Session C5: Behavioural Patterns of Migrating Silver Eel at a Hydro Power Station in the River Meuse
Location
Groningen, The Netherlands
Event Website
http://fishpassage.umass.edu/
Start Date
23-6-2015 3:15 PM
End Date
23-6-2015 3:40 PM
Description
Abstract:
In order to provide efficient downstream passage for migrating silver eel and to reduce mortality or obstruction rates at barriers, a better understanding of behavioural patterns for migrating silver eels is necessary. To study behavioural patterns of downstream migrating silver eels which are confronted with a hydropower station – weir – ship lock complex in the river Meuse a telemetry experiment was performed. This study used four detection stations (NedapTrail-System®) covering the river bed, two stations up and downstream the HPS, two stations up and downstream the weir and two stations in separated fishways. In all, 148 silver eels were surgically implanted with Nedap-transponders in 2010. 121 eels continued migration showing a great variety of individual behavioural patterns. The majority, 68%, of the eels passed through the turbines either immediately or after recurrence or avoidance behaviour, 15% eels migrated over the weir and it was assumed that 14% of the eels migrated using shiplocks either directly or after returning behaviour at the hydropower station complex. A great number of silver eels (36-38%) approaching the hydropower station (HPS) – weir complex, did not follow the current of the river and were firstly detected at the weir while all the water was guided through the turbines. This suggests either an active avoidance behaviour at a greater distance independent to river discharge or a passive behavioural result of eels that could not detect the main current near the complex. Other eel showed immediate passage (32%) or hesitated to pass the complex or turned around after presumably following the river flow (29-31%).
Session C5: Behavioural Patterns of Migrating Silver Eel at a Hydro Power Station in the River Meuse
Groningen, The Netherlands
Abstract:
In order to provide efficient downstream passage for migrating silver eel and to reduce mortality or obstruction rates at barriers, a better understanding of behavioural patterns for migrating silver eels is necessary. To study behavioural patterns of downstream migrating silver eels which are confronted with a hydropower station – weir – ship lock complex in the river Meuse a telemetry experiment was performed. This study used four detection stations (NedapTrail-System®) covering the river bed, two stations up and downstream the HPS, two stations up and downstream the weir and two stations in separated fishways. In all, 148 silver eels were surgically implanted with Nedap-transponders in 2010. 121 eels continued migration showing a great variety of individual behavioural patterns. The majority, 68%, of the eels passed through the turbines either immediately or after recurrence or avoidance behaviour, 15% eels migrated over the weir and it was assumed that 14% of the eels migrated using shiplocks either directly or after returning behaviour at the hydropower station complex. A great number of silver eels (36-38%) approaching the hydropower station (HPS) – weir complex, did not follow the current of the river and were firstly detected at the weir while all the water was guided through the turbines. This suggests either an active avoidance behaviour at a greater distance independent to river discharge or a passive behavioural result of eels that could not detect the main current near the complex. Other eel showed immediate passage (32%) or hesitated to pass the complex or turned around after presumably following the river flow (29-31%).
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/fishpassage_conference/2015/June23/23
Comments
Presenting Author Bio: I studied Biology at Wageningen University and graduated in 2008 on different fishmigration related topics. After a short carreer as biology teacher I started to work at IMARES in 2011 as a scientific researcher. I am involved in several projects related to fish migration en fish behaviour including the Fish Migration River research projects for pre-construction fish passage evaluation.