Author(s): Elena-Maria Klopries; Serhat Kucukali; Inga Kleinewietfeld And Cumhur Ozbey
Linked Author(s): Cumhur Özbey, Elena-Maria Klopries
Keywords: Fish migration Behavioural barriers Laboratory investigations
Abstract: Aquatic biodiversity is critical for the sustainability of habitats and ecosystem services. Longitudinal barriers, such as those posed by hydropower plants, disrupt fish migration and threaten biodiversity. Run-of-river power plants introduce physical barriers and turbine-related injuries, impacting downstream migration. Upstream solutions, including fish ladders, have shown varying effectiveness, with diversion power plants posing unique challenges due to altered river flow dynamics. Behavioral and physical barriers offer strategies to guide fish away from hazardous areas, though their design must consider location-specific factors such as turbulence and flow velocity. This study investigates the relationships between behavioral barrier geometry, hydraulic properties, and fish behavior near diversion power plants. Laboratory ethohydraulic experiments, supported by numerical studies, aim to optimize attraction and passage efficiency in fishways. Literature findings emphasize the need for realistic hydraulic models and integrative methods to enhance ecological connectivity while minimizing operational impacts on hydropower plants. These insights are critical for developing effective, scalable solutions to preserve aquatic biodiversity in regulated waterways.
Year: 2025