Projects / Programmes
Development and application of software for the determination of brown trout (Salmo trutta) habitat suitability and determination of measures for brown trout habitat improvement
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 1.03.03 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Biology |
Ecosystems |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B260 |
Biomedical sciences |
Hydrobiology, marine biology, aquatic ecology, limnology |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 4.01 |
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences |
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries |
brown trout, habitat, fishery resource, hydraulic modeling, habitat modeling, improvement measures,
Researchers (12)
Organisations (2)
Abstract
Danube type brown trout (Salmo trutta) is native fish species in Slovenia. Brown trout is native to the Danube river basin and it inhabits all Danube basin rivers and streams of Slovenia and therefore it is also one of the most important native freshwater fish species considering human nutrition.
Despite the repopulation of streams with juvenile brown trout a considerable reduction of brown trout populations is observed every year. Consequently, fishery resources are also reduced.
The reduction of brown trout populations and reduction of fishery resources is the effect of different stream morphology modifications and water abstractions, which result in long-term modification of stream hydromorphology.
The basis for the study in question is assessment and determination of brown trout (Salmo trutta) habitat suitability which is very difficult because of deficient methodology and complexity of evaluation of stream hydraulic parameters, such as discharge, velocity and water depth and other hydromorphologic stream parameters.
Based on the determined habitat suitability, considering hydraulic and hydromorphologic stream parameters, a computer supported habitat model will be created in this research project. Also, the environmentally acceptable flow will be analysed considering additional possible mitigation measures. As a result of the study analysis the ground for further conservation and restoration of fishery resources through adoption of mitigation measures will be possible.
Protection of the existing brown trout populations can be achieved or improved by preservation and conservation of habitat suitability that enables the existence of brown trout populations in streams.
Significance for science
Habitat modelling approaches slowly gains its position around the world. In recent years, the main activities are focused on the field of calibration of various concept models and verification of this approach on real situations. Slovenian investigation provides an adequate basis for comparative analyzes in the wider Alpine area for river stretches where brown trout (Salmo truta) are the representative fish population. In addition, it presents new possibilities for applications in the field of mitigation measures planning on watercourses with heavy water abstraction impact.
Significance for the country
Within this project habitat modeling was for the first time introduced in Slovenia from research and applicative perspective as well. The method and the tool give an efficient, objective in repeatable basis for proper decision making on determination of ecologically acceptable flow and for evaluation of intended measures on watercourses. The results support further method development and introduction of the method to analyses habitat suitability of other representative fish species.
Most important scientific results
Annual report
2011,
2012,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2012,
final report,
complete report on dLib.si
