Swimbladder abnormalities in piapara (Leporinus obtusidens) captured downstream of the Funil Dam

Abstract

Fish damage in hydroelectric stations has been extensively reported, but further investigations focusing on Brazilian migratory species, especially large fish, are needed. The present study describes swimbladder abnormalities in piapara Leporinus obtusidens, a migratory physoclistous species, collected downstream from the Funil Hydroelectric station dam, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The 117 specimens collected were dissected for swimbladder evaluation in the coelomic cavity. The abnormalities detected in 14 of the fish (12%) were swimbladder rupture with exteriorization (N = 12) and formation of sac-like projections (N = 2). The specimens that had swimbladder abnormalities weighed over 1300 g for both sexes. These abnormalities may be caused by bladder infections, however, inflammation process were not detected in these fish. The presence of anomalies in swimbladder suggests that the individuals were subjected to sudden depressurization, possibly related to passage through the turbines. Further comparative studies are needed to corroborate this hypothesis.<br>Os danos que as usinas hidrelétricas causam na fauna aquática tem sido relatados, mas novos estudos focando as espécies nativas, especialmente os peixes de grande porte são necessários. O presente estudo descreve as anomalias de bexiga natatória em piapara Leporinus obtusidens, uma espécie de peixe migratório, coletados a jusante da barragem da estação Hidrelétrica do Funil, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Os 117 exemplares coletados foram dissecados para avaliação da bexiga natatória na cavidade celomática. As anormalidades detectadas em 14 dos peixes capturados (12%) foram ruptura do tecido com exteriorização da bexiga natatória (N = 12) e formação de projeções da bexiga (N = 2). Os exemplares que apresentavam anormalidades de bexiga, possuíam peso superior a 1300 g em ambos os sexos. Este tipo de anomalia pode ser causado por processo infeccioso da bexiga, no entanto, não foram detectados processos inflamatórios nesses peixes. O quadro de anomalias em bexiga natatória em piapara sugere que os indivíduos foram submetidos a uma brusca despressurização, possivelmente relacionada à passagem pelas turbinas. Outros estudos comparativos são necessários para corroborar esta hipótese

Bidirectional connectivity in fishways: A mitigation for impacts on fish migration of small hydropower facilities

“…spillways and turbines). However, bidirectional movements through fishways prove to be a safer downstream route than spillways or turbines as they avoid the possibility of barotrauma or mechanical shock (Larinier & Dartiguelongue, 1989; Felizardo et al, 2010; Wilkes et al, 2018). In this study, the possible spillway passage was dismissed as the pre‐analysis revealed that flow through the spillway was a low probability event.…”