Functionality evaluation of the Xikundu fishway, Luvuvhu River, South Africa

The Xikundu fishway, in the Luvuvhu River near Thohoyandou, was monitored for 23 months in 2004–2006. Adults and juveniles of 60% of the expected fish species were collected in the fishway, and two major upstream migrations occurred. Most Labeo and Chiloglanis species migrated in late summer and aut...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:African journal of aquatic science 2013-11, Vol.38 (sup1), p.69-84
Main Authors: Fouché, PSO, Heath, RG
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adults
autumn
Barbus
Chiloglanis
effectiveness
environmental cues
fish
fishway monitoring
Freshwater
hydraulics
juveniles
Labeo
migration
recruitment
refuge habitats
rivers
spawning
spring
summer
turbulent flow
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Summary:The Xikundu fishway, in the Luvuvhu River near Thohoyandou, was monitored for 23 months in 2004–2006. Adults and juveniles of 60% of the expected fish species were collected in the fishway, and two major upstream migrations occurred. Most Labeo and Chiloglanis species migrated in late summer and autumn, possibly to seek refugia, whereas Barbus and Labeobarbus species moved upstream in spring, possibly for spawning. There were strong diel differences in upstream movement, with most species moving at night, as well as interannual variation among species, possibly reflecting differing recruitment. Although some fish moved both up- and downstream through the fishway, the fishway functioned poorly, as significantly higher numbers of fish were only occasionally able to ascend the full length of the fishway when its discharge and turbulence were low (>70 W m ⁻³). Further experimental research on appropriate turbulence, water velocity and fishway design for South African fishes is recommended. For future field evaluation, sampling of the population immediately downstream of the weir and fishway is recommended to enable a more quantitative evaluation.
ISSN:1727-9364
1608-5914
1727-9364
DOI:10.2989/16085914.2013.773418