Swimming performance of a pelagic species in the Yangtze River under different exposure modes of the total dissolved gas supersaturation

Ji, Qianfeng; Li, Kefeng; Wang, Yuanming; Liang, Ruifeng; Feng, Jingjie; Li, Ran; Zhu, David Z.

doi:10.1093/conphys/coac047

Cited by 10 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Previous studies found that fish behavior may be influenced by flow velocities and TDG levels ( Ji et al , 2022 ; Shi et al , 2022 ). In this study, fish were observed to swim randomly under static settings while they were found swimming in the same direction under lotic settings.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of total dissolved gas supersaturation and flow velocity on survival and swimming ability of juvenile Schizothorax prenanti

Yuan,

Du,

et al. 2023

Conservation Physiology

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Although developing large-scale hydropower cascades in the upper Yangtze River effectively improves the hydropower resource utilization, it produces total dissolved gas (TDG) supersaturation. In the flood season, the high level of TDG supersaturation (TDGS) frequently occurs in the downstream of dams, causing migratory fish to suffer from gas bubble trauma (GBT) and reducing their survival and swimming ability. Currently, there is a deficiency in particular approaches to evaluate the ecological hazard posed by TDGS on migratory fish as they traverse different flow velocities within their migratory routes. This study assessed the vulnerability of juvenile Schizothorax prenanti (S. prenanti) to GBT from the static setting to 9.0 BL/s during exposure to nominal levels of 100%, 110%, 120% and 130% TDG. The mortality occurs when the flow velocity surpasses 6.0 and 7.5 BL/s in 100% and 110% TDG levels, respectively. For fish exposed to 120% and 130% TDG levels, the relationship between survival time and flow velocity is an approximately inverse bell-shaped curve with increasing velocity. The optimal velocity of maximal survival time of juvenile S. prenanti is 3.0 and 4.5 BL/s in 120% and 130% TDG-supersaturated water. Both TDG level and flow velocity significantly affect burst swimming speed (Uburst) and critical swimming speed (Ucrit). The cases involving GBT showed substantial declines in Uburst and Ucrit, exceeding 6.0 BL/s and TDG levels greater than 120%. The results may contribute to formulating a specific management strategy for hydropower operation during the migratory period and conserving vulnerable species in the Yangtze River.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of total dissolved gas supersaturation and flow velocity on survival and swimming ability of juvenile Schizothorax prenanti

Yuan,

Du,

et al. 2023

Conservation Physiology

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“…The physiological mechanisms associated with swimming vary with the temperature, and swimming performance differs in response to temperature (Beamish, 1978). Silver carp ( Hypophthalmichthys molitrix ) distributed widely in China was found to exhibit significantly lower swimming ability at the lower temperature within an optimum range (Ji et al, 2022). It can be inferred that the specific ecological characteristics of low temperature and hypoxia in the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau may greatly limit the swimming performance of these fish species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Swimming ability of Schizothoracinae fishes in Yarlung Zangbo River of China

Wang,

Jiang,

Liu

et al. 2024

Journal of Fish Biology

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The Yarlung Zangbo River is a river with abundant hydropower resources but fragile biodiversity in China. As an important benchmark for both research and ecological management, there is still a lack of knowledge about the swimming ability of fishes in the Yarlung Zangbo River. The induced flow velocity (Uind), critical swimming speed (Ucrit), and burst swimming speed (Uburst) of five Schizothoracinae species were tested in this study. Relative swimming ability related to body length and body shape was calculated. The results indicated that the average absolute swimming speeds (Uind‐a, Ucrit‐a, and Uburst‐a) of all the experimental fish were 10.20 ± 0.01, 57.58 ± 3.28, and 69.54 ± 2.94 cm/s, respectively, and the corresponding relative Uind, Ucrit, and Uburst related to body length (Uind‐l, Ucrit‐l, Uburst‐l) were 1.15 ± 0.07, 5.04 ± 0.26, and 7.23 ± 0.28 BL/s, respectively. Moreover, relative Uind, Ucrit, and Uburst related to body shape (Uind‐s, Ucrit‐s, and Uburst‐s) were 0.80 ± 0.13, 2.49 ± 0.51, and 4.32 ± 0.57 cm−2/s, respectively. No significantly differences in relative swimming speeds existed among five species. Only Oxygymnocypris stewartii was significantly weaker in Uburst‐s than Schizothorax o'connori. The body shape showed a stronger relationship with swimming speed than the body length did. Schizothoracinae fish in the Yarlung Zangbo River basin are less sensitive to the water flow and performed weaker Ucrit and Uburst compared to those in the Yangtze River basin, indicating that Schizothoracinae fish in the Yarlung Zangbo River may be more susceptible to threats from environmental changes. The paper enriched the research on the swimming ability of Schizothoracinae fishes and provided efficient data for the fish conservation in the Yarlung Zangbo River.

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“…A succession of high dams exceeding 200 m have been constructed in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in China. The effects of TDG supersaturation caused by the operation of these dams on downstream fish have become increasingly noticeable [38][39][40]. Most research into in situ TDG effects has been conducted on salmonids, and research into non-salmonid species is slight in comparison [6].…”

Section: Future Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Tolerance and Growth of Adult Schizothorax prenanti Exposed and Re-Exposed to Supersaturated Gas Downstream of a Dam

Yuan

Wang

et al. 2022

Water

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Total dissolved gas (TDG) is suggested to be one possible explanation for the extensive mortality of endemic fish suffered from gas bubble disease (GBD). We investigated the effects of water depth on adult Schitzothorax prenanti susceptibility to GBD in TDG supersaturated water 11.5 km downstream of Dagangshan dam in a two-year (2016–2017) live cage study. The probability of survival significantly increased at greater depth. The mortality of fish at 1–2 m was reduced to 50% of that at 0–1 m and the mortality rate for fish at 2–3 m was reduced to 25% of that at 0–1 m. Fish that survived in-situ TDG exposure in 2016 were relocated to equilibrated water and observed for 274 d to investigate sublethal effects of GBD. The surviving fish showed a substantial reduction in growth compared to the control group. During the flood discharge period in 2017, fish were re-exposed to TDG supersaturated water after a period of recovery (274 d) in equilibrated water. The mortality rate of re-exposed fish decreased to 35% compared to newly introduced fish. Our results contribute to the protection of aquatic organisms and the improvement of eco-friendly hydroelectric dam operations in the Yangtze River.

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Swimming performance of a pelagic species in the Yangtze River under different exposure modes of the total dissolved gas supersaturation

Cited by 10 publications

References 39 publications

Effect of total dissolved gas supersaturation and flow velocity on survival and swimming ability of juvenile Schizothorax prenanti

Effect of total dissolved gas supersaturation and flow velocity on survival and swimming ability of juvenile Schizothorax prenanti

Swimming ability of Schizothoracinae fishes in Yarlung Zangbo River of China

Tolerance and Growth of Adult Schizothorax prenanti Exposed and Re-Exposed to Supersaturated Gas Downstream of a Dam

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