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Just go with the flow? Route selection and mortality during downstream migration of silver eels in relation to river discharge
Jansen, H.M.; Winter, H.V.; Bruijs, M.C.M.; Polman, H.J.G.; Winter, H.V. (2007). Just go with the flow? Route selection and mortality during downstream migration of silver eels in relation to river discharge. ICES J. Mar. Sci./J. Cons. int. Explor. Mer 67(7): 1437-1443. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsm132
In: ICES Journal of Marine Science. Academic Press: London. ISSN 1054-3139; e-ISSN 1095-9289, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Behaviour
    Behaviour > Migration
    Behaviour > Migrations
    Energy sources > Power > Water power
    Fisheries
    Fisheries
    Inflow > River discharge
    Measurement > Telemetry
    Measurement > Telemetry > Radio telemetry
    Population functions > Mortality
    Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758) [WoRMS]; Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758) [WoRMS]
    ANE, Netherlands, Meuse R. [Marine Regions]; Europe [Marine Regions]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    fisheries; hydropower; individual eel behaviour; migration; radiotelemetry; river discharge; route selection; silver eels

Authors  Top 
  • Jansen, H.M., more
  • Winter, H.V.
  • Bruijs, M.C.M.
  • Polman, H.J.G.
  • Winter, H.V.

Abstract
    The European eel (Anguilla anguilla) has been in steep decline for several decades. Fisheries and hydropower-induced mortality presumably play an important role during the downstream migration of silver eels, and downstream-migrating silver eels must make various navigation and route-selection decisions to reach the sea. We examined the influence of river discharge on route selection of silver eels. To quantify the impact of hydropower and fisheries on silver eel mortality, radio-telemetry experiments were performed in the River Meuse in 2002 and 2004, surgically implanting 300 silver eels with Nedap-transponders. Route selection and passage behaviour near detection stations was assessed. Silver eels were distributed over the alternative migration routes in the river in proportion to the discharge until the silver eels reached the entrance to the turbines. The eels altered their behaviour when approaching the turbines of hydropower plants and showed stationary and recurrent behaviour. We discuss the consequences of this on route selection and mortality rates caused by hydropower facilities and fisheries.

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