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Hydroacoustics in Marine, Transitional and Freshwaters

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A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2022) | Viewed by 24455

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Prof. Dr. Małgorzata Godlewska

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Guest Editor

European Regional Centre for Ecohydrology of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Interests: hydroacoustics, fisheries ecology, freswater ecology, water quality, habitat mapping

Prof. Dr. Shaowen Ye

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Guest Editor

Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
Interests: hydrobiology, community ecology, fisheries ecology

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

There is an increasing concern around the world about the potential effects that human pressure and climate change can introduce into the environment of both marine and freshwater ecosystems. The need to increase the capacity to detect, understand, and predict these effects requires developing cost-effective, reliable, and efficient technologies, in order to enable the collection of rigorous scientific data, which would allow determining the current status of the ecosystem. It seems that hydroacoustics is an ideal tool to sample and survey aquatic ecosystems, because: 1. It senses remotely, so it affects neither the studied object nor its environment, 2. it allows collection of the huge quantity of data in a short time, 3. it provides continuous, spatial (3D) information with very high spatial and temporal resolution (centimeters and seconds), 4. it can be collected in conjunction with other biological and physicochemical data (for example, such parameters as temperature, oxygen, chl. a, etc.), and 5. it is GPS integrated, allowing easy mapping of the data. Thus, hydroacoustics allows studying dynamic processes, spatial structures, and temporal patterns in ecological interactions that other methods do not allow.

The main objective of this Special Issue is to summarize recent advances in diverse applications of hydroacoustics in fisheries and aquatic ecology research, covering a broad range of environments, new technologies, and theoretical approaches, as well as future directions.

We welcome contributions dealing with but not limited to the following topics:

Fisheries’ acoustics (stock assessment, spatial distributions, size distributions, etc.);
Fish behavioral studies (predator-prey interactions, vertical and horizontal migrations, avoidance, etc.);
Habitat mapping (including bottom sediments, macrophytes, cyanobacterial blooms);
Applications in aquaculture;
Ambient noise and soundscape;
Combination of methods (comparison of acoustic results with other assessment methods);
Technology, innovations in equipment, and data processing.

Prof. Dr. Małgorzata Godlewska
Prof. Dr. Shaowen Ye
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

Fish stock assessment
Target strength
Fish behavior
Habitat mapping
Macrophytes
Cyanobacterial blooms
Soundscape.

Published Papers (11 papers)

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Editorial

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5 pages, 190 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Hydroacoustics in Marine, Transitional and Freshwaters

by Małgorzata Godlewska and Shaowen Ye

Water 2023, 15(9), 1674; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15091674 - 25 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1215

Abstract

This Special Issue highlights the diverse applications and potential of hydroacoustic techniques in aquatic research and management.[...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydroacoustics in Marine, Transitional and Freshwaters)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

19 pages, 1671 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Size Distribution of Fish Obtained from Gill Netting and the Distributions of Echoes from Hydroacoustics in Lake Dejguny (Poland)

by Andrzej Hutorowicz, Dariusz Ulikowski and Jacek Tunowski

Water 2023, 15(6), 1117; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15061117 - 14 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1289

Abstract

A procedure is proposed to assess the impact of various relationships found in the literature and is used to convert acoustic target strengths (TS) to fishes’ total length (TL) with respect to the compatibility of fish length data obtained from vertical hydroacoustics and gillnets. The study used one set of data collected with a 120 kHz echosounder across the mesotrophic, dimictic Lake Dejguny. Four general multi-species TS–TL relationships were tested for the maximum dorsoventral characteristic: (1) a relationship developed using mainly West Atlantic marine and brackish water fish for various frequencies, (2) a relationship developed using fish from the Salmonidae, Percidae, and Cyprinidae families at 120 kHz, as well as the relationship shown by two generalized equations for representatives of (3) the Cyprinidae family (200 kHz) and (4) the Percidae family (200 kHz). In addition, two other equations were developed for (5) perch (Perca fluviatilis) and (6) roach (Rutilus rutilus). The procedure for selecting the most appropriate TS–TL ratio began by determining the TS threshold that would eliminate small fish that were ineffectively caught with gillnets. Depending on the TS–TL relation, the threshold ranged from −48.5 dB to −45.5 dB, and the corresponding TL was in the range of 62.3–93.0 mm. Then, using linear regression, the relationship between the percentage of caught fish organized in length classes (TL), whose boundaries were determined using the tested TS–TL relationships, and the share of fish recorded acoustically in the corresponding TS classes (with a 1.5 dB interval) was examined. The fit of the regression model to the data (percentage) was assessed using the coefficient of determination r², the mean absolute error (MAE), the Nash–Sutcliffe model efficiency coefficient (NSE), and root mean square error (RMSE). For the data from Lake Dejguny, the most similar distribution of fish echo proportions and the corresponding distribution of total length (TL) for fish larger than 62 mm were obtained using the TS–TL relation developed using fish from the Salmonidae, Percidae, and Cyprinidae families (2), and for fish larger than 74 mm, the relation was developed for the family Pericidae (4). No evidence was found to unambiguously verify the meanings of different sound frequencies (120 and 200 kHz) for which the TS–TL relationships used in the analysis were derived. The proposed procedure can be used to select the optimal regression equation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydroacoustics in Marine, Transitional and Freshwaters)

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20 pages, 5649 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Acoustic Conditioning Taming on Fish and Application in Marine Ranching

by Huarong Yuan, Yanbo Zhou and Pimao Chen

Water 2023, 15(1), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15010071 - 25 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1638

Abstract

Acoustic conditioning taming technology is one of the key tools for controlling and managing the behavior of target organisms in marine ranching. In this study, juvenile Pagrus major (Red Seabream) were subjected to acoustic conditioning taming with 400 Hz of square–wave continuous tones for 8 days in laboratory and 15 days in an open-sea area. At the same time, the elimination of conditioned reflexes to sounds and applications in marine ranching were tested. The Gaussian model was used to regression-fit the distribution of fish in the tank, and the fitting degree was 91.79%. Good conditioning was established after four days of acoustic conditioning taming, and the efficiency index was 44.49 in the laboratory. The average response time, aggregation time, and residence time of the test group were 0.95 s, 3.35 s, and 21.15 s, respectively. The aggregation rate of the test group showed an upward trend, and it remained at 100% from the 4th day to the 8th day. It took longer to establish the conditioned response to sound in the open-sea area, and good conditioning was established after the 18th acoustic conditioning taming. Juvenile Pagrus major with established acoustic conditioning were tagged before release. On the 18th day, 0.2% of released fish swam to a sound source when the sound was played, and from the 24th day, there was no fish presence in the area near the sound source. The conditioned response of fish to sound was gradually eliminated using the negative feedback mode of playing the sound without feeding bait. After 22 negative feedback tests, the sound was no longer attractive to the fish, meaning that the “sound–food” neural connection established by the acoustic conditioning taming had been eliminated. The results of this study show that acoustic conditioning taming technology was an effective method of fish behavior control, and it is feasible to apply this technology in the construction of marine ranching systems. A number of acoustic conditioning taming devices can be established in marine ranching to continuously tame the released fish and strengthen the impact of the sound. At the same time, the multi-point deployment of automatic taming devices can form an acoustic conditioning taming network to increase the action area and effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydroacoustics in Marine, Transitional and Freshwaters)

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11 pages, 1782 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Two Types of Survey Designs for Acoustic Estimates of Fish Resources in the Three Gorges Reservoir, China

by Yuxi Lian, Shaowen Ye, Małgorzata Godlewska, Geng Huang, Jiacheng Wang, Jiashou Liu and Zhongjie Li

Water 2022, 14(17), 2745; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14172745 - 2 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1687

Abstract

Pre-planning for a rational survey design is essential to improve the reliability and efficiency of the acoustic assessment of fishery resources in large water bodies. In this study, we compared the differences in acoustic estimates of fish resources between triangular and parallel transect designs in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR, China), aiming to provide a reference for fishery acoustic survey planning in such canyon-shaped reservoirs. We conducted hydroacoustic surveys using an echosounder (SIMRAD EY60, 120 kHz) in the Yangtze mainstream near the dam and an adjacent tributary with triangular and parallel designs. The independent samples t-test showed that the acoustic estimates of fish density were not significantly different between these two types of survey designs for both mainstream and tributary. The Fisher’s exact test indicated that there was no significant difference in fish size distributions, as measured by target strength (TS), between survey designs either. In view of reducing time spent in nearshore areas to improve efficiency and ensure safety, we recommend that the triangular design with reliable coverage be given priority for hydroacoustic sampling in the TGR and similar canyon-shaped reservoirs, especially when sampling at night. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydroacoustics in Marine, Transitional and Freshwaters)

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22 pages, 8087 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Managing Water Level for Large Migratory Fish at the Poyang Lake Outlet: Implications Based on Habitat Suitability and Connectivity

by Huifeng Li, Hui Zhang, Lixiong Yu, Kun Cao, Dengqiang Wang, Xinbin Duan, Fang Ding, Zhihui Mao, Ke Wang, Shaoping Liu, Sheng Wang, Daqing Chen and Lin Wang

Water 2022, 14(13), 2076; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14132076 - 29 Jun 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1732

Abstract

River–lake interaction is important for maintaining biodiversity, yet it is vulnerable to hydrological alteration. The connectivity of the channel connecting Poyang Lake and the Yangtze River not only ensures the regular migration of fish but also makes Poyang Lake a feeding and fattening ground for them. Unfortunately, human activities have dramatically changed the hydrodynamic conditions of Poyang Lake, which is experiencing severe drought due to the obvious decline in the water level in autumn and winter, especially since 2003. However, the possible impacts of the changes in the water level on the habitats of migratory fish remain unclear due to the limitation of traditional techniques in spatiotemporal analysis. Here, we combined a hydrodynamic model and habitat suitability model to simulate variations in the suitable habitat area and their connectivity under different water-level conditions. The conditions for the migration pathway of the target fish were obtained by a hydroacoustic survey using the Simrad EY60 echosounder. The results showed that the change in water level will significantly affect the spatiotemporal change in the suitable habitats and their connectivity. In particular, we found the existence of two thresholds that play a dominant role in illuminating the connectivity of effective suitable habitats (HC). Firstly, the maximum value of the weighted usable area (WUA) and HC can be achieved when the water level is more than 16 m. Secondly, when the water level is between 10 and 16 m, the changes in the HC are sensitive and rapid, and the area flooded at this stage is called the sensitive area. HC is a crucial element in fish migration and habitat conditions. Under the condition of continuous drought in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, our research contributes to clarifying the influence of water level on key habitats for fish and optimizes the practice of river–lake ecological management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydroacoustics in Marine, Transitional and Freshwaters)

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14 pages, 4148 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Short-Range Movement Pattern of Amphidromous Lagoon Fish Schools: Ecological Applications

by Patrice Brehmer, Marc Soria, Viviane David, Pablo Ivan Caballero Pinzon, Pascal Bach, Ndague Diogoul and Jean Guillard

Water 2022, 14(9), 1463; https://doi.org/10.3390/w14091463 - 3 May 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1633

Abstract

High-resolution multibeam sonar allows estimating movements of pelagic fish schools at short range. Taking advantage of this methodology, we calculated a Straightness Index (SI) to quantify the proportion of schools migrating actively from those residents in lagoon channels. This information enhances our knowledge of both fish school displacements and migration processes, which are essential to improve our understanding of ecosystem functioning. Most fish schools (65%) exhibited a SI value demonstrating oriented swimming behavior through the channels displayed by schools reaching the sea during fall migration. This trend appears as an intrinsic property of school movements, allowing monitoring of the school migration process in a channel to provide information for manager vs. fishing regulation measures or lagoon planning. The result strengthens the ‘multi-transit’ hypothesis, as 35% of schools show sinuous trajectories representative of schools staying in the channel or displaying high exploratory behaviors. Lastly, the fish school Exploration Swimming Speed (ESS) was tested as a fishery-independent sampling method to evaluate the proportion of different fish species monitored using hydroacoustics. This approach demonstrates the interest in using swimming behavioral characteristics of fish schools for ecological and management purposes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydroacoustics in Marine, Transitional and Freshwaters)

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30 pages, 19436 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Subsurface Mediterranean Water Eddies on Sound Propagation Using ROMS Output and the Bellhop Model

by Seyed Hossein Hassantabar Bozroudi, Daniele Ciani, Mahdi Mohammad Mahdizadeh, Mohammad Akbarinasab, Ana Claudia Barbosa Aguiar, Alvaro Peliz, Bertrand Chapron, Ronan Fablet and Xavier Carton

Water 2021, 13(24), 3617; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13243617 - 16 Dec 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2692

Abstract

Ocean processes can locally modify the upper ocean density structure, leading to an attenuation or a deflection of sound signals. Among these phenomena, eddies cause significant changes in acoustic properties of the ocean; this suggests a possible characterization of eddies via acoustics. Here, we investigate the propagation of sound signals in the Northeastern Atlantic Ocean in the presence of eddies of Mediterranean Water (Meddies). Relying on a high-resolution simulation of the Atlantic Ocean in which Meddies were identified and using the Bellhop acoustic model, we investigated the differences in sound propagation in the presence and absence of Meddies. Meddies create sound channels in which the signals travel with large acoustic energy. The transmission loss decreases to 80 or 90 dB; more signals reach the synthetic receivers. Outside of these channels, the sound signals are deflected from their normal paths. Using receivers at different locations, the acoustic impact of different Meddies, or of the same Meddy at different stages of its life, are characterized in terms of angular distributions of times of arrivals and of energy at reception. Determining the influence of Meddies on acoustic wave characteristics at reception is the first step to inverting the acoustic signals received and retrieving the Meddy hydrological characteristics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydroacoustics in Marine, Transitional and Freshwaters)

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22 pages, 18454 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Assessment of Hydroacoustic and Electric Fishing Data to Evaluate Long Term Spatial and Temporal Fish Population Change in the River Thames, UK

by Jim Lyons, Jon Hateley, Graeme Peirson, Frances Eley, Stuart Manwaring and Karen Twine

Water 2021, 13(20), 2932; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13202932 - 19 Oct 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2598

Abstract

This paper reports the results from mobile hydroacoustic surveys carried out between 1994 and 2018, to assess the fish stocks in four impounded reaches, covering 19.8 km of the River Thames, England. The data are complemented with electric fishing boom boat results, collected at the same study reaches and time periods. Hydroacoustic surveys used inter-calibrated dual and split-beam scientific echosounders, with the transducers beaming horizontally across the river to provide fish abundance and distribution estimates. Electric fishing surveys provided catch per unit effort estimates and information on size structure and species composition. Catch data from the margins of the study reaches were dominated by roach (Rutilus rutilus), with bleak (Alburnus alburnus) dominant in mid-river. Hydroacoustic data demonstrated patchy spatial distribution, often associated with natural and anthropogenic habitat features. Cyclical peaks and troughs in both hydroacoustic and electric fishing abundance were found. There were periods of correspondence with electric fishing abundance estimates, but also periods of significant divergence. The concept of ‘Shifting Baseline Syndrome’ is discussed with reference to these data, illustrating the importance of viewing long term quantitative information when using meaningful reference points. The potential impact of river temperature and flow on the fish population data are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydroacoustics in Marine, Transitional and Freshwaters)

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24 pages, 12006 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Size Spectra of Pelagic Fish Populations in a Deep Lake—Methodological Comparison between Hydroacoustics and Midwater Trawling

by Lisa-Marie Braun and Thomas Mehner

Water 2021, 13(11), 1559; https://doi.org/10.3390/w13111559 - 31 May 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2866

Abstract

Net sampling by trawling and hydroacoustics was used to methodologically compare size spectra (SS) of the pelagic fish community in a deep lake across 12 years of sampling. Hydroacoustic SS were generated based on either single-echo detections (SEDs) or tracked-echo groups (TEGs) from 20 cross-lake transects. Trawl SS were obtained by a midwater trawl in four pelagic depth layers. All SS were derived from maximum likelihood estimations of exponent b of a continuous fish body mass distribution. The arithmetic mean exponent b was similar for all methods, and there were no significant differences of b among the three methods across years. However, visual inspection indicated that the SS differed considerably between trawling and hydroacoustics in some of the years, primarily when high densities of 0+ coregonid fishes were strongly spatially aggregated and hence caught by the trawl. Accordingly, there was no correlation between SS generated by trawling and hydroacoustics. In contrast, SS generated by SEDs and TEGs were significantly correlated, indicating reliability and reproducibility of obtaining SS by hydroacoustics. The SS estimated by TEGs revealed a positive trend of exponent b over the years since 2005, potentially reflecting the recent eutrophication of Lake Stechlin, which may lead to higher fish growth rates. We conclude that hydroacoustics may help to generate more precise SS of the pelagic fish community in our study lake than midwater trawling. However, the truthfulness of SS estimates cannot be evaluated because of the inherent difficulty in determining the true densities and sizes of fishes in lakes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydroacoustics in Marine, Transitional and Freshwaters)

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15 pages, 3126 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Distribution and Species Composition of Fish Assemblages in the Transitional Zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China

by Pengcheng Lin, Lin Chen, Xingchen Gao, Chunling Wang, Xin Gao and Myounghee Kang

Water 2020, 12(12), 3514; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12123514 - 14 Dec 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2398

Abstract

The river–reservoir transitional zones play an important role in maintaining riverine fish biodiversity and abundance in highly regulated rivers. The Upper Yangtze River, which contains 286 fish species, is experiencing intense hydropower development. However, few studies have been conducted on the spatial distribution of fish in the river–reservoir transitional zones in the Upper Yangtze River, and it is therefore difficult to predict how this development will impact the region. In this study, a 200-kHz split-beam acoustic system in combination with biological samplings was used to investigate the composition and spatiotemporal distribution of the fish in the transition zone of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) in 2017. The biological samplings comprised 7434 individuals from 61 species, 38 genera, 15 families, and 5 orders. The dominant fish species were Rhinogobio cylindricus, Coreius guichenoti, Hemiculter bleekeri, and Pelteobagrus vachelli. Acoustic detection identified the mean target strength (TS) to be −55.6 in May, −57.8 in August, and −55.8 dB in December. Accordingly, the average fish density was 4.96, 6.96, and 4.42 ind/1000 m³. Significant differences were found in the TS and fish density between flood season (August) and non-flood season (May and December). Spatially, fish preferred the meandering sections at 10–20 m deep. A size-dependent vertical distribution pattern was observed, with larger fish in the deeper layers and smaller fish in shallower waters. Lastly, our results suggest that meandering deep channels should be assigned high priority with respect to fish conservation in the Upper Yangtze River. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydroacoustics in Marine, Transitional and Freshwaters)

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15 pages, 5678 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Site Fidelity, Habitat Use, and Movement Patterns of the Common Carp during Its Breeding Season in the Pearl River as Determined by Acoustic Telemetry

by Yingqiu Zhang, Yuefei Li, Lili Zhang, Zhi Wu, Shuli Zhu, Jie Li and Xinhui Li

Water 2020, 12(8), 2233; https://doi.org/10.3390/w12082233 - 8 Aug 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2776

Abstract

Understanding fish migration patterns and habitat use is essential for fisheries management. We conducted an acoustic fine-scale tracking experiment from March to June 2017 to determine the common carp movement pattern and habitat use in the downstream area of the Pearl River. The eight tagged common carp were detected for 39.38 ± 29.57 d, on average, with a total average detection period of 42.12 ± 28.02 d. A general linear mixed model suggested they were detected more during the night than during the day. Common carp preferred habitats near the sandbar and riparian shallow habitats, as revealed by their movement tracks and habitat selection indexes. The general additive mixed model (GAMM) analysis of their shortest distances to riverbanks and depth indicated that they migrated to shallower riparian habitat more frequently during the night than during the day. The continuous wavelet spectrum further confirmed the significant diel pattern of their vertical movement. Their habitat use was also influenced by the water temperature, water level, and river discharge, as suggested by the GAMM. Our results provide novel information on common carp spatiotemporal movement and habitat use patterns, and have important implications for its native population restoration and the invasive population control/exclusion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Hydroacoustics in Marine, Transitional and Freshwaters)

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