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Barriers to fish passage and barriers to fish passage assessments: the impact of assessment methods and assumptions on barrier identification and quantification of watershed connectivity

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Abstract

Barriers (culverts and dams) can impede fish passage and affect the overall habitat connectivity of rivers. However, a challenge lies in how to conceptualize and adequately measure passability at barriers. We hypothesize that estimates of barrier and watershed connectivity are dependent on assumptions about the nature of passability, and how it is measured. Specifically, we compare passability estimates in Terra Nova National Park, Canada for individual barriers for two barrier assessment methods (a rapid assessment and one based on FishXing software), two salmonid species, different fish sizes and swimming speeds, and varying hydrological conditions. Watershed connectivity was calculated using the Dendritic Connectivity Index (DCI). Lastly, we test to see what the impact of the various factors is on the practical goal: prioritizing barriers for restoration. Our results show that barrier passability estimates can vary drastically for some barriers (0–100%). In general, the rapid field-based assessment tended to give more conservative estimates of passability than those based on FishXing. Estimates of watershed connectivity were not as sensitive to the assumptions and methods used (DCI: 40–83). Fish size had the greatest effect on DCI. Importantly, variation in DCI had little impact on the restoration priorities. The same barrier was retained as the top priority >96% of the time. Thus, managers wishing to assess barriers for restoration need to carefully consider how passability is to be measured, but can reduce the impact of these decisions by considering barriers in their watershed context using a connectivity index such as the DCI.

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Acknowledgments

Thanks to S. Peake for providing swim speed data and to R. Gubernick for insights into FishXing models. Also thanks to staff at Terra Nova National Park for assistance with collection of field data. S. Mahlum, P. Spaak and 3 anonymous reviewers provided helpful comments on an earlier draft of the manuscript. This research was funded by Parks Canada and by grants for the Canadian Foundation for Innovation and the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council grants to YFW.

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Author notes

  1. Christina M. Bourne

    Present address: Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Centre, St. John’s, NL, A1C 5X1, Canada

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, Memorial University, St. John’s, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada

    Christina M. Bourne & Yolanda F. Wiersma

  2. Atlantic Service Center, Parks Canada, 1869 Upper Water St., Halifax, NS, B3J 1S9, Canada

    Dan G. Kehler

  3. Terra Nova National Park, Parks Canada, General Delivery, Glovertown, NL, A0G 2L0, Canada

    David Cote

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  1. Christina M. Bourne
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  2. Dan G. Kehler
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  4. David Cote
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Correspondence to Yolanda F. Wiersma.

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Handling Editor: Piet Spaak.

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Bourne, C.M., Kehler, D.G., Wiersma, Y.F. et al. Barriers to fish passage and barriers to fish passage assessments: the impact of assessment methods and assumptions on barrier identification and quantification of watershed connectivity. Aquat Ecol 45, 389–403 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10452-011-9362-z

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