Effects of a novel fish transport system on the health of adult fall Chinook salmon

Movement past hydroelectric dams and related in-river structures has important implications for habitat connectivity and population persistence in migratory fish. A major problem is that many of these structures lack effective fish passage facilities, which can fragment spawning and rearing areas and negatively impact recruitment. While traditional fish passage facilities (e.g., ladders, trap and haul) can effectively enable fish to pass over barriers, their capital or operational costs can be significant. We evaluated the utility of a novel transport device that utilizes a flexible tube with differential internal air pressure to pass fish around in-river barriers. A total of N = 147 adult fall Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) nearing maturation were apportioned to three treatments and a control group. In two of the treatments, adult fall Chinook salmon were transported through the device via two lengths of tube (12 or 77 m) and their injury, stress, and immune system respon...洄游鱼类穿越水电大坝及相关内河构筑物的通行能力，对其栖息地连通性与种群存续至关重要。当前的主要问题在于，多数此类构筑物未配备有效的过鱼设施（fish passage facilities），这可能割裂产卵与育幼栖息地，并对鱼类种群补充产生负面影响。尽管传统过鱼设施（例如鱼道（fish ladder）、诱捕转运式过鱼装置（trap and haul））可有效协助鱼类越过障碍物，但其建设与运维成本往往较高。本研究评估了一种新型鱼类转运装置的应用潜力：该装置依托内部气压差驱动的柔性管道，帮助鱼类绕行内河障碍物。共计147尾接近性成熟的成年秋季洄游奇努克王鲑（Oncorhynchus tshawytscha）被分配至三个处理组与一个对照组。在其中两个处理组中，成年秋季洄游奇努克王鲑通过两种不同长度的管道（12米或77米）经由该装置完成转运，研究人员对其损伤情况、应激反应及免疫系统响应……