Does River Restoration Increase Fish Abundance and Survival or Concentrate Fish? The Effects of Project Scale, Location, and Fish Life History
Abstract
Despite billions of dollars spent on various river restoration techniques, we still find ourselves debating whether habitat restoration increases fish abundance or concentrates fish. Based on the available literature, I discuss three important questions related specifically to the restoration of salmonid habitat: (1) “Does river restoration increase fish abundance or concentrate fish?”; (2) “Does river restoration increase fish survival or increase abundance?”; and (3) “Does the size or amount of river restoration influence fish response?” First, there is scant evidence to support the contention that river restoration leads to the concentration of fish at restoration projects. Second, the literature suggests that river restoration may lead to increased survival, increased abundance, or both. Third, recent studies have found little relationship between restoration project length and physical or biological response. The scientific literature does suggest that fish response to restoration varies greatly depending on the watershed template, location, and characteristics of the habitat restoration, and the life history of and limiting factors for a species. Thus, adequately determining whether changes in fish abundance observed in a restored area are due to increased movement, survival, or the amount of restoration will require detailed monitoring of these factors simultaneously.
- Authors:
-
- Cramer Fish Sciences Watershed Sciences Lab 1125 12th Avenue NW, Suite B‐1 Issaquah WA 98027, School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences University of Washington 1122 NE Boat Street Seattle WA 98105
- Publication Date:
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1491275
- Resource Type:
- Publisher's Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Fisheries
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Name: Fisheries Journal Volume: 44 Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 0363-2415
- Publisher:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Citation Formats
Roni, Philip. Does River Restoration Increase Fish Abundance and Survival or Concentrate Fish? The Effects of Project Scale, Location, and Fish Life History. United States: N. p., 2019.
Web. doi:10.1002/fsh.10180.
Roni, Philip. Does River Restoration Increase Fish Abundance and Survival or Concentrate Fish? The Effects of Project Scale, Location, and Fish Life History. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsh.10180
Roni, Philip. Fri .
"Does River Restoration Increase Fish Abundance and Survival or Concentrate Fish? The Effects of Project Scale, Location, and Fish Life History". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsh.10180.
@article{osti_1491275,
title = {Does River Restoration Increase Fish Abundance and Survival or Concentrate Fish? The Effects of Project Scale, Location, and Fish Life History},
author = {Roni, Philip},
abstractNote = {Despite billions of dollars spent on various river restoration techniques, we still find ourselves debating whether habitat restoration increases fish abundance or concentrates fish. Based on the available literature, I discuss three important questions related specifically to the restoration of salmonid habitat: (1) “Does river restoration increase fish abundance or concentrate fish?”; (2) “Does river restoration increase fish survival or increase abundance?”; and (3) “Does the size or amount of river restoration influence fish response?” First, there is scant evidence to support the contention that river restoration leads to the concentration of fish at restoration projects. Second, the literature suggests that river restoration may lead to increased survival, increased abundance, or both. Third, recent studies have found little relationship between restoration project length and physical or biological response. The scientific literature does suggest that fish response to restoration varies greatly depending on the watershed template, location, and characteristics of the habitat restoration, and the life history of and limiting factors for a species. Thus, adequately determining whether changes in fish abundance observed in a restored area are due to increased movement, survival, or the amount of restoration will require detailed monitoring of these factors simultaneously.},
doi = {10.1002/fsh.10180},
journal = {Fisheries},
number = 1,
volume = 44,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jan 18 00:00:00 EST 2019},
month = {Fri Jan 18 00:00:00 EST 2019}
}
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