Streamflow alteration and habitat ramifications for a threatened fish species in the Central United States

In the Central United States, the Arkansas darter (Etheostoma cragini) is listed as a threatened fish species by the State of Kansas. Survival of the darter is threatened by loss of habitat caused by changing streamflow conditions, in particular flow depletion. Future management of darter populations and habitats requires an understanding of streamflow conditions and how those conditions may have changed over time in response to natural and anthropogenic factors. In Kansas, streamflow alteration was assessed at 9 U.S. Geological Survey streamgages in 6 priority basins with no pronounced long‐term trends in precipitation. The assessment was based on a comparison of observed (O) and predicted expected (E) reference conditions for 29 flow metrics. The O/E results indicated a likely or possible diminished flow condition in 2 basins; the primary cause of which is groundwater‐level declines resulting from groundwater pumping for irrigated agriculture. In these 2 basins, habitat characteristics adversely affected by flow depletion may include stream connectivity, pools, and water temperature. The other 4 basins were minimally affected, or unaffected, by flow depletion and therefore may provide the best opportunity for preservation of darter habitat. Through the O/E analysis, anthropogenic streamflow alteration was quantified and the results will enable better‐informed decisions pertaining to the future management of darters in Kansas.     

Factors Influencing Movements of Two Migratory Fishes within the Tailrace of a Large Neotropical Dam and their Implications for Hydropower Impacts

Fish attempting to move upstream through hydroelectric dams can be trapped and killed in turbines. Understanding fish movement patterns can provide useful insights for how to manage dam operations to minimize fish kill in turbines. We evaluated the movements of two migratory fish (Curimba—Prochilodus argenteus and Mandi—Pimelodus maculatus ) using acoustic telemetry in the tailrace of Três Marias Dam (São Francisco River, Brazil) from 31 October 2011 to 16 February 2012. The majority of tagged fish left the tailrace in less than one week; however, some individuals returned, performing several visits to the tailrace. Mandi remained longer in the tailrace than Curimba. The number of visits was influenced by diel period, turbine and spillway discharge. Although the diel period was the only important contributor to the visits performed by Curimba, the movements of Mandi were significantly influenced by three factors. We found that whereas Curimba was predominantly diurnal, Mandi showed nocturnal habits. Additionally, visits of Mandi were significantly greater during higher turbine and spillway discharge. We discuss the implications of these results for understanding fish movements in the Três Marias Dam tailrace and their potential implications for adapting hydroelectric operations to minimize fish kills. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Local‐scale Benefits of River Connectivity Restoration Planning Beyond Jurisdictional Boundaries

Conservation planning aims to optimize outcomes for select species or ecosystems by directing resources toward high‐return sites. The possibility that local benefits might be increased by directing resources beyond the focal area is rarely considered. We present a case study of restoring river connectivity for migratory fish of the Great Lakes Basin by removing dams and road crossings within municipal jurisdictions versus their broader watersheds. We found that greater river connectivity could often be achieved by considering both intra‐jurisdictional and extra‐jurisdictional barriers. Focusing on jurisdictional barriers alone generally forfeited <20% (median = 0%) of habitat gains for those who value solely habitat gains within the jurisdiction, but >75% (median = 100%) for planners who value larger‐scale habitat gains. Similarly, cost savings tended to be between ?50% and +50%, but in some cases were very negative. Our study underscores the local‐scale benefits of broadening restoration investments, especially for decision makers of the Great Lakes Basin and contributes to a discussion of appropriate and efficient scales of conservation planning. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Importance of Shallow‐Low Velocity Habitats to Juvenile Fish in the Middle Mississippi River

Habitat management is a crucial aspect of fisheries management. Without knowledge of habitat associations, fisheries scientists are unable to effectively make habitat conservation or restoration recommendations. This becomes especially prominent when trying to manage commercially harvested populations and protect threatened or endangered species. To determine juvenile fishes habitat associations in the Middle Mississippi River, we analysed mini‐trawl catch data of six common juvenile fish species: blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus), channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), channel shiner (Notropis wickliffi), freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens), paddlefish (Polyodon spathula), and shovelnose sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus platorynchus). Overall, we conducted 2251 mini‐trawl sampling efforts between 2002 and 2013, resulting in the capture of 23,742 target specimens. Catch per unit effort was evaluated by structural habitat (i.e. velocity, depth, and substrate). Overall, these data suggest that juvenile fish species are more prevalent in shallow water and slower velocities. Ultimately the information garnered during this evaluation should be incorporated when considering habitat modifications, especially those modifications that impact the availability of shallow‐low velocity habitats. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chemoattraction between fry of Arctic char [Salvelinus alpinus (L.)] studied in a Y-maze fluviarium

Attraction of fry of Arctic char [Salvelinus alpinus (L.)] to water conditioned by conspecifics of the same age was studied in a Y-maze fluviarium. Two types of experiments were run. In up-swimming tests (1), starting from the common leg of the Y-maze, a single fish was given the choice of entering one of the two upstream arms. In gradient tests (2), the momentary positions of a single char were time-lapse photographed in a test yard of this common shank. Strong attraction to conditioned water was observed in both types of tests.     

一种基于RAN架构无线接入网系统容量最大化的功率分配算法

针对新型RAN架构无线接入网中功率分配问题进行研究, 建立系统容量最大化的最优化数学模型, 提出了一种基于RAN架构无线接入网的系统容量最大化的功率分配算法, 并且应用人工鱼群算法求解了算法中目标函数的全局最优解, 即一组使系统容量最大化的发射功率。仿真结果表明, 与现有的分布式网络架构中非合作的功率控制博弈算法相比, 新算法可以显著提高系统容量, 即证明了该算法的有效性。     

Development of an index based on fish,macroinvertebrates, phytoplankton,and physicochemical properties to assess urban aquatic ecosystems in Jinan,China

Because of the rapid growth in urbanization over recent decades, urban aquatic ecosystems have been subjected to unprecedented threats and challenges. In this study, we visited 48 sites, of which 14 were reservoir sites, in water bodies in Jinan, China, on six occasions in May, August, and October of 2014 and 2015. We sampled fish, macroinvertebrates, and phytoplankton assemblages and physicochemical factors at each site. We used the richness and diversity of fish, macroinvertebrates, and phytoplankton to evaluate the condition of the aquatic ecosystems of the river sites. We also evaluated the water quality of the reservoir sites using the physicochemical factors of the State Environmental Protection Administration of China. We classified the results into five levels—excellent, good, moderate, poor, and bad—with the comprehensive evaluation index (CEI). More than 40% of the sampling sites were in either poor or bad condition. Nearly half of the excellent or good sites were in the south of Jinan. The CEI was significantly different between the reference and impaired sites; it was significantly and positively correlated with the qualitative habitat evaluation index and was significantly and negatively correlated with conductivity, total alkalinity, and ammonia nitrogen.     

深井裸眼封隔器分段酸压管柱打捞实践

安岳气田灯影组气藏广泛采用大斜度井/水平井裸眼封隔器分段酸压工艺试油完井,悬挂封隔器及下部管柱被“永久性”留在井下。如果利用原裸眼侧钻,则需要打捞分段酸压管柱至套管鞋以下30 m左右。MX126井和GS121井前期打捞作业历时均超过50 d,打捞效率非常低,主要原因为：悬挂封隔器双向锚定,裸眼封隔器和连接油管埋卡严重且位于大斜度井段,压井后长时间静止埋卡越来越严重;钻井液压井后切割油管受阻,没有完成落鱼切割分段;套磨铣导致封隔器解体,倒扣时落鱼出现多处退扣,倒扣打捞效率低。针对上述问题,优化了打捞技术措施：钻井液压井前,采用泵送径向切割工艺在清水中切割油管,确保切割成功率;采用带压拔出插管循环压井,缩短钻井液浸泡时间,降低次生卡钻风险;优选磨铣工具和打捞工具,优化磨铣工艺和震击解卡打捞工艺,维持落鱼完整性、力求捞出整段被切割落鱼。该技术成功应用于MX146井和GS127井后期的打捞作业,分别用时12 d和5 d。该技术可以显著提高裸眼封隔器分段酸压管柱的打捞效率,具有推广应用价值。     

Why do fish strand? An analysis of ten years of flow reduction monitoring data from the Columbia and Kootenay rivers,Canada

Stranding of fish due to flow reductions has been documented in the near shore of the Columbia and Kootenay Rivers, Canada, and can result in sub‐lethal or lethal effects on fish. Ten years (1999–2009) of monitoring data have been collected at sites below two hydro‐electric dams (Hugh‐L‐Keenleyside and Brilliant Dam) following flow reductions. A generalized linear mixed effects model analysed the probability of a stranding event in relation to environmental and operational variables including the rate of change in the water levels, the duration of shoreline inundation prior to a reduction (wetted history), the river stage, the magnitude of the reduction, distance downstream from the dam, time of day, day of year (season) and whether a site had been physically altered to mitigate stranding. The results demonstrated statistically significant effects on stranding risk from minimum river stage, day of the year and whether a site had been physically re‐contoured. The combination of investigated factors giving the highest probability of stranding was a large magnitude reduction completed in the afternoon in midsummer, at low water levels when the near shore had been inundated for a long period. This research is significant in its approach to assessing years of ecosystem scale monitoring data and using the modelling results to determine ways for these findings to be applied in regulated river management to minimize fish stranding. It also highlighted data gaps that require addressing and provides ecosystem scale results to compare with stranding studies carried out in mesocosms. © 2014 The Authors. River Research and Applications published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.