scholarly journals One size does not fit all: inter- and intraspecific variation in the swimming performance of contrasting freshwater fish

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter E Jones ◽  
Jon C Svendsen ◽  
Luca Börger ◽  
Toby Champneys ◽  
Sofia Consuegra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Freshwater Fish ◽  
Brown Trout ◽  
Swimming Speed ◽  
Swimming Performance ◽  
Fish Passage ◽  
Swimming Ability ◽  
Stone Loach ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Topmouth Gudgeon ◽  
European Minnow

Abstract Artificial barriers cause widespread impacts on freshwater fish. Swimming performance is often used as the key metric in assessing fishes’ responses to river barriers. However, barrier mitigation is generally based on the swimming ability of salmonids and other strong swimmers because knowledge of swimming ability for most other freshwater fish is poor. Also, fish pass designs tend to adopt a ‘one size fits all’ approach because little is known about population or individual variability in swimming performance. Here, we assessed interspecific and intraspecific differences in the sustained swimming speed (Usus) of five freshwater fish with contrasting body sizes, morphologies and swimming modes: topmouth gudgeon, European minnow, stone loach, bullhead and brown trout. Significant Usus variation was identified at three organizational levels: species, populations and individual. Interspecific differences in Usus were as large as 64 cm s−1, upstream populations of brown trout showed mean Usus 27 cm s−1 higher than downstream populations, and species exhibited high individual variation (e.g. cv = 62% in European minnow). Sustained swimming speed (Usus) increased significantly with body size in topmouth gudgeon, European minnow and brown trout, but not in the two benthic species, bullhead and stone loach. Aerobic scope had a significant positive effect on Usus in European minnow, stone loach and brown trout. Sustained swimming speed (Usus) decreased with relative pectoral fin length in European minnow and brown trout, whereas body fineness was the best predictor in stone loach and bullhead. Hence, swimming performance correlated with a diverse range of traits that are rarely considered when predicting fish passage. Our study highlights the dangers of using species’ average swimming speeds and illustrates why a ‘one size fits all’ approach often fails to mitigate for barrier effects. We call for an evidence-based approach to barrier mitigation, one that recognizes natural variability at multiple hierarchical levels.

scholarly journals Swimming Performance of Four Carps on the Yangtze River for Fish Passage Design

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1575
Author(s):  
Junjun Tan ◽  
Hong Li ◽  
Wentao Guo ◽  
Honglin Tan ◽  
Senfan Ke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Length ◽  
Swimming Speed ◽  
Swimming Performance ◽  
Fish Habitat ◽  
Silver Carp ◽  
Fish Passage ◽  
The Body ◽  
Bighead Carp ◽  
Black Carp ◽  
Burst Swimming

Anthropogenic engineered structures alter the local ecological connectivity of river and survival habitat of native fishes. The swimming performance is critical for establishing fish passage or fish habitat. This study evaluated the swimming performance of four carps (black carp, grass carp, silver carp and bighead carp) with smaller body lengths (1.0–9.0 cm) in a swimming flume. The results showed that the critical and burst swimming speed (m/s) of the four carps increased with the increased body length, and the relative (critical and burst) swimming speed (the critical and burst swimming speed divided by the body length, BL/s) decreases with body length. The critical and burst swimming speed of each species at two individual length groups (1.0–5.0 cm, 5.1–9.0 cm) was significantly different (p < 0.05), and the water velocities in fish passage should be less than the fish burst swimming speed. The results further provided the swimming performance data of juvenile carps and provided technical reference for the construction of fish passage and the restoration of ecological habitat.

scholarly journals Extreme temperature combined with hypoxia, affects swimming performance in brown trout (Salmo trutta)

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L Nudds ◽  
Karlina Ozolina ◽  
Miriam Fenkes ◽  
Oliver H Wearing ◽  
Holly A Shiels
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Brown Trout ◽  
Swimming Speed ◽  
Salmo Trutta ◽  
River Flow ◽  
Swimming Performance ◽  
Extreme Temperature ◽  
Saturation Level ◽  
Brown Trout Salmo Trutta ◽  
Tail Beat

Abstract Climate change is predicted to impact freshwater aquatic environments through changes to water temperature (Twater), river flow and eutrophication. Riverine habitats contain many economically and ecologically important fishes. One such group is the migratory salmonids, which are sensitive to warm Twater and low O2 (hypoxia). While several studies have investigated the independent effects of Twater and hypoxia on fish physiology, the combined effects of these stressors is less well known. Furthermore, no study has investigated the effects of Twater and O2 saturation levels within the range currently experienced by a salmonid species. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the simultaneous effects of Twater and O2 saturation level on the energetics and kinematics of steady-state swimming in brown trout, Salmo trutta. No effect of O2 saturation level (70 and 100% air saturation) on tail-beat kinematics was detected. Conversely, Twater (10, 14, 18 and 22°C) did affect tail-beat kinematics, but a trade-off between frequency (ftail) and amplitude (A, maximum tail excursion) maintained the Strouhal number (St = ftail• A/U, where U is swimming speed) within the theoretically most mechanically efficient range. Swimming oxygen consumption rate (${\dot{M}}_{{\mathsf{O}}_{\mathsf{2}}}$) and cost of transport increased with both U and Twater. The only effect of O2 saturation level was observed at the highest Twater (22°C) and fastest swimming speed (two speeds were used—0.6 and 0.8 m s−1). As the extremes of this study are consistent with current summer conditions in parts of UK waterways, our findings may indicate that S. trutta will be negatively impacted by the increased Twater and reduced O2 levels likely presented by anthropogenic climate change.

Swimming Performance of Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in relation to Fatigue Time and Temperature

1967 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 1731-1741 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Brett
Keyword(s):  
Swimming Speed ◽  
Sockeye Salmon ◽  
Swimming Performance ◽  
Probit Analysis ◽  
Rapid Decline ◽  
Swimming Ability ◽  
Lethal Level ◽  
Standard Procedures ◽  
Bioassay Data ◽  
Extinction Point

Further studies on the swimming performance of fingerling sockeye salmon at fixed velocities have been conducted in relation to fatigue time. The method of probit analysis, commonly used in dealing with bioassay data, was found to be suitable for determining times to 50% fatigue and in providing a measure of variance despite the presence of some erratic behaviour. For sockeye acclimated to 15 C (mean length = 13.6 cm) the velocity at which 50% fatigued was 54.4 cm/sec or 4.0 lengths/sec (L/sec). The 5% and 95% fatigue velocities were 3.1 and 4.8 L/sec, respectively. Larger fish required longer exposure times for determining maximum sustained speeds, extending from approximately 120 min for fingerlings to 500 min for adults.Using the method of increasing velocity steps the effect of temperatures from 5 to 27.5 C was examined. When acclimated to 15 C fingerling sockeye exhibited only a 4% reduction in swimming speed at 10 and 20 C. Temperatures above the lethal level caused a rapid decline in swimming ability approaching the extinction point at 27.5 C.Recommendations for standard procedures in the study of swimming speeds are made.

scholarly journals Swimming performance traits of twenty-one Australian fish species: a fish passage management tool for use in modified freshwater systems

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jabin R. Watson ◽  
Harriet R. Goodrich ◽  
Rebecca L. Cramp ◽  
Matthew A. Gordos ◽  
Yulian Yan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Swimming Speed ◽  
Swimming Performance ◽  
Fish Passage ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Performance Data ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Freshwater Systems ◽  
Australian Fish ◽  
The Impact

AbstractFreshwater ecosystems have been severely fragmented by artificial in-stream structures designed to manage water for human use. Significant efforts have been made to reconnect freshwater systems for fish movement, through the design and installation of dedicated fish passage structures (fishways) and by incorporating fish-sensitive design features into conventional infrastructure (e.g. culverts). Key to the success of these structures is making sure that the water velocities within them do not exceed the swimming capacities of the local fish species. Swimming performance data is scarce for Australian fish, which have a reduced swimming capacity when compared to many North American and European species. To help close this knowledge gap and assist fisheries management and civil engineering, we report the swimming performance capacities of twenty-one small-bodied fish and juveniles (< 10 cm) of large bodied species native to Australia as measured by critical swimming speed (Ucrit) and burst swimming speed (Usprint) in a recirculating flume. This data is complemented by endurance swim trials in a 12-meter hydraulic flume channel, and by measures of flume traverse success. Building on the utility of this dataset, we used a panel of morphological, behavioural and ecological traits to first assess their relative contributions to the observed swimming performance data, and second, to determine if they could be used to predict swimming performance capacity – a useful tool to assist in the management of species of conservation concern where access to swimming performance data may be limited. We found that body length combined with depth station (benthic, pelagic or surface) explained most of the interspecific variation in observed swimming performance data, followed by body shape and tail shape. These three traits were the most effective at predicting swimming performance in a model/unknown fish. This data will assist civil engineers and fisheries managers in Australia to mitigate the impact of in-stream structures on local fish populations.

Effects of temperature on the fast-start swimming performance of an Australian freshwater fish

2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 184-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Lyon ◽  
T. J. Ryan ◽  
M. P. Scroggie
Keyword(s):  
Freshwater Fish ◽  
Swimming Performance ◽  
Fast Start ◽  
Effects Of Temperature ◽  
Australian Freshwater

Impact of Diet on Metabolism and Swimming Performance in Juvenile Lake Trout, Salvelinus namaycush

1989 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 384-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. W. H. Beamish ◽  
J. C. Howlett ◽  
T. E. Medland
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Consumption ◽  
Swimming Speed ◽  
Lake Trout ◽  
Swimming Performance ◽  
Salvelinus Namaycush ◽  
Feeding Trial ◽  
Direct Association ◽  
Feeding Trials ◽  
Velocity Increments ◽  
Isocaloric Diets

Juvenile lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush, of similar size were fed one of three isocaloric diets, each differing in protein and lipid content. Oxygen consumption and swimming performance were measured in a recirculating water flume at intervals throughout the 70-d feeding trials (10 °C). Swimming speed was increased by stepwise velocity increments (5 cm∙s−1) and oxygen consumption was measured at each velocity between 20 and 45 cm∙s−1. Oxygen consumption for a given speed did not differ significantly throughout the feeding trial nor among the diets implying a similarity in the quality and quantity of substrate catabolized for energy. Basal metabolism (0 cm∙s−1) was also independent of diet and feeding interval. Critical swimming speed increased with dietary and carcass protein content to suggest a direct association with muscle mass and number of myofilaments.

scholarly journals Feeding strategy of mackerel in the Norwegian Sea relative to currents, temperature, and prey

2015 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 1127-1137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leif Nøttestad ◽  
Justine Diaz ◽  
Hector Penã ◽  
Henrik Søiland ◽  
Geir Huse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Swimming Speed ◽  
Swimming Performance ◽  
Feeding Strategy ◽  
Near Field ◽  
Norwegian Sea ◽  
Swimming Direction ◽  
Atlantic Mackerel ◽  
The North ◽  
Foraging Rate ◽  
Feeding Resources

Abstract High abundance of Northeast Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus L.), combined with limited food resources, may now force mackerel to enter new and productive regions in the northern Norwegian Sea. However, it is not known how mackerel exploit the spatially varying feeding resources, and their vertical distribution and swimming behaviour are also largely unknown. During an ecosystem survey in the Norwegian Sea during the summer feeding season, swimming direction, and speed of mackerel schools were recorded with high-frequency omnidirectional sonar in four different regions relative to currents, ambient temperature, and zooplankton. A total of 251 schools were tracked, and fish and zooplankton were sampled with pelagic trawl and WP-2 plankton net. Except for the southwest region, swimming direction of the tracked schools coincided with the prevailing northerly Atlantic current direction in the Norwegian Sea. Swimming with the current saves energy, and the current also provides a directional cue towards the most productive areas in the northern Norwegian Sea. Average mean swimming speed in all regions combined was ∼3.8 body lengths s−1. However, fish did not swim in a straight course, but often changed direction, suggesting active feeding in the near field. Fish were largest and swimming speed lowest in the northwest region which had the highest plankton concentrations and lowest temperature. Mackerel swam close to the surface at a depth of 8–39 m, with all schools staying above the thermocline in waters of at least 6°C. In surface waters, mackerel encounter improved foraging rate and swimming performance. Going with the flow until temperature is too low, based on an expectation of increasing foraging rate towards the north while utilizing available prey under way, could be a simple and robust feeding strategy for mackerel in the Norwegian Sea.

THE EFFECT OF SOLID AND POROUS CHANNEL WALLS ON STEADY SWIMMING OF STEELHEAD TROUT ONCORHYNCHUS MYKISS

1993 ◽  
Vol 178 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. W. Webb
Keyword(s):  
Swimming Speed ◽  
Swimming Performance ◽  
Beat Frequency ◽  
Regression Coefficients ◽  
Steelhead Trout ◽  
Wall Effects ◽  
Fish Swimming ◽  
Wide Channel ◽  
Solid Walls ◽  
Tail Beat

Kinematics and steady swimming performance were recorded for steelhead trout (approximately 12.2 cm in total length) swimming in channels 4.5, 3 and 1.6 cm wide in the centre of a flume 15 cm wide. Channel walls were solid or porous. Tail-beat depth and the length of the propulsive wave were not affected by spacing of either solid or porous walls. The product of tail-beat frequency, F, and amplitude, H, was related to swimming speed, u, and to harmonic mean distance of the tail from the wall, z. For solid walls: FH = 1.01(+/−0.31)u0.67(+/−0.09)z(0.12+/−0.02) and for grid walls: FH = 0.873(+/−0.302)u0.74(+/−0.08)z0.064(+/−0.024), where +/−2 s.e. are shown for regression coefficients. Thus, rates of working were smaller for fish swimming between solid walls, but the reduction due to wall effects decreased with increasing swimming speed. Porous grid walls had less effect on kinematics, except at low swimming speeds. Spacing of solid walls did not affect maximum tail-beat frequency, but maximum tail-beat amplitude decreased with smaller wall widths. Maximum tail-beat amplitude similarly decreased with spacing between grid walls, but maximum tail-beat frequency increased. Walls also reduced maximum swimming speed. Wall effects have not been adequately taken into account in most studies of fish swimming in flumes and fish wheels.

Swimming performance of a freshwater fish during exposure to high carbon dioxide

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 3447-3454 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric VC Schneider ◽  
Caleb T Hasler ◽  
Cory D Suski
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Freshwater Fish ◽  
Swimming Performance ◽  
High Carbon ◽  
High Carbon Dioxide

Swimming performance of brown trout and grayling show species‐specific responses to changes in temperature

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-246
Author(s):  
Annette Taugbøl ◽  
Kjetil Olstad ◽  
Kim Magnus Bærum ◽  
Jon Museth
Keyword(s):  
Brown Trout ◽  
Swimming Performance ◽  
Species Specific
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