Projects / Programmes
Study of the Danubian gudgeon and Danube roach in the Sava River and its tributaries and research on the efficiency of fish passess / passess for aquatic organisms on the lower Sava
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.03.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Biology |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 1.06 |
Natural Sciences |
Biological sciences |
Fish, Sava River, large rivers, Natura2000, hydroelectric power plants, Natura2000, Danube roach, Danube gudgeon, fish passes, efficiency, endangered species, mitigation measures, management, sustainable technology
Researchers (6)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
One of the important issues is how to meet the goals of renewable energy sources through the sustainable management of natural resources, including the sustainable management of populations of key European species such as the Danube Gudgeon and the Danube Roach. In this research, we address the issue of the state of populations of target fish species (Danube Gudgeon and Danube Roach) in the area of the Sava River and its tributaries and the effectiveness of mitigation measures, i.e. fish passages at hydroelectric power plants in the lower Sava area. Based on existing data on fish populations and their characteristics from the Sava River and its tributaries and obtained or measured local and regional environmental parameters e.g. water velocity, substrate, longitudinal connectivity, hydromorphological conditions, land use, models of habitat preferences of individual target species will be developed, taking into account the entire fish population. The developed models will be the basis for determining the optimal and suboptimal habitats for each species and for determining the watercourse or river system of characteristic conditions i.e. characteristics of the population of an individual species with an estimate of abundance and spatial distribution, which is the starting point for assessing the state of the population. The models will be developed using canonical methods or using mixed linear models, which are robust even in the case of inhomogeneous samples. Based on the developed models and the obtained data, a method for the study of the Danube Gudgeon and the Danube roach will be developed, which will be based on representative sampling, which will reflect the temporal and spatial characteristics of the river system under consideration. On the sections of the Sava River with hydroelectric power plants, we will specifically check the adequacy of fish sampling using trawling and spot sampling by electrofishing in the reservoir littoral (PASE), which in combination should be the most appropriate methods for obtaining representative data on Natura2000 fish species in larger rivers and reservoirs. An important part of the assessment of the state of populations will also be the assessment of population connectivity, which will be based on the assessment of the efficiency of the fish passage for the Danube Roach and the Danube Gudgeon. As part of the research project, we will examine the actual efficiency of the fish passage near Brežice. The section of the Sava River below the Brežice power plant is recorded as the habitat of both target species, which are the subject of research in this project. We will first perform reference velocity measurements with a point 3D acoustic meter in order to obtain velocity data on individual sections of the fish passage. Based on the analyzes of the velocity field, it will be possible to give an assessment of the suitability of the water velocity with respect to the swimming or migratory ability of target species and it will be possible to develop corrective measures to mitigate the dynamic effects of water flow and adapt it to the swimming abilities of target species. We will then set up a video surveillance system that allows completely non-invasive monitoring of the size and direction of swimming of fish passing through the fish passage. The developed methods and acquired knowledge can be used to monitor the state of Danube Gudgeon and Danube Roach in similar river systems, using models to assess the expected state of populations before the planned interventions and apply to all similar facilities, to determine the effectiveness of transitions for aquatic organisms.
