Can Energy Depletion of Wild Atlantic Salmon Kelts Negotiating Hydropower Facilities Lead to Reduced Survival?

• Published in: Sustainability
• Main Authors: Henrik Baktoft, Karl Ø. Gjelland, Marcell Szabo-Meszaros, Ana T. Silva, Milan Riha, Finn Økland, Knut Alfredsen, Torbjørn Forseth
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020
• Subjects: high-resolution 3D telemetry; 3D hydraulic modeling; anthropogenic structures; river connectivity; energetics model; energy expenditure; Environmental effects of industries and plants; TD194-195; Renewable energy sources; TJ807-830; Environmental sciences; GE1-350; Atlantic salmon
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187341; https://doaj.org/article/0db948f90a17422daeb46bf1df02e276

Repeat spawners constitute an important component of Atlantic salmon populations, but survival of post-spawning individuals (kelts) are often compromised by anthropogenic structures such as hydropower plants (HPPs). Potential effects of HPPs include migration delays and associated increased energy depletion, which potentially results in increased overall mortality. We combined a detailed 3D hydraulic model with high-resolution 3D tracking of tagged kelts (length 73–104 cm) to obtain estimates of kelt movement through water. These estimates were then used in an energetics model to estimate hourly energy expenditure while negotiating the HPP area. Hourly kelt energy expenditure varied between 0.8 and 10.1 kJ × h −1 and was dependent on kelt length. Degree of additional energy depletion can amount to several percent of remaining energy content (our study indicates 4–5 percentage points) potentially leading to reduced post-spawning survival. In turn, this can nullify the iteroparous breeding strategy and jeopardize long-term stability and persistence of Atlantic salmon populations inhabiting HPP rivers.