Does the Use of In-stream Structures and Woody Debris Increase the Abundance of Trout and Salmon? (systematic review)
Background
In-stream structures (such as flow deflectors, weirs and woody debris) have been in widespread use for the last eighty years to increase the production of fish stocks, primarily salmonids, but also species of conservation concern such as European Bullhead Cottus gobio. A large number of studies, of variable quality, have been undertaken to assess the effectiveness of in-stream structures, often with conflicting results. It has therefore been hard to develop a consensus regarding the utility of in-stream structures despite their continued use. This systematic review formally synthesises empirical evidence regarding the effectiveness of in-stream structures in terms of impact on abundance of salmonid fish and C. gobio using a documented a priori protocol.
Objectives
To assess the impact of in-stream structures on the abundance of salmonids and Cottus gobio.
To assess the impact of hydrological and ecological variables on the effectiveness of in-stream structures.
Search strategy
Electronic searching of ISI Web of Knowledge, Science Direct, Directory of Open Access Journals, Copac, Scirus, Scopus, Index to Theses Online, Digital Dissertations Online, Agricola, Europa, Wildlink, JSTOR. Publication searches of Canadian Wildlife Service, Countryside Council of Wales, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, English Nature, Environment Agency, Food & Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, Fisheries Management Science Programme, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, FRS Freshwater Laboratory (formerly Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory), Joint Nature Conservancy Council, United States National Parks and Wildlife Service, Scottish Natural Heritage. Searched Fishbase.org, BiologyBrowser.org, Graylit.osti.gov, Librarian’s Internet Index, Google Scholar, Scirus and Google. Hand-searches of bibliographies of accepted articles. Personal contact with researchers.
Selection criteria
Any studies examining the impact of in-stream structures on the abundance of salmonids or Cottus gobio. Appropriate spatial or temporal controls were a prerequisite for studies to be included in quantitative analysis.
Main results
A total of 137 studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria of which 38 provided quantitative data regarding the impact of in-stream structures on salmonids or Cottus gobio, suitable for meta-analysis. Fifty four independent data points provided evidence regarding the impact of engineered in-stream devices on salmonids, with a further 30 data points regarding woody debris and nine concerning Cottus gobio.
Meta-analytical synthesis results in a weakly significant positive impact of engineered in-stream habitat structures on salmonid populations. No ecologically significant impact on salmonid population size or habitat preference was evident. There are no significant relationships between the effectiveness of engineered in- stream structures and hydrological or ecological variables at a population level, although there is limited evidence that in-stream structures provide preferential habitat at higher discharges.
Woody debris has a significant impact on salmonids resulting in increased population abundance. This is especially pronounced for Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis. There is a lesser, but still significant, positive impact on microhabitat preference. Woody debris provides more preferential habitat at longer timescales and higher discharges, but appears to be less effective for Coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch than other salmonid species.
Riffles increase local abundance of Cottus gobio but deflectors do not. Reviewers’ conclusions Implications for conservation
Available evidence does not demonstrate an ecologically significant impact of engineered in-stream structures on populations of salmonids, although they may provide preferential habitat where discharge is high (>6m3s-1).
Available evidence suggests that woody debris does increase the population abundance of salmonids, especially the brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis. It may also provide more preferential habitat over time (>4years) where discharge is high (>1m3s-1) but does not appear to provide preferential habitat for Oncorhynchus kisutch.
Cottus gobio populations are not increased by deflectors but riffles may provide preferential habitat.
Implications for further research
Further long term work is required to corroborate the evidence presented in this systematic review. Much currently available data is of inadequate duration and assesses habitat preference rather than long-term population change. Reach and water-shed scale studies are also rare in comparison to habitat unit studies. The use of independent treatments and controls, replication, and rigorous parameters of abundance is advocated.
Numerous confounding variables operate in riverine systems and sample sizes are currently too small to assess the impact of many factors in a robust manner. Further monitoring is required to fully evaluate the potential impact of time, discharge and species. Other hydrological and ecological factors such as stream gradient, proportion of cobbles in the substrate, degree of existing modification, water quality and canopy cover are insufficiently reported and studied, although they are known to impact fish populations.
Background
In-stream habitat improvement devices may be used in an attempt to redress habitat degradation and enhance trout and salmon stocks in streams and rivers which have been detrimentally affected by anthropogenic influences. Interventions such as installment of flow deflectors and artificial riffles, and also the use of livestock fencing to reduce bankside erosion, aim to restore habitat to something approximating natural conditions.
An effect of installation of in-stream habitat devices is often the narrowing of over- wide streams with subsequent increased water velocities and turbulence resulting in beneficial impacts on water quality (Environment Agency 1996, Hendry et al. 2003, N.Milner pers.com 2005). Fencing and isolation of the river from livestock indirectly promotes beneficial salmon habitat reducing erosion and sediment inputs (Duff 1977, Platts et al. 1983, Platts & Nelson 1985). However the effectiveness of these devices is often not fully known as performance evaluations are rarely conducted (Harper & Quigly 2005). The Environmant Agency (EA) is interested in ascertaining the impact of flow deflectors, artificial riffles and livestock fencing on the abundance of trout and salmon stocks and also bullhead Cottus gobio (a UK BAP species of conservation concern).
The effectiveness of in-stream devices may be affected by local gradient and valley confinement (drivers of geomorphology), proportion of cobbles in substrate (driver of salmonid distribution, Armstrong et al. 2003), degree of existing modification (negatively related to salmonid abundance), and distance from source and water quality (effects carrying capacity, Armstrong et al. 2003). The impact of these potential effect modifiers also requires investigation.
A systematic review methodology will be used to retrieve data concerning the impact of in-stream habitat improvement devices. The review will limit bias through the use of a comprehensive literature search, specific inclusion criteria and formal assessment of the quality and reliability of the studies retrieved. Subsequent data synthesis will summarise empirical evidence, thereby assisting in the formulation of appropriate evidence-based management guidelines and highlighting gaps in research. The review should be of use to the EA and Rivers Trusts practitioners and also have wider international relevance.