Can Energy Depletion of Wild Atlantic Salmon Kelts Negotiating Hydropower Facilities Lead to Reduced Survival?

Henrik Baktoft, Karl Ø. Gjelland, Marcell Szabo-Meszaros, Ana T. Silva, Milan Riha, Finn Økland, Knut Alfredsen and Torbjørn Forseth
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Henrik Baktoft: National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark (DTU Aqua), 8600 Silkeborg, Denmark
Karl Ø. Gjelland: Norwegian Institute of Nature Research (NINA), 9296 Tromsø, Norway
Marcell Szabo-Meszaros: SINTEF Energy Research, 7034 Trondheim, Norway
Ana T. Silva: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), 7034 Trondheim, Norway
Milan Riha: Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, 370 05 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
Finn Økland: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), 7034 Trondheim, Norway
Knut Alfredsen: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7034 Trondheim, Norway
Torbjørn Forseth: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), 7034 Trondheim, Norway

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 18, 1-12

Abstract: Repeat spawners constitute an important component of Atlantic salmon populations, but survival of post-spawning individuals (kelts) are often compromised by anthropogenic structures such as hydropower plants (HPPs). Potential effects of HPPs include migration delays and associated increased energy depletion, which potentially results in increased overall mortality. We combined a detailed 3D hydraulic model with high-resolution 3D tracking of tagged kelts (length 73–104 cm) to obtain estimates of kelt movement through water. These estimates were then used in an energetics model to estimate hourly energy expenditure while negotiating the HPP area. Hourly kelt energy expenditure varied between 0.8 and 10.1 kJ × h −1 and was dependent on kelt length. Degree of additional energy depletion can amount to several percent of remaining energy content (our study indicates 4–5 percentage points) potentially leading to reduced post-spawning survival. In turn, this can nullify the iteroparous breeding strategy and jeopardize long-term stability and persistence of Atlantic salmon populations inhabiting HPP rivers.

Keywords: high-resolution 3D telemetry; 3D hydraulic modeling; anthropogenic structures; river connectivity; energetics model; energy expenditure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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