Upstream migration of the anadromous sea lamprey (<scp><i>Petromyzon marinus</i></scp>Linnaeus, 1758) in a highly impounded river: Impact of low‐head obstacles and fisheries

Silva, Sérgio; Barca, Sandra; Vieira‐Lanero, Rufino; Cobo, Fernando

doi:10.1002/aqc.3059

Cited by 13 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An anadromous species whose upstream migration to spawning grounds has been severely impacted by anthropogenic structures is the sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus L. (Guo et al., 2017). Upstream‐migrating adults can experience substantial delays at man‐made barriers (Silva et al., 2019), and individuals failing to pass have been recorded moving downstream, possibly in search of alternative passage routes (Rooney et al., 2015). In other anadromous species, individual variation in movements away from barriers following an approach (“retreats”) have been linked to environmental conditions, phenotypic traits, and predator avoidance (Alcott et al., 2021; Harbicht et al., 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Individual movement variation in upstream‐migrating sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus in a highly fragmented river

et al. 2022

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Anthropogenic reductions in riverine connectivity can severely impede the migrations of anadromous species. In fragmented rivers, successful migrations depend on the ability of migrants to negotiate barriers or locate alternative passage routes. However, individual variation in the specific aspects of movement that determine migration success in fragmented rivers, is poorly characterised. Here, individual variation was investigated in the spawning migrations of 56 adult sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus, an anadromous, semelparous species that does not show fidelity to natal rivers. The variability and consequences of two key aspects of fish migration within fragmented rivers were tested: passage time (total time taken to pass a barrier) and retreats (exploratory downstream movements after unsuccessful passage attempts). These were tested using acoustic telemetry in the highly fragmented River Severn catchment, western England, U.K. Distinct unimodal, bimodal, and multimodal patterns of variation in passage times were displayed across the different barriers, potentially related to the physical characteristics of the barrier and prevailing river discharge conditions when the barriers were first approached, but were not related to lamprey body sizes. At the first three barriers encountered by upstream‐migrating sea lamprey in the study, between 30% and 46% of individuals made retreat movements, and between 5% and 100% of retreating individuals were able to locate alternative tributaries. Retreating individuals were highly variable in their distance and frequency of retreats; overall, retreat movements comprised 11% (lower‐upper quartiles 0%–52%, range 0%–76%) of the total distance moved before reaching spawning areas. Time‐to‐event analysis indicated that retreat rates reduced as river discharge increased. There was no evidence indicating that individual variation in passage time, or presence of retreat movements at barriers, influenced the subsequent upstream migration speed or final upstream extent of lampreys. While predictability in rank arrival timing was high within three unobstructed reaches, this predictability was disrupted at barriers due to individual variation in passage times. Anthropogenic barriers thus can both disrupt and reveal individual variation in the migration dynamics of anadromous species. Substantial variability in retreat behaviours can be displayed by anadromous species facing delays at barriers, with these behaviours also associated with environmental conditions and the availability of alternative migration routes. Individual variation in exploration and passage time of migrants strongly influence their eventual spawning distribution.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Individual movement variation in upstream‐migrating sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus in a highly fragmented river

et al. 2022

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“…The consequences of river habitat fragmentation on anadromous populations can be severe (Limburg & Waldman, 2009; Hall, Jordaan & Frisk, 2011). For sea lamprey, the adverse impacts of barriers on their migration have now been observed in telemetry studies across their native range (Andrade et al, 2007; Castro‐Santos, Shi & Haro, 2017; Silva et al, 2019), with historical evidence suggesting that access to available spawning habitat is drastically reduced (Mateus et al, 2012). Here, the impacts of multiple structures on upstream sea lamprey migration appeared to be cumulative; although no weir on the Severn or Teme was a complete barrier to upstream migration, the majority of structures inhibited a proportion of the upstream‐migrating cohort, to the extent that no individuals migrated as far as the most upstream navigation weir on the River Severn.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Adults of this jawless vertebrate, native to the northern Atlantic and Mediterranean (Guo, Andreou & Britton, 2017), feed parasitically on large marine vertebrates before migrating into fresh water to spawn in shallow, fast‐flowing river habitats (Maitland, 2003; Rooney et al, 2015). Concerns over sea lamprey population declines, attributed primarily to overharvesting, pollution, habitat loss, and artificially constructed barriers to migration (Guo, Andreou & Britton, 2017; Silva et al, 2019; Moser et al, 2020), are reflected in international conservation legislation. The species is listed in the European Habitats Directive, both in Annex II, which requires European Union member states to designate high‐quality sites that contain listed species as Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), and in Annex V, which ensures that any exploitation of listed species is sustainable (Council of the European Communities, 1992).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cumulative impacts of habitat fragmentation and the environmental factors affecting upstream migration in the threatened sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus

Davies

Britton

Nunn

et al. 2021

Aquatic Conservation

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River ecosystems are often fragmented by artificial structures, such as weirs. For anadromous species, these structures can impede access to upstream spawning sites and ultimately lead to severe population declines. This study focused on the freshwater spawning migration of the sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus, an anadromous species threatened by habitat fragmentation across its native range. To quantify the cumulative impacts of multiple weirs on upstream‐migrating adults, and to explore the environmental factors affecting migratory movements, passive acoustic telemetry was applied to 56 individuals during their spawning migration in the heavily fragmented River Severn basin, UK. While 89% of tagged sea lamprey passed the first weir upstream of the release site on the main river, only 4% passed the fifth weir. For 85% of migrants, the upstream extent of migration was immediately downstream of a weir. Individuals that passed weirs upstream of the release site (n = 50) took 21.6 ± 2.8 days to reach their most upstream location, experiencing cumulative passage times at weirs of 15.7 ± 2.8 days; these delays constituted a median of 84% of total upstream movement times. Multistate models showed that the weir passage rates of sea lamprey in tidal and non‐tidal areas increased significantly when downstream river level and discharge were elevated. Upstream‐to‐downstream changes in direction were frequent downstream of weirs, but rare in unobstructed river sections. The results provided evidence for a cumulative effect of multiple weirs on sea lamprey movements, substantially delaying upstream migrants and limiting their spawning to atypical habitat. The results also demonstrated the crucial roles of high tides and elevated discharge events in enabling weir passage. Although the Severn Estuary features conservation designations for sea lamprey, this study reveals that barriers are inhibiting their upstream migration, a problem that should be addressed to assist sea lamprey conservation.

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“…Factors determining passage success of an upstream fishpass include attraction efficiency mediated by position of entrance and attraction flow and passability mediated by slope, flow velocity in the migration corridor, height differences and physical dimensions (Banks 1969;Bunt et al 2012;DWA 2014;Hershey 2021, USFWS 2019. Failing upstream passage success of fish result in excessive energy expenditure and migration delays (Noonan et al 2012;Silva et al 2019;Thorstad et al 2008) and thus, delayed arrival at spawning events (Silva et al 2019), and increased predation (Agostinho et al 2012). When HPPs are aligned in cascades their cumulative barrier effects must be considered (Geist 2021) as it aggravates already significant delays, migration failures and mortalities threatening the persistence of fish populations (Caudill et al 2007;Gowans et al 2003;Muir et al 2001;Roscoe et al 2011;Williams et al 2001).…”

Section: Upstream Passagementioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts and Risks of Hydropower

Treeck

Geist

Pander

et al. 2022

Novel Developments for Sustainable Hydropower

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This chapter very briefly outlines site and constellation specific direct and indirect impacts of a hydropower scheme primarily on fishes. It describes potential effects of single elements of a hydropower scheme, such as available migration routes up- and downstream, impoundment, hydraulic head, turbine type and mode of operation. It summarises the state of knowledge, points out knowledge gaps and indicates potential mitigation options.

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Upstream migration of the anadromous sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinusLinnaeus, 1758) in a highly impounded river: Impact of low‐head obstacles and fisheries

Cited by 13 publications

References 45 publications

Individual movement variation in upstream‐migrating sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus in a highly fragmented river

Individual movement variation in upstream‐migrating sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus in a highly fragmented river

Cumulative impacts of habitat fragmentation and the environmental factors affecting upstream migration in the threatened sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus

Impacts and Risks of Hydropower

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