (body weight, 0.203–1.150 kg) on weekly basis for 24‐h period. Capra et al (2017) tracked with acoustic tags six catfish (total length from 367 to 1050 mm) over a 3‐month period and 13 catfish (total weight from 1.6 to 12.501 kg) over a 7‐month period on weekly basis (Capra et al, 2018). Until now, tracking of European catfish has not included both measurements of depth and water temperature continuously for almost 2 years.…”

“…The research of Carol et al (2007) has been the very first telemetry study of European catfish. Telemetry studies performed in water bodies where European catfish is a native species (the Czech Republic, the Netherlands) and a nonnative species (France, Spain) then followed, by radio and acoustic tracking (Breve et al, 2014; Capra et al, 2017, 2018; Danek et al, 2014, 2016; Slavik et al, 2007).…”

Interpretation of interannual variability in long-term aquatic ecological surveys

“…Improved analyses of the drivers of short-term population dynamics would require more exhaustive and specific monitoring methods, involving intensive sampling at a finer temporal scale. Alternative approaches would be to combine LTES with intensive continuous sampling during specific periods corresponding to particular life stages (e.g., fish recruitment), or measure population dynamic through individual tracking using telemetry devices or markrecapture techniques to estimate the probability of detection of species, thereby assessing the observation error of the LTES for a given population (Capra et al 2018;Radinger et al 2019). dots represent a standardized fish density time series.…”

Factors influencing individual movements and behaviours of invasive European barbel Barbus barbus in a regulated river

“…The impacts of anthropogenic activities on river ecosystems include those resulting from river engineering that reduces habitat diversity and river connectivity (Britton & Pegg, 2011;Capra et al, 2018). The loss of habitat heterogeneity and longitudinal connectivity has considerable implications for fish communities, with the potential for loss of key habitats, including spawning gravels and off-channel nursery areas (Mouton et al, 2007;Ziv et al, 2012).…”