Not just a migration problem: Metapopulations, habitat shifts and gene flow are also important for fishway science and management

Martin Wilkes, Angus Webb, P. Pompeu, L. Silva, Andrew Vowles, Cindy F Baker, Paul Franklin, Oscar Link, Evelyn Habit, P. Kemp

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    44 Citations (Scopus)
    40 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    Worldwide, fishways are increasingly criticised for failing to meet conservation goals. We argue that this is largely due to the dominance of diadromous species of the Northern Hemisphere (e.g. Salmonidae) in the research that underpins the concepts and methods of fishway science and management. With highly diverse life histories, swimming abilities and spatial ecologies, most freshwater fish species do not conform to the stereotype imposed by this framework. This is leading to a global proliferation of fishways that are often unsuitable for native species. The vast majority of fish populations do not undertake extensive migrations between clearly separated critical habitats, yet the movement of individuals and the genetic information they carry is critically important for population viability. We briefly review some of the latest advances in spatial ecological modelling for dendritic networks to better define what it means to achieve effective fish passage at a barrier. Through a combination of critical habitat assessment and the modelling of metapopulations, climate change-driven habitat shifts and adaptive gene flow, we recommend a conceptual and methodological framework for fishway target-setting and monitoring suitable for a wide range of species. In the process, we raise a number of issues that should contribute to the ongoing debate about fish passage research and the design and monitoring of fishways.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1688-1696
    Number of pages9
    JournalRiver Research and Applications
    Volume35
    Issue number10
    Early online date9 Aug 2018
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Dec 2019

    Bibliographical note

    This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Wilkes, M, Webb, A, Pompeu, P, Silva, L, Vowles, A, Baker, C, Franklin, P, Link, O, Habit, E & Kemp, P 2018, 'Not just a migration problem: Metapopulations, habitat shifts and gene flow are also important for fishway science and management' River Research and Applications, no. Special Issue, which has been published in final form at
    https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/rra.3320
    This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.

    Keywords

    • fishway
    • fish passage
    • metapopulation
    • dispersal
    • gene flow

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