Aquatic connectivity: challenges and solutions in a changing climate

Journal of Fish Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 105(2), P. 392 - 411

Published: April 7, 2024

The challenge of managing aquatic connectivity in a changing climate is exacerbated the presence additional anthropogenic stressors, social factors, and economic drivers. Here we discuss these issues context structural functional for biodiversity, specifically fish, both freshwater marine realms. We posit that adaptive management strategies consider shifting baselines socio-ecological implications change will be required to achieve objectives. role renewable energy expansion, particularly hydropower, critically examined its impact on connectivity. advocate strategic spatial planning incorporates nature-positive solutions, ensuring mitigation efforts are harmonized with biodiversity conservation. underscore urgency integrating robust scientific modelling stakeholder values define clear, Finally, call innovative monitoring predictive decision-making tools navigate uncertainties inherent climate, goal resilience sustainability ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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Tidal Exclusion Barriers Fragment an Invertebrate Community into Taxonomically and Functionally Distinct Estuarine and Wetland Assemblages

Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13(4), P. 635 - 635

Published: March 22, 2025

Various types of tidal barriers are used in estuaries to reduce saltwater intrusion and regulate freshwater discharge, but they often alter the physicochemical environment faunal composition. With use these structures expected increase due climate change, there is a need understand their impacts. A exclusion barrier Ramsar-listed Vasse–Wonnerup Estuary (Australia) was found act as an ecotone, fragmenting estuarine gradient into two distinct components, relatively stable marine-like downstream highly variable oligohaline hypersaline (~0 >100 ppt) upstream. The regions contained speciose functionally rich fauna, comprising mainly polychaetes bivalves. upstream were taxonomically depauperate, containing insects, gastropods, ostracods typically saline wetlands. fragmentation estuary has likely impacted provision ecosystem services, with fauna burrowing species that bioturbate and, thus, aid nutrient cycling. In contrast, environmental conditions caused by resultant epifaunal invertebrate assemblages little bioturbation, provide nutrition for avian fauna. These results may help understanding impacts constructing new coastal ecosystems response change.

Language: Английский

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Ecosystem Service Trajectories in Restored Coastal Habitats

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 31(3)

Published: March 1, 2025

Ecosystem restoration is urgently needed to restore, maintain, or increase valued ecosystem services provided by natural habitats. However, the provision of in restored habitats, comparison natural, undegraded and time required for them be generated, uncertain. Here, first coastal (or our knowledge, any) ecosystems, we systematically outline why how characterize pathways service recovery following restoration. Using real-world theoretical examples, mainly from seven key components trajectories. These are baseline rate variability provisioning, trend type, direction, rate, equivalence provisioning. provide novel insights into development values over time, their use can help planning on-ground projects monitoring regimes, valuing services, determining success.

Language: Английский

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Artificial barriers and estuarine squeeze: A novel assessment of estuarine vulnerability to climate change and sea level rise

Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 109299 - 109299

Published: April 1, 2025

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Rethinking fish-friendliness of pumps by shifting focus to both safe and timely fish passage for effective conservation

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(1)

Published: Aug. 2, 2024

Abstract Globally, catadromous freshwater eels of the genus Anguilla are conservation concern, including critically endangered European eel ( anguilla ). Pumping stations that move river water to a higher elevation severely impact during their seaward spawning migration. Fish-friendly pumps can mitigate fish injury and mortality but here we uniquely rethink fish-friendly pump as passage solution. In this pluriannual study, seasonal timing operation was misaligned with typical silver migration period. Eels were almost exclusively nocturnal night-time pumping represented little 5.6% year. Night-time approaches primarily influenced by duration temperature, did not align lunar phase, unlike in unregulated rivers. After reaching station, weedscreen aperture increased when increased. Passive sensor collision suggested non-pump infrastructure could cause eels. It is therefore recommended should migration, entrance efficiencies be maximised, must have low risk. Ultimately, considering entire structure solution will help ensure high value for anguillid globally.

Language: Английский

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Diverse migration strategies of ariid catfishes along a salinity gradient in the Mekong River

Fisheries Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 279, P. 107133 - 107133

Published: Aug. 3, 2024

Ariid catfishes (Ariidae family) are important migratory fish species in the Mekong River, with some representing a major harvest component from river. Limited biological information exists, and particular their migration patterns not well understood. This study examined life history strategies of three abundant ariid (Cephalocassis borneensis, Arius maculatus, Osteogeneiosus militaris) River using otolith chemistry. Multiple trace elements sections were quantified two analytical techniques: Laser Ablation – Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry X-ray fluorescence microscopy. We found that 83 % C. borneensis samples completed cycle exclusively fresh water while 17 this occasionally higher salinity (brackish) waters. The other (A. maculatus O. generally occupied (estuary coastal) areas, but demonstrated complex up to observed (including both residents migrants). With such strategies, management conservation interventions challenge for these species.

Language: Английский

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Strategic Siting of Hydroelectric Power Plants to Power Railway Operations with Renewable Energy

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 16(16), P. 7086 - 7086

Published: Aug. 18, 2024

The present study explores the strategic siting of hydroelectric power plants, focusing on Miyanaka Intake Dam (MID) and Shinano River Hydroelectric Power Station (SHP). Built in 1939 to support Tokyo’s railway electrification, these facilities demonstrate complexities balancing renewable energy production with ecological conservation. Despite high costs losses associated transmitting from Sea Japan side, SHP has effectively powered rail system for over 80 years, owing advanced transmission technologies region’s abundant water resources. However, river-crossing structures such as dams disrupt fish migration habitats, necessitating implementation fishways. MID fishway, continually improved since its construction, emphasizes importance integrating considerations into hydropower projects. Our findings highlight higher generation efficiency side stress need careful site selection ensure sustainable while preserving river ecosystems. In conclusion, sites should be chosen based both environmental impacts future development potential maintain balance long-term goals.

Language: Английский

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Timing is everything; operational changes at a pumping station with a gravity sluice to provide safe downstream passage for silver European eels and deliver considerable financial savings

Journal of Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 347, P. 119143 - 119143

Published: Oct. 5, 2023

Catadromous European eel (Anguilla anguilla) are a critically endangered fish species due in part to in-river anthropogenic barriers (e.g., pumping stations, weirs, hydropower facilities). legislation stipulates that safe downstream passage must be provided at hazardous intakes. Where present, gravity sluices have the potential act as and low-cost for seaward migrating silver eels station, but operational changes required. This study used catchment-wide fine-scale acoustic telemetry investigate if (OC) station (PS) with co-located sluice (GS) facilitated eels. Specifically, night-time pump operations were ceased, river levels prior sluicing elevated GS was opened during key migration windows, i.e., night new moon phase autumn. No tagged passed through any pumps majority (2018 = 87.5%, 2020 88.9%) approached PS OC GS. Most first period of after release 73.9% 76.5%) event they experienced 66.7% 75.0%). During final approach passage, very few retreats back upstream occurred median (IQR) distance 34 (7.25) m from predominantly short (1-8 m). Overall, considered win-win-win, despite opening <3% period, given maximised, financial benefits water (∼£14,670 direct costs over two years) relative ease implementation.

Language: Английский

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Factors influencing European river lamprey passage at a tidal river barrier

Hydrobiologia, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 851(20), P. 4803 - 4820

Published: July 9, 2024

Language: Английский

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Emigration of Juvenile Tarpon Megalops atlanticus from Ephemerally Connected Coastal Ponds

Estuaries and Coasts, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 47(8), P. 2493 - 2509

Published: Aug. 29, 2024

Abstract Worldwide, coastal wetlands are threatened by disrupted hydrology, urbanization, and sea-level rise. In southwest Florida, include tidal creeks ponds, which the primary habitats used juvenile Tarpon, Megalops atlanticus , an important sport fish. Coastal ponds can occur near uplands ephemerally connected to open estuary, creating conditions of variable dissolved oxygen salinity. Juveniles tolerate wide-ranging abiotic conditions, but little is known about how they egress from their remote nursery habitats, often requires them cross > 1 km mangrove forest reach estuary. The objective this study was (1) compare Tarpon body condition among close estuary versus those farther away on Cape Haze peninsula Charlotte Harbor, (2) using acoustic telemetry determine what factors contribute emigration estuarine waters. We tested hypothesis that distinct groups in isolated leading variation fish length condition, opportunities for these hinge high water events. No pond stood out as having low condition. Factors contributing increased probabilities were barometric pressure, high-water level, length. emigrated during summer king tides, while tropical cyclone needed allow movement landscape. later detected at mouths large rivers 30 up-estuary. characterizations levels event criteria successful nurseries should aid habitat conservation creation restoration designs.

Language: Английский

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