Short-Term Effects of Low-Head Barrier Removals on Fish Communities and Habitats
Barrier removal is increasingly being seen as the optimal solution to restore lotic habitat and fish communities, however, evidence of its efficacy is often limited to single sites or catchments. This study used a before–after methodology to examine the short-term (average, 541 days) effects of low-...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:362261f1c9d845648998fa35bd4f32c0 2023-05-15T18:09:59+02:00 Short-Term Effects of Low-Head Barrier Removals on Fish Communities and Habitats Damian H. Bubb Kim Birnie-Gauvin Jeroen S. Tummers Kim Aarestrup Niels Jepsen Martyn C. Lucas 2021-11-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.697106 https://doaj.org/article/362261f1c9d845648998fa35bd4f32c0 EN eng Frontiers Media S.A. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2021.697106/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-701X 2296-701X doi:10.3389/fevo.2021.697106 https://doaj.org/article/362261f1c9d845648998fa35bd4f32c0 Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Vol 9 (2021) dam fish assemblage fish passage habitat restoration connectivity Evolution QH359-425 Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2021 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.697106 2022-12-31T08:00:46Z Barrier removal is increasingly being seen as the optimal solution to restore lotic habitat and fish communities, however, evidence of its efficacy is often limited to single sites or catchments. This study used a before–after methodology to examine the short-term (average, 541 days) effects of low-head (0.1–2.9 m) barrier removal at 22 sites distributed across Denmark and northern England on fish density, community, and river habitat responses. Following barrier removal, changes in the aquatic habitat were observed, such that the area immediately upstream of the former barrier location became shallower, with larger substrate and faster flow conditions. The reinstatement of this habitat was especially valuable in Danish streams, where these habitat features are rare, due to the naturally low gradients. Across all 22 sites fish species richness and diversity was similar before and after removal of barriers, likely because of the short study timescale (1–2 years). Across all sites combined, there was an increase in total fish density following barrier removal. A large increase in salmonid (Salmo trutta and Salmo salar) densities following barrier removal occurred at 7 out of 12 Danish sites. No similar response in salmonid density was observed at any of the UK sites which were mostly characterized by high channel gradients and short ponded zones. Two UK barrier removal sites showed marked increases in density of non-salmonid fish species. This study suggests that the removal of low-head barriers can be an effective method of restoring lotic habitats, and can lead to positive changes in fish density in the former ponded zone. The short-term effect of small barrier removal on the fish community is more variable and its effectiveness is likely to be determined by wider riverine processes. Article in Journal/Newspaper Salmo salar Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Low Head ENVELOPE(-58.133,-58.133,-62.150,-62.150) Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 9 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
dam fish assemblage fish passage habitat restoration connectivity Evolution QH359-425 Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
dam fish assemblage fish passage habitat restoration connectivity Evolution QH359-425 Ecology QH540-549.5 Damian H. Bubb Kim Birnie-Gauvin Jeroen S. Tummers Kim Aarestrup Niels Jepsen Martyn C. Lucas Short-Term Effects of Low-Head Barrier Removals on Fish Communities and Habitats |
topic_facet |
dam fish assemblage fish passage habitat restoration connectivity Evolution QH359-425 Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
Barrier removal is increasingly being seen as the optimal solution to restore lotic habitat and fish communities, however, evidence of its efficacy is often limited to single sites or catchments. This study used a before–after methodology to examine the short-term (average, 541 days) effects of low-head (0.1–2.9 m) barrier removal at 22 sites distributed across Denmark and northern England on fish density, community, and river habitat responses. Following barrier removal, changes in the aquatic habitat were observed, such that the area immediately upstream of the former barrier location became shallower, with larger substrate and faster flow conditions. The reinstatement of this habitat was especially valuable in Danish streams, where these habitat features are rare, due to the naturally low gradients. Across all 22 sites fish species richness and diversity was similar before and after removal of barriers, likely because of the short study timescale (1–2 years). Across all sites combined, there was an increase in total fish density following barrier removal. A large increase in salmonid (Salmo trutta and Salmo salar) densities following barrier removal occurred at 7 out of 12 Danish sites. No similar response in salmonid density was observed at any of the UK sites which were mostly characterized by high channel gradients and short ponded zones. Two UK barrier removal sites showed marked increases in density of non-salmonid fish species. This study suggests that the removal of low-head barriers can be an effective method of restoring lotic habitats, and can lead to positive changes in fish density in the former ponded zone. The short-term effect of small barrier removal on the fish community is more variable and its effectiveness is likely to be determined by wider riverine processes. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Damian H. Bubb Kim Birnie-Gauvin Jeroen S. Tummers Kim Aarestrup Niels Jepsen Martyn C. Lucas |
author_facet |
Damian H. Bubb Kim Birnie-Gauvin Jeroen S. Tummers Kim Aarestrup Niels Jepsen Martyn C. Lucas |
author_sort |
Damian H. Bubb |
title |
Short-Term Effects of Low-Head Barrier Removals on Fish Communities and Habitats |
title_short |
Short-Term Effects of Low-Head Barrier Removals on Fish Communities and Habitats |
title_full |
Short-Term Effects of Low-Head Barrier Removals on Fish Communities and Habitats |
title_fullStr |
Short-Term Effects of Low-Head Barrier Removals on Fish Communities and Habitats |
title_full_unstemmed |
Short-Term Effects of Low-Head Barrier Removals on Fish Communities and Habitats |
title_sort |
short-term effects of low-head barrier removals on fish communities and habitats |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.697106 https://doaj.org/article/362261f1c9d845648998fa35bd4f32c0 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-58.133,-58.133,-62.150,-62.150) |
geographic |
Low Head |
geographic_facet |
Low Head |
genre |
Salmo salar |
genre_facet |
Salmo salar |
op_source |
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Vol 9 (2021) |
op_relation |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2021.697106/full https://doaj.org/toc/2296-701X 2296-701X doi:10.3389/fevo.2021.697106 https://doaj.org/article/362261f1c9d845648998fa35bd4f32c0 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2021.697106 |
container_title |
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
container_volume |
9 |
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1766182705818501120 |