The Eel Ascending: The Influence of Lateral Slope, Climbing Substrate and Flow Rate on Eel Pass Performance
Optimising the design of passage facilities to restore fluvial connectivity for juvenile European eel ( Anguilla anguilla ) is a key priority within conservation efforts for the species, across the majority of its freshwater range. Employing an experimental setup that simulated gravity-fed upstream...
| Published in: | Fishes |
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8120612 https://doaj.org/article/2523054f573b45099925295bc9a7c6a4 |
| Summary: | Optimising the design of passage facilities to restore fluvial connectivity for juvenile European eel ( Anguilla anguilla ) is a key priority within conservation efforts for the species, across the majority of its freshwater range. Employing an experimental setup that simulated gravity-fed upstream eel passes, this study demonstrated that novel V-profile passes, which incorporate two lateral slopes (15°), performed better than laterally flat passes over the flow rates tested (0.2–0.6 L s −1 ). For the small eel size used (60–80 mm length), the bristle substrate consistently outperformed studs, but the lateral slope had a greater effect on passage metrics than the substrate choice. Our findings strongly support the use of V-shaped channels for upstream migrating eel at fish passage facilities, particularly in scenarios where flow rates may be elevated and/or fluctuating, such as for gravity-fed passes. |
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