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Piczak ML, Theis S, Portiss R, Ruppert JLW, Midwood JD, Cooke SJ. Evaluating the efficacy of ecological restoration of fish habitat in coastal waters of Lake Ontario. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 953:176088. [PMID: 39260511 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.176088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 09/03/2024] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
Ecological restoration is a common strategy applied to degraded wetlands and tributaries in large lakes. As resources are typically limited for restoration, it is essential to ensure that such efforts achieve associated goals. Using both discrete and continuous methods, we evaluated the efficacy of ecological restoration efforts on fish habitat within Canada's largest city, Toronto (Cell 2 and Embayment D of Tommy Thompson Park) relative to a control site (Toronto Islands). First, we used a long-term electrofishing dataset (i.e., discrete) to examine catch and community composition relative to restoration status. Catch for northern pike (Esox lucius) remained constant at both restoration sites, and catch of invasive common carp (Cyprinus carpio) decreased at Embayment D, indicating that exclusion barriers may be effective. Restoration was less effective for largemouth bass (Micropterus nigricans) as catches remained similar after restoration at Cell 2, but decreased within Embayment D. We also found that relative abundance for coldwater species at both restoration sites decreased post-restoration, with increases in warmwater species at Cell 2 and coolwater species at Embayment D. Next, we used a long-term acoustic telemetry dataset (i.e., continuous sampling) with three focal species: largemouth bass, northern pike, and invasive common carp. Based on telemetry, we found that restoration efficacy was species-specific, with largemouth bass present before and after ecological restoration (particularly in spring, which may be associated with spawning), but clear reductions in use of the restored areas for common carp and northern pike. Exclusion barriers, while effective at blocking common carp, appeared to also negatively influence access for northern pike. Using both discrete and continuous methods longitudinally and across both treatment and control sites provided complementary information on the efficacy of restoration works within Toronto Harbour, with electrofishing data highlighting changes in fish community composition while acoustic telemetry provided continuous information on timing and duration of habitat use.
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Affiliation(s)
- M L Piczak
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Sebastian Theis
- Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, 101 Exchange Avenue, Vaughan, ON L4K 5R6, Canada
| | - Rick Portiss
- Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, 101 Exchange Avenue, Vaughan, ON L4K 5R6, Canada
| | - Jonathan L W Ruppert
- Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, 101 Exchange Avenue, Vaughan, ON L4K 5R6, Canada; Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Willcocks Street, Toronto, ON M5S 3B2, Canada
| | - Jonathan D Midwood
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Great Lakes Laboratory for Fisheries and Aquatic Science, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, ON, Canada
| | - Steven J Cooke
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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2
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Miller M, Sharkh SM, Kemp PS. Laying the foundations for selective-fish guidance using electricity: multi-species response to pulsed direct currents. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17962. [PMID: 39301059 PMCID: PMC11412220 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024] Open
Abstract
To develop effective technology that employs electric fields to simultaneously guide valued freshwater fish whilst limiting the range expansion of undesirable invasive species, there is a need to quantify the electrosensitivity of multiple families. This experimental study quantified the electrosensitivity of two carp species that, in UK, are invasive (grass carp, Ctenopharyngodon idella, and common carp, Cyprinus carpio) and compared the values with those previously obtained for adult European eel (Anguilla anguilla), a species of conservation concern in Europe. Electric field strengths (V/cm) required to elicit physiological responses (twitch, loss of orientation and tetany) were identified across four pulsed direct current (PDC) electric waveforms (single pulse-2 Hz, double pulse-2 Hz, single pulse-3 Hz and double pulse-3 Hz). Grass carp were sensitive to differences in waveform with tetany exhibited at lower field strengths in the single pulse-2 Hz treatment. Both cyprinid species responded similarly and were less sensitive to PDC than adult European eel, although loss of orientation occurred at lower field strengths for grass than common carp in the single pulse-3 Hz waveform treatment. This variation in electrosensitivity, likely due to differences in body length, indicates potential for electric fields to selectively guide fish in areas where invasive and native species occur in sympatry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mhairi Miller
- University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | | | - Paul S Kemp
- University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
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3
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Fritts M, Gibson-Reinemer D, Appel D, Lieder K, Henderson C, Milde A, Brey M, Lamer J, Turney D, Witzel Z, Szott E, Loppnow G, Stiras J, Zankle K, Oliver D, Hoxmeier RJ, Fritts A. Flooding and dam operations facilitate rapid upstream migrations of native and invasive fish species on a regulated large river. Sci Rep 2024; 14:20609. [PMID: 39232067 PMCID: PMC11375117 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-70076-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Dams commonly restrict fish movements in large rivers but can also help curtail the spread of invasive species, such as invasive bigheaded carps (Hypophthalmichthys spp). To determine how dams in the upper Mississippi River (UMR) affect large-scale invasive and native fish migrations, we tracked American paddlefish (Polyodon spathula) and bigheaded carp across > 600 river km (rkm) and 16 navigation locks and dams (LD) of the UMR during 2 years with contrasting water levels. In 2022, a low-water year, both native paddlefish and invasive bigheaded carp had low passage rates (4% and 0.6% respectively) through LD15, a movement bottleneck being studied for invasive carp control. In contrast, flooding in 2023 led to open-river conditions across multiple dams simultaneously, allowing 53% of paddlefish and 46% of bigheaded carp detected in Pool 16 to move upstream through LD15. Bigheaded carp passed upstream through LD15 rapidly (μ = 32 rkm per day) a maximum of 381 rkm, whereas paddlefish moved an average of 9 upstream rkm per day (maximum of 337 rkm). Our results can inform managers examining trade-offs between actions that enhance native fish passage or deter movements of invasive species. This understanding is critical because current climate change models project increases in flooding events like that observed during 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Fritts
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Onalaska, WI, USA
| | | | - Douglas Appel
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI, USA
| | | | | | - Amanda Milde
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI, USA
| | - Marybeth Brey
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI, USA
| | - James Lamer
- Illinois Natural History Survey-Illinois River Biological Station, Havana, IL, USA
| | - Dominique Turney
- Illinois Natural History Survey-Illinois River Biological Station, Havana, IL, USA
| | - Zachary Witzel
- Illinois Natural History Survey-Illinois River Biological Station, Havana, IL, USA
| | - Emily Szott
- Illinois Natural History Survey-Illinois River Biological Station, Havana, IL, USA
| | - Grace Loppnow
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Joel Stiras
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Kayla Zankle
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Devon Oliver
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - R John Hoxmeier
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Andrea Fritts
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, La Crosse, WI, USA.
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4
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Lear KO, Ebner BC, Fazeldean T, Bateman RL, Morgan DL. Effects of coastal development on sawfish movements and the need for marine animal crossing solutions. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2024; 38:e14263. [PMID: 38578170 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.14263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Although human-made barriers to animal movement are ubiquitous across many types of ecosystems, the science behind these barriers and how to ameliorate their effects lags far behind in marine environments compared with terrestrial and freshwater realms. Using juvenile sawfish in an Australian nursery habitat as a model system, we aimed to assess the effects of a major anthropogenic development on the movement behavior of coastal species. We compared catch rates and movement behavior (via acoustic telemetry) of juvenile green sawfish (Pristis zijsron) before and after a major coastal structure was built in an important nursery habitat. Acoustic tracking and catch data showed that the development did not affect levels of sawfish recruitment in the nursery, but it did constrain movements of juveniles moving throughout the nursery, demonstrating the reluctance of shoreline-associated species to travel around large or unfamiliar coastal structures. Given the current lack of information on human-made movement barriers in the marine environment, these findings highlight the need for further research in this area, and we propose the development of and experimentation with marine animal crossings as an important area of emerging research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karissa O Lear
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Brendan C Ebner
- Department of Primary Industries, Grafton Fisheries Centre, Grafton, New South Wales, Australia
- TropWATER, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Travis Fazeldean
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Rebecca L Bateman
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | - David L Morgan
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
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Franklin PA, Bašić T, Davison PI, Dunkley K, Ellis J, Gangal M, González-Ferreras AM, Gutmann Roberts C, Hunt G, Joyce D, Klöcker CA, Mawer R, Rittweg T, Stoilova V, Gutowsky LFG. Aquatic connectivity: challenges and solutions in a changing climate. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2024; 105:392-411. [PMID: 38584261 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
The challenge of managing aquatic connectivity in a changing climate is exacerbated in the presence of additional anthropogenic stressors, social factors, and economic drivers. Here we discuss these issues in the context of structural and functional connectivity for aquatic biodiversity, specifically fish, in both the freshwater and marine realms. We posit that adaptive management strategies that consider shifting baselines and the socio-ecological implications of climate change will be required to achieve management objectives. The role of renewable energy expansion, particularly hydropower, is critically examined for its impact on connectivity. We advocate for strategic spatial planning that incorporates nature-positive solutions, ensuring climate mitigation efforts are harmonized with biodiversity conservation. We underscore the urgency of integrating robust scientific modelling with stakeholder values to define clear, adaptive management objectives. Finally, we call for innovative monitoring and predictive decision-making tools to navigate the uncertainties inherent in a changing climate, with the goal of ensuring the resilience and sustainability of aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Franklin
- National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Tea Bašić
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft, UK
| | - Phil I Davison
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft, UK
| | - Katie Dunkley
- Christ's College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jonathan Ellis
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Mayuresh Gangal
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
- Nature Conservation Foundation, Mysore, India
| | - Alexia M González-Ferreras
- IHCantabria - Instituto de Hidráulica Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria. C/Isabel Torres 15, Santander, Spain
- School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
| | | | - Georgina Hunt
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Domino Joyce
- Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, UK
| | - C Antonia Klöcker
- Institute of Marine Research, Tromsø, Norway
- Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Rachel Mawer
- Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Timo Rittweg
- Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Division of Integrative Fisheries Management, Faculty of Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Unter den Linden, Berlin, Germany
| | - Velizara Stoilova
- Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Karlstad University, Karlstad, Sweden
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6
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Controlling common carp (Cyprinus carpio): barriers, biological traits, and selective fragmentation. Biol Invasions 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-022-02987-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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7
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Diedrich CJ, Gerig BS, Paterson G. Spatial Comparison of Persistent Organic Pollutants in the Boardman River Following Impoundment Removal and Channel Restoration. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2022; 109:977-983. [PMID: 36112180 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-022-03619-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) were used to quantify dissolved concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) along a 40-km reach of the Boardman River in Traverse City, Michigan that has recently undergone dam and impoundment pond sediment removal. Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (ΣPCBs; 7.7-65.0 pg/L), dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane and metabolites (ΣDDTs; 7.6-202.5 pg/L) and cyclodiene compounds (3.7-220.7 pg/L) were below regulatory guidelines considered to pose chronic risks to aquatic health. POP concentrations estimated from SPMD monitoring were not representative of potential residual contamination from legacy sediment impoundments. Spatial patterns in POP profiles were present among the different deployment sites and were reflective of differences in land-use patterns along the rural to urban gradient of the monitored area of the river. These results represent baseline POP data prior to the removal of remaining dam infrastructure in the Boardman River. Overall, this study supports the utility of SPMDs for monitoring trace environmental contamination and helps assess the efficacy of environmental remediation for mitigating legacy pollutant releases following dam and impoundment pond sediment removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collin J Diedrich
- Great Lakes Research Center, Biological Sciences Dept, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, USA
| | - Brandon S Gerig
- Dept. of Biology, MI. Northern Michigan University, 1401 Presque Isle, Marquette, MI, USA
| | - Gordon Paterson
- Great Lakes Research Center, Biological Sciences Dept, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, USA.
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8
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Personality-dependent passage behaviour of an aquatic invasive species at a barrier to dispersal. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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9
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Test of a Screw-Style Fish Lift for Introducing Migratory Fish into a Selective Fish Passage Device. WATER 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/w14152298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Barriers are an effective mechanism for managing invasive species, such as sea lamprey in the Laurentian Great Lakes but are detrimental because they limit the migration of desirable, native species. Fish passage technologies that selectively pass desirable species while blocking undesirable species are needed. Optical sorting tools, combined with newly developed computer learning algorithms, could be used to identify invasive species from high-resolution imagery and potentially isolate them from an assortment of the Great Lakes fishes. Many existing barriers lack fishways, and optical sorting may require fish to be dewatered for image capture. The Archimedes screw, a device originating from 234 BCE, offers the potential to continuously lift fish and water over low-head barriers or into an optical sorting device. To test the efficacy of an Archimedes screw and fish lifting to capture and pass Great Lakes fishes, we built a field-scale prototype and installed it at the Cheboygan Dam, Michigan in the USA in 2021. The fish lift safely transported 704 fish (688 of which were suckers (Catostomidae)) in 11 days. The passage of the suckers through the fish lift increased with the water temperature and attraction flow. There were no observed injuries in the transported fish or mortalities in a subset of suckers held post-transport.
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10
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Wild S, Alarcón‐Nieto G, Chimento M, Aplin LM. Manipulating actions: a selective two‐option device for cognitive experiments in wild animals. J Anim Ecol 2022. [PMID: 35672881 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Advances in biologging technologies have significantly improved our ability to track individual animals' behaviour in their natural environment. Beyond observations, automation of data collection has revolutionized cognitive experiments in the wild. For example, radio-frequency identification (RFID) antennae embedded in 'puzzle box' devices have allowed for large-scale cognitive experiments where individuals tagged with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags interact with puzzle boxes to gain a food reward, with devices logging both the identity and solving action of visitors. Here, we extended the scope of wild cognitive experiments by developing a fully automated selective two-option foraging device to specifically control which actions lead to a food reward and which remain unrewarded. Selective devices were based on a sliding-door foraging puzzle, and built using commercially available low-cost electronics. We tested it on two free-ranging PIT-tagged subpopulations of great tits Parus major as a proof of concept. We conducted a diffusion experiment where birds learned from trained demonstrators to get a food reward by sliding the door either to the left or right. We then restricted access of knowledgeable birds to their less preferred side and calculated the latency until birds produced solutions as a measure of behavioural flexibility. A total of 22 of 23 knowledgeable birds produced at least one solution on their less preferred side after being restricted, with higher-frequency solvers being faster at doing so. In addition, 18 of the 23 birds reached their solving rate from prior to the restriction on their less preferred side, with birds with stronger prior side preference taking longer to do so. We therefore introduce and successfully test a new selective two-option puzzle box, providing detailed instructions and freely available software that allows reproducibility. It extends the functionality of existing systems by allowing fine-scale manipulations of individuals' actions and opens a large range of possibilities to study cognitive processes in wild animal populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Wild
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour University of Konstanz; Universitätsstrasse 10 Konstanz Germany
- Cognitive and Cultural Ecology Research Group Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior; Am Obstberg 1 Germany
| | - Gustavo Alarcón‐Nieto
- Cognitive and Cultural Ecology Research Group Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior; Am Obstberg 1 Germany
| | - Michael Chimento
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour University of Konstanz; Universitätsstrasse 10 Konstanz Germany
- Cognitive and Cultural Ecology Research Group Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior; Am Obstberg 1 Germany
| | - Lucy M. Aplin
- Centre for the Advanced Study of Collective Behaviour University of Konstanz; Universitätsstrasse 10 Konstanz Germany
- Cognitive and Cultural Ecology Research Group Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior; Am Obstberg 1 Germany
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Franklin PA, Baker CF, Reeve KA. A comparison of passage efficiency for native and exotic fish species over an artificial baffled ramp. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2021; 99:1928-1939. [PMID: 34480357 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This study used an experimental approach to compare the passage success of native and exotic fish species from the temperate Southern Hemisphere over an artificial baffled fish ramp designed for overcoming low-head (≤1.0 m) fish migration barriers. Passage efficiency was, on average, lower for the exotic species [koi carp (Cyprinus carpio), rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)] compared to the native species [inanga (Galaxias maculatus), redfin bully (Gobiomorphus huttoni) and common bully (Gobiomorphus cotidianus)]. Nonetheless, there was considerable variation between individual species, with rainbow trout outperforming common bully and juvenile inanga, but koi carp and rudd failing to pass any of the ramps. The differences in predicted probability of passage success between the native and exotic fish species in this study were sufficient in some cases to indicate the potential for the baffled fish ramps to operate as a selective migration barrier. Nonetheless, further testing is required to validate these results across a broader range of conditions before deployment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A Franklin
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Cindy F Baker
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Kathryn A Reeve
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Hamilton, New Zealand
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12
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Cooper AR, Infante DM, O'Hanley JR, Yu H, Neeson TM, Brumm KJ. Prioritizing native migratory fish passage restoration while limiting the spread of invasive species: A case study in the Upper Mississippi River. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 791:148317. [PMID: 34412399 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Despite increasing efforts globally to remove dams and construct fish passage structures, broad-scale analyses balancing tradeoffs between cost and habitat gains from these mitigations infrequently consider invasive species. We present an optimization-based approach for prioritizing dam mitigations to restore habitat connectivity for native fish species, while limiting invasive species spread. Our methodology is tested with a case study involving 240 dams in the Upper Mississippi River, USA. We integrate six native migratory fish species distribution models, distributions of two invasive fishes, and estimated costs for dam removal and construction of fish passes. Varying budgets and post-mitigation fish passage rates are analyzed for two scenarios: 'no invasives' where non-selective mitigations (e.g., dam removal) are used irrespective of potential invasive species habitat gains and 'invasives' where a mixture of selective (e.g., lift-and-sort fish passage) and non-selective mitigations are deployed to limit invasive species range expansion. To achieve the same overall habitat connectivity gains, we find that prioritizations accounting for invasive species are 3 to 6 times more costly than those that do not. Habitat gains among native fish species were highly variable based on potential habitat overlap with invasive species and post-mitigation passabilities, ranging from 0.4-58.9% ('invasives') and 7.9-95.6% ('no invasives') for a $50M USD budget. Despite challenges associated with ongoing nonnative fish invasions, opportunities still exist to restore connectivity for native species as indicated by individual dams being frequently selected in both scenarios across varying passabilities and budgets, however increased restoration costs associated with invasive species control indicates the importance of limiting their further spread within the basin. Given tradeoffs in managing for native vs. invasive species in river systems worldwide, our approach demonstrates strategies for identifying a portfolio of candidate barriers that can be investigated further for their potential to enhance native fish habitat connectivity while concurrently limiting invasive species dispersal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur R Cooper
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, USA.
| | - Dana M Infante
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, USA
| | - Jesse R O'Hanley
- Kent Business School, University of Kent, UK; Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent, UK
| | - Hao Yu
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, USA
| | - Thomas M Neeson
- Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, University of Oklahoma, USA
| | - Kyle J Brumm
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, USA
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13
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Zielinski DP, Gaden M, Muir AM. Editorial: Global fish passage issues. AQUACULTURE AND FISHERIES 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aaf.2021.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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14
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Jones PE, Tummers JS, Galib SM, Woodford DJ, Hume JB, Silva LGM, Braga RR, Garcia de Leaniz C, Vitule JRS, Herder JE, Lucas MC. The Use of Barriers to Limit the Spread of Aquatic Invasive Animal Species: A Global Review. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.611631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are one of the principal threats to freshwater biodiversity. Exclusion barriers are increasingly being used as a management strategy to control the spread of AIS. However, exclusion barriers can also impact native organisms and their effectiveness is likely to be context dependent. We conducted a quantitative literature review to evaluate the use of barriers to control animal AIS in freshwater ecosystems worldwide. The quantitative aspect of the review was supplemented by case studies that describe some of the challenges, successes, and opportunities for the use of the use of AIS exclusion barriers globally. Barriers have been used since the 1950s to control the spread of AIS, but effort has been increasing since 2005 (80% of studies) and an increasingly diverse range of AIS taxa are now targeted in a wide range of habitat types. The global use of AIS barriers has been concentrated in North America (74% of studies), Australasia (11%), and Europe (10%). Physical barriers (e.g., weirs, exclusion screens, and velocity barriers) have been most widely used (47%), followed by electric (27%) and chemical barriers (12%). Fish were the most targeted taxa (86%), followed by crustaceans (10%), molluscs (3%) and amphibians (1%). Most studies have been moderately successful in limiting the passage of AIS, with 86% of the barriers tested deterring >70% of individuals. However, only 25% of studies evaluated barrier impacts on native species, and development of selective passage is still in its infancy. Most studies have been too short (47% < 1 year, 87% < 5 years) to detect ecological impacts or have failed to use robust before-after-control-impact (BACI) study designs (only 5%). Hence, more effective monitoring is required to assess the long-term effectiveness of exclusion barriers as an AIS management tool. Our global case studies highlight the pressing need for AIS control in many ecoregions, and exclusion barriers have the potential to become an effective tool in some situations. However, the design and operation of exclusion barriers must be refined to deliver selective passage of native fauna, and exclusion barriers should only be used sparingly as part of a wider integrated management strategy.
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