Determining the fine-scale movement of an estuarine fish through a tidal-exclusion barrier improves the understanding of mass fish mortality risk

Richelle Addicoat; James R. Tweedley; Tom Ryan; Alan Cottingham; David L. Morgan; Kath Lynch; Stephen J. Beatty

doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109085

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Determining the fine-scale movement of an estuarine fish through a tidal-exclusion barrier improves the understanding of mass fish mortality risk

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Determining the fine-scale movement of an estuarine fish through a tidal-exclusion barrier improves the understanding of mass fish mortality risk

Richelle Addicoat, James R. Tweedley, Tom Ryan, Alan Cottingham, David L. Morgan, Kath Lynch and Stephen J. Beatty

Estuarine, coastal and shelf science, Vol.313, 109085

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecss.2024.109085

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Abstract

fish kills

fish passage

fishways

habitat fragmentation

instream barriers

water control structures

Tidal-exclusion barriers have routinely been constructed within estuaries throughout the world to moderate the risk of flooding by marine incursions. These barriers have been shown to impact ecological connectivity, however, their impact on the movement patterns of obligate estuarine fishes is poorly understood. We aimed to determine the environmental drivers of movements through a fish passage gate within a tidal exclusion barrier by the temperate sparid Black Bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri), which occasionally suffers from large-scale mortality events that predominantly occur in the adjacent habitat upstream of the barrier. Fish were fitted with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags and their fine-scale passage was recorded using a monitoring system that acted as a gate at either end of the barrier over 14 months. Hydrological and environmental predictor variables were included in generalised additive mixed models to determine the drivers of upstream and downstream passages through the gate on an hourly and daily basis. Successful upstream and downstream passages were associated with times of minimal flow velocity within the fish gate that occurred when water levels equalised on both sides of the barrier. Downstream passages were also associated with declines in dissolved oxygen concentrations upstream of the barrier; suggesting that fish were seeking to escape poor water quality. However, as passage opportunities to avoid unfavourable conditions were influenced by tides that equalised the water levels, periodic mass fish mortality events can occur upstream of the barrier. As climate change will increase saltwater incursion and storm-related flooding risks, there will be a greater need for tidal exclusion barriers in many regions. This study underscores the need to understand the movement patterns of fishes in estuaries to maintain the connectivity of populations. [Display omitted] •Tidal-exclusion barriers can deleteriously impact ecological connectivity.•Movements of an estuarine-resident sparid fish through a fish passage gate investigated.•Passages occurred at times of minimal flow velocity within the fish gate.•Passage opportunities to avoid poor water quality limited by tides.

Details

Title: Determining the fine-scale movement of an estuarine fish through a tidal-exclusion barrier improves the understanding of mass fish mortality risk
Authors/Creators: Richelle Addicoat - Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, W.A., Australia
James R. Tweedley - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
Tom Ryan - Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, W.A., Australia
Alan Cottingham - Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, W.A., Australia
David L. Morgan - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
Kath Lynch - Government of Western Australia
Stephen J. Beatty - Murdoch University, Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
Publication Details: Estuarine, coastal and shelf science, Vol.313, 109085
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd.
Number of pages: 12
Grant note: DWERGeoCatch
The authors acknowledge staff and volunteers at GeoCatch and Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) and the Water Corporation (particularly Clive Piggott) for the hydrological data and Bureau of Meteorology for the environmental data without which this project would not have been possible. The fieldwork components of this project were also funded by DWER with support from GeoCatch. Karl Pomorin (Karltek) designed and installed the PIT system. Thank you to the Busselton and Georgiana Molloy Senior High Schools for assisting in the collection of in situ data, and the wider Busselton community forshowing a genuine interest in the health and management of the Vasse-Wonnerup Estuary. The study was conducted under Murdoch University Animal Ethics Committee permit RW2793/15 and Department of Pri-mary Industries and Regional Development (Fisheries) Exemption 2902. We acknowledge the Wardandi Noongar people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which this research took place.
Identifiers: 991005726583407891
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.2 Marine Biology; 3.2.1182 Coastal Vegetation
Web Of Science research areas: Marine & Freshwater Biology; Oceanography
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science