Estudio de la capacidad de natación en peces ibéricos

El hombre en el desarrollo de sus actividades ha utilizado los cursos fluviales como uno de sus principales recursos. En este proceso ha alterado su composición, estructura y funcionamiento, y en consecuencia alterado sus regímenes hidrológicos. En este sentido, una de las principales alteraciones es la existencia de obstáculos transversales que restringen o imposibilitan el movimiento de la fauna piscícola a lo largo de los ríos. Estudiar la capacidad de natación de las principales especies de la ictiofauna de la Península Ibérica es fundamental para poder realizar diseños óptimos y más eficaces de estos obstáculos, así como de las alternativas a su pasoDepartamento de Ingeniería Agrícola y ForestalDoctorado en Conservación y Uso Sostenible de Sistemas Forestale

Session D7: The Most Evaluated Fishway in Spain: A New Lesson Every Year

Abstract: Salto de San Fernando” hydropower plant is placed at River Tormes, just upstream of Santa Teresa reservoir (Salamanca, Spain). The dam is 13 m high and it has a pool and weir with bottom orifice fish ladder to let potamodromous fish (Iberian barbel – Luciobarbus bocagei–, Nothern straightmouth nase –Pseudochondrostoma duriense– and brown trout –Salmo trutta–) overcome the obstacle. This fish ladder is being monitored since 2012: daily trapping and counting fish that reach the last pool; fish passage video recording through orifices and spillways; tagging fish (PIT, Tbar and others) and studying passage metrics (location, entrance, passage time, performance). Results have been analyzed as a function of physical –discharge, temperature, atmospheric pressure– and biological variables –species, sex, size, competition–. Downstream migration is also analyzed to locate fish routes and understand fish behavior. After every research, passage improvement options are detected, accomplished and assessed on next migration season. At this moment, this overall approach has quintupled fish ladder efficiency and it offers lot of information about Iberian fish behavior and their preference under different hydraulic conditions

Session B9: Influence of Biometric Parameters, Flow Condition and Water Temperature on Iberian Fish Sprinting Behavior: Volitionally Swimming Performance

Abstract: Knowing the swimming ability of fish is important to detect movement limitations through hydraulic structures: fish passes weirs and slots, gauging stations, culverts, bridges foundations and other. All these obstacles are collectively referred to velocity barriers . Fish behavior will determine the passage of these structures through combination of fish swimming performance and motivation. Once the fish decides to enter the barrier, must swim faster than the speed of the flow to advance. Thus, the swimming performance depends on the fish speed and fatigue time. To estimate these values, we experimented in an open channel flow with fish samples of different size, swimming volitionally against several high-velocity flows and water temperature range. The movement of fish was controlled by PIT telemetry systems and video record. The information obtained (fish speed, ascend time and distance traveled) was processed using survival analysis techniques and the results can be applied to practical problem solving velocity barriers. We have worked with two species of Iberian fish: Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei) and Northern straight-mouth nase (Pseudochondrostoma duriense). The biometrics parameters, flow velocity and water temperature have a significant influence in fish behavior. Endurance and swimming ability of these species do not differ greatly between them and is much higher than the values which are obtained using other methods as respirometers. The results challenge established fish passage guidelines, suggesting that in some cases these species are capable of passing much higher velocities than was previously believed

Effect of thermo‐velocity barriers on fish: influence of water temperature, flow velocity and body size on the volitional swimming capacity of northern straight‐mouth nase (Pseudochondrostoma duriense)

Producción CientíficaWater temperature and flow velocity directly affect the fish swimming capacity, and thus, both variables influence the fish passage through river barriers. Nonetheless, their effects are usually disregarded in fishway engineering and management. This study aims to evaluate the volitional swimming capacity of the northern straight-mouth nase (Pseudochondrostoma duriense), considering the possible effects of water temperature, flow velocity and body size. For this, the maximum distance, swim speed and fatigue time (FT) were studied in an outdoor open-channel flume in the Duero River (Burgos, Spain) against three nominal velocities (1.5, 2.5 and 3 m s−1) and temperatures (5.5, 13.5 and 18.5°C), also including the changes between swimming modes (prolonged and sprint). Results showed that a nase of 20.8 cm mean fork length can develop a median swim speed that exceeds 20.7 BL s−1 (4.31 m s−1) during a median time of 3.4 s in sprint mode, or 12.2 BL s−1 (2.55 m s−1) for 23.7 s in prolonged mode under the warmest scenario. During prolonged swimming mode, fish were able to reach further distances in warmer water conditions for all situations, due to a greater swimming speed and FT, whereas during sprint mode, warmer conditions increased the swim speed maintaining the FT. In conclusion, the studied temperature range and flow velocity range influence fish swimming performance, endurance and distance travelled, although with some differences depending on the swimming mode. The provided information goes a step forward in the definition of real fish swimming capacities, and in turn, will contribute to establish clear passage criteria for thermo-velocity barriers, allowing the calculation of the proportion of fish able to pass a barrier under different working scenarios, as well designing of the optimized solutions to improve the fish passage through river barriers.Junta de Castilla y León (proyecto VA299B11-2)Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No. 10103202

Inventory and morphological characterization of high mountain lagoons and lakes in the provinces of Palencia and León (Spain)

Producción CientíficaLos lagos y lagunas de alta montaña no son un rasgo típico del paisaje de la Península Ibérica, sino más bien una excepción en el medio natural, por ello su estudio y conservación presenta gran interés. Este trabajo surge con objeto de inventariar y caracterizar un conjunto de diecisiete complejos lagunares ubicados en las provincias de Palencia y León (Cordillera Cantábrica y Sierra de la Cabrera), sin ningún tipo de restricción por tamaño. Así mismo se describen sus cuencas, ligadas con las masas de agua y que determinarán su futura evolución. Entre otros resultados, cabe señalar que, a pesar de su carácter de cabecera, presentan una red hidrológica compleja y variada, denotando la diversidad de estos sistemas. La composición litológica parece incidir significativamente en la profundidad de las unidades, sin embargo la profundidad y dimensiones de las lagunas dependen en gran medida de las características concretas de su morfogénesis. En general, los lagos y lagunas estudiados parecen ser más frágiles ante posibles alteraciones en sus cuencas al compararlas con otros sistemas de mayor tamaño recogidos en diferentes estudios.High mountain lakes and lagoons are not a typical feature of the landscape of the Iberian Peninsula, but rather an exception in the natural environment, therefore its study and conservation presents great interest. This study arises in order to inventory and characterize a set of seventeen lagoon complex located over the provinces of Palencia and León, without any kind of size restriction. Likewise their basins are described, since they are related with them and they will determine their future evolution. Among other results, it should be noted that, despite they are situated at high altitude, they have a complex and varied hydrological network, denoting the high diversity of these systems. The lithology factor seems to affect significantly to the depth of the studied units, however depth and dimensions of the lakes are strongly related with the specific characteristics of their morphogenesis. In general, studied lakes and lagoons appear to be more fragile to possible alterations in their catchments if they are compared with bigger systems studied in the specialized literature

Estimating fish passage over velocity barriers for non-uniform flow conditions: A case study in flat-V gauging weirs

Producción CientíficaWhen the flow velocity over a river structure exceeds the swimming capacity of fish, it behaves as a velocity barrier. Depending on the hydrodynamic circumstances of the structure as well as the fish’s swimming ability and motivation, the barrier can be permanent, partial, or intermittent. This is the case of flat-V gauging weirs, a common type of velocity barrier in Spanish rivers and in other European rivers. Flat-V weirs are broadly used as they provide precise information about river discharge for water resource management under different hydraulic scenarios, especially during low flow conditions. However, depending on their size, local river morphology, and the river flow scenario, they can produce excessive velocities and thus, reduce or hinder fish upstream movements. Due to their variable geometry, velocity barriers exhibit a non-uniform flow velocity field, which means that flow velocity varies along the barrier. Therefore, any predictive swimming model to assess the barrier effect on fish must consider the spatial variation to achieve a valuable forecast. This work aims to estimate fish passage over Flat-V weirs by linking their 3D hydraulic performance with the swimming capacity of fish. For this, a predictive model is developed using as target species the Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei), combining research on their swimming ability with 3D models of the structure. Results of the model show the river conditions and weir dimensions that permit the ascent of this species through the sloped wall of the weir. This information has direct implications for the design and assessment of velocity barriers as well as for the retrofitting of velocity barriers, making them compatible with the fish migration.Consejo Europeo de Investigación, European Union’s Horizon 2020 - (Grant 101032024

Evaluación de la capacidad de nado de dos especies de ciprínidos ibéricos: barbo común (Luciobarbus bocagei) y boga del Duero (Pseudochondrostoma duriense)

Cuantificar la capacidad de nado de los peces es importante porque ayuda a identificar las barreras para el movimiento. Esto tiene significativas implicaciones para la conservación: presas, caños, puentes y otras estructuras pueden crear zonas de alta velocidad del flujo que dificultan los movimientos, y los datos sobre el rendimiento en la natación son necesarios para desarrollar criterios de diseño que sean compatibles con la conservación de la pesca. Hemos analizado esta cuestión mediante el estudio de la capacidad de nado del barbo ibérico (Luciobarbus bocagei Steindachner, 1864) y de la boga del Duero (Pseudochondrostoma duriense Coelho, 1985). Los estudios se llevaron a cabo utilizando un canal abierto de 25 m de longitud. Barbos y bogas de varios tamaños se introdujeron en una zona de descanso, aguas abajo del canal, caracterizada por una baja velocidad desde donde eran capaces de realizar ascensos voluntarios contra velocidades de flujo nominales de 1.5, 2.5 y 3.0 m/s. Los progresos por el canal se controlaron mediante un sistema de identificación por radiofrecuencia denominado Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT), y cámaras cenitales en el canal se emplearon para registrar la posición de los peces nadando. Los resultados muestran fuertes similitudes en la capacidad de natación, pero las diferencias en el comportamiento entre las dos especiesIngeniería Agrícola y ForestalMáster en Investigación en Ingeniería para el Desarrollo Agroforestal2020-07-082020-07-0

Metodología “AEPS” aplicada a la evaluación de escalas para peces en la cuenca hidrográfica del río Duero

Cross-sectional barriers in rivers cause, among others, an impact on the longitudinal connectivity of river ecosystems. It is frequent to build fish passes to palliate this impact and to enable free movements of the fauna (especially fish). However, even though they have been massively built during the last decades, their functionality has been scarcely assessed. Duero River Authority (Confederación Hidrográfica del Duero), Ecohydraulic Applied Group (GEA) of the University of Valladolid and Itagra.ct have developed a new assessment methodology of the functionality of stepped fish passes (Methodology AEPS). This methodology has been tested in 50 of these structures. It analyzes the suitability of the fish passes for target species attending to design parameters and eco-hydraulic aspects. It can be used in different areas and for different species with minor modifications. Its implementation has allowed to know the current situation of the fish passes in the Duero River basin, identifying their problems and how to solve them.La construcción de obras transversales en los cursos de agua causa, entre otros aspectos, un gran impacto en la continuidad longitudinal de los ecosistemas fluviales. Para paliarlo y permitir el libre desplazamiento de la fauna (especialmente peces) es frecuente la construcción de pasos piscícolas. Sin embargo, a pesar de haberse construido en gran número durante las últimas décadas, son pocos los casos en los que se ha evaluado su funcionalidad. Así, la Confederación Hidrográfica del Duero, el Grupo de Ecohidráulica Aplicada (GEA) de la Universidad de Valladolid e Itagra.ct han desarrollado una nueva metodología de evaluación del funcionamiento de pasos para peces de estanques sucesivos (Metodología AEPS) que ha sido aplicada en más de 50 de estas estructuras. La metodología analiza la idoneidad de los pasos piscícolas para una serie de especies objetivo atendiendo a múltiples parámetros de diseño y factores eco-hidráulicos, pudiendo ser utilizada con pequeños ajustes en diversas áreas y para diferentes especies. Por otro lado, su aplicación ha permitido conocer la situación actual de los pasos para peces en la cuenca del río Duero, identificar sus problemas y cómo solucionarlos