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Advances in the aquatic sciences
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Fish movement patterns in a Neotropical free-flowing tributary located downstream from a large dam

Ruanny Casarim A D , Ivo Gavião Prado A B C , Raquel Coelho Loures A B and Paulo Santos Pompeu A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Laboratório de Ecologia de Peixes. Setor de Ecologia, Departamento de Biologia – Universidade Federal de Lavras. Campus Universitário, Lavras, Minas Gerais, 37200-000, Brazil.

B Compainha energética de Minas Gerais (Cemig) Geração e Transmissão, Programa Peixe Vivo, Avenida Barbacena 1200, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30161-970, Brazil.

C Pisces – Consultoria e Serviços Ambientais, Rua Comandante Vilas Boas 35, Lavras, Minas Gerais, 37200-000, Brazil.

D Corresponding author. Email: rucasarim@gmail.com

Marine and Freshwater Research 69(10) 1626-1634 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF17216
Submitted: 7 October 2016  Accepted: 24 March 2018   Published: 17 July 2018

Abstract

In dammed rivers, the conservation of free-flowing tributaries is considered an important strategy to mitigate the negative effects of the dam on fish communities. In this study, we evaluated the importance of a free-flowing tributary of a dammed river as a reproductive migration route. From August 2012 to July 2013, hydroacoustics data were collected alongside active fish sampling using cast nets and ichthyoplankton nets in the São Francisco and Abaeté rivers. Cast net sampling captured 738 individuals and hydroacoustics detected 42 196 fishes. In almost all samples and sampling sites, preferential movements to the Abaeté River and the main São Francisco River were observed. The increase in the flow rate of the Abaeté coincided with a greater incidence of fish movements to upstream areas of the tributary. A higher density and proportion of larger fishes, as well as a higher density of ichthyoplankton, were observed in the Abaeté River compared with the main river. Because this tributary is an alternative route for migratory fishes, its protection is essential for fish conservation and therefore maintenance of local fisheries

Additional keywords: horizontal acoustic scanning system, hydroacoustics, migratory fishes.


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