Upstream migration of amphidromous gobies of La Réunion Island: implication for management. (25th November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lagarde, R.; Teichert, N.; Boussarie, G.; Grondin, H.; Valade, P.
• Is Part Of: Fisheries management and ecology. Volume 22:Number 6(2015:Dec.)
• Page Start: 437
• Page End: 449
• Publication Date: 2015-11-25
• Subjects: amphidromy -- dams, fishway, Gobiidae -- river continuum -- tropical islands; Fishery management -- Periodicals; Fishes -- Ecology -- Periodicals; Fishes -- Conservation -- Periodicals; 639.2
• DOI: 10.1111/fme.12142
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0969-997X

Abstract

Abstract: Diadromous species of tropical islands face numerous anthropogenic disturbances. Understanding how these disturbances affect the population dynamic of these species is important to develop ecologically based management measures. The upstream migration dynamics of two amphidromous gobies, Sicyopterus lagocephalus (Pallas) and Cotylopus acutipinnis (Guichenot), was described using intensive fishway monitoring (28 sampling dates over 1.5 years, 13 000 S. lagocephalus, 23 000 C. acutipinnis captured). Migration peak occurred for both species during the afternoon at the end of austral winter/beginning of austral summer. Abundance and size of fish caught in the river showed a marked impact of a dam (six sampling dates approximately 4000 individuals of each species captured). This study provides critical data for better management of fishways used by tropical amphidromous gobies. It appears especially important to reduce unwanted rheotactic sources that attract the fish away from the fishway's entrance.