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A fluctuating or unstable energy production by hydropower plants also involves disadvantages by creating unnatural water flow changes in river systems. Fluctuations of the water level generated by hydropower plants often exceed natural ranges and through that make it difficult to cope with that for riverine animals. These animals are well adapted morphologically and behaviorally to a fluctuating environment, which a river always is. But these adaptations only work to a certain point, and if changes in the environment exceed the capabilities of an animal, the animal will suffer from that. Suffering doesn?t mean it will instantly die due to the changes, but it can have various effects on different traits in its life history.
Salmon is a commercially important fish, especially in Northern Europe (e.g. Norway), but is also highly affected by hydropower plants when hydropeaking occurs since the most vulnerable life stages of this species develop in rivers. The potential impacts of hydropeaking on the performance of young salmon parr are so far relatively poorly known, and there is a great need to direct research efforts on this question. The riverine environment as such is a challenging research environment with many factors interacting and varying constantly. Thus, an efficient first step research strategy is to carry out experimental research designs in controlled conditions. Goals Improve knowledge on the effects of hydropeaking to result in sustainable river regulation practices in the future. Impact of research Practical management of streams and their fish populations will be based on scientific background knowledge. Researcher in charge Huusko Ari, Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute
Contacts
Duration 2011 - 2012 Project phase: Completed
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