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Article

Passage Performance of Potamodromous Cyprinids over an Experimental Low-Head Ramped Weir: The Effect of Ramp Length and Slope

1
Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisboa, Portugal
2
Katopodis Ecohydraulics Ltd., 122 Valence Avenue, Winnipeg, MB R3T 3W7, Canada
3
CERIS—Civil Engineering for Research and Innovation for Sustainability, Técnico, University of Lisbon, Avenida Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2019, 11(5), 1456; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11051456
Received: 7 February 2019 / Revised: 4 March 2019 / Accepted: 5 March 2019 / Published: 9 March 2019
Low-head ramped weirs are a common instream obstacle to fish movements. Fish passability of these structures, where water passes over but does not generate a waterfall, is primarily related to ramp length and slope, but their relative contribution has seldom been considered. This study aims to assess the passage performance of a potamodromous cyprinid, the Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei), negotiating an experimental ramped weir with varying ramp length (L) and slope (S). Four configurations were tested, with a constant discharge of 110 L∙s−1. Results suggest that both factors influenced passage performance of fish. Attraction efficiency (AE) increased with increasing L and S, whereas the number of successes (N) and passage efficiency (PE) decreased upon increasing L. For S, it was found that both N and PE peaked at the intermediate level (20%). These results suggest that configurations with the lowest slopes may not necessarily be the best option because they may be less attractive for the fish and their demand for space is higher. Higher slopes (but not excessive) could be more attractive to fish, less space-demanding, and therefore, more cost-effective. Future studies should investigate how discharge and boulder placement influence fish passage across ramped weirs, to improve habitat connectivity. View Full-Text
Keywords: potamodromous cyprinid species; low-head ramped weirs; upstream migration; ecohydraulics potamodromous cyprinid species; low-head ramped weirs; upstream migration; ecohydraulics
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MDPI and ACS Style

Amaral, S.D.; Branco, P.; Katopodis, C.; Ferreira, M.T.; Pinheiro, A.N.; Santos, J.M. Passage Performance of Potamodromous Cyprinids over an Experimental Low-Head Ramped Weir: The Effect of Ramp Length and Slope. Sustainability 2019, 11, 1456. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11051456

AMA Style

Amaral SD, Branco P, Katopodis C, Ferreira MT, Pinheiro AN, Santos JM. Passage Performance of Potamodromous Cyprinids over an Experimental Low-Head Ramped Weir: The Effect of Ramp Length and Slope. Sustainability. 2019; 11(5):1456. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11051456

Chicago/Turabian Style

Amaral, Susana D., Paulo Branco, Christos Katopodis, Maria T. Ferreira, António N. Pinheiro, and José M. Santos 2019. "Passage Performance of Potamodromous Cyprinids over an Experimental Low-Head Ramped Weir: The Effect of Ramp Length and Slope" Sustainability 11, no. 5: 1456. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11051456

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