Powerful ships - weak fish: the potential role of inland navigation as structuring factor for fish assemblages in waterways

Peer-reviewed

In restricted waterways moving vessels induce dynamic flow patterns acting along the shoreline: return currents of 0.1-1.1 m s-1, slope supply waves and 0.05 - 0.45 m drawdown. Shoreline habitats are essential nurseries for juvenile fish. Inland navigation’s potential structuring influence on fish assemblages emerges from the miss-match between the maximum swimming ability of newly hatched fish ranging between 0.05-0.13 m s-1, and the necessity of fish to meet the physical thresholds mentioned above, which isonly possible at a total length between 42-71 mm. It is argued that inland navigation induces displacements of fish which might increase fish mortality resulting in shipping as a structuring factor for fish assemblages.

Wolter, C., Arlinghaus, R. (2004). Powerful ships - weak fish: the potential role of inland navigation as structuring factor for fish assemblages in waterways. In Garcá de Jalón, D., Vizcaíno Martínez, P. (Eds.), Aquatic habitats: analysis & restoration, Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Ecohydraulics, Vol. 1, Madrid 12th – 17th September 2004 in Madrid. IAHR, Madrid, 139-145


Published : 2004
Appeared in : In Garcá de Jalón, D., Vizcaíno Martínez, P. (Eds.), Aquatic habitats: analysis & restoration, Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Ecohydraulics, Vol. 1, Madrid 12th – 17th September 2004 in Madrid. IAHR, Madrid, 139-145