Amazing!Fish migrate and spawn through fish passages on dams

Mondo Science Updated on 2024-02-01

Every spring, when the warm sun shines down above the dam, a breathtaking natural wonder is about to unfold. Thousands of fish poured out of the bottom of the river and began an arduous journey through the solid dam. There's no magic here, and the fish rely on a human-designed "fishway" – a curving channel that directs fish from the top of the dam. This wonderful and spectacular migration is the desperate struggle of these fish to reproduce. Following these brave fish, we will embark on an amazing journey to witness their migratory feats on the "Fishway".

Why do we need a "fish passage"?

Every spring, nature puts on a spectacular fish migration. Thousands of fish swim inland from oceans or rivers, crossing obstacles on their way to find breeding grounds. However, in recent years, the process of fish migration has become extremely difficult due to the influence of human activities. In order to protect this rare and important ecological phenomenon, the "fish passage" was invented to assist the fish in their migration.

Let's take a look at what fish migration is and why it's important. Fish migration refers to the migration of fish for reproductive purposes, usually between rivers, lakes or oceans. This is a vital part of the fish life cycle as it helps maintain and restore fish populations while also guaranteeing the health of aquatic ecosystems. Fish migration also contributes to the dispersal of species and nutrient cycling, contributing to biodiversity in waters.

However, with the continuous expansion of human activities, fish migration is facing more and more challenges. Among them, the main problems are dams and dammed lakes. Dams are set up to control the flow of water, but they also act as an obstacle to fish migration. When the river is blocked by dams upstream of the construction, fish cannot pass smoothly. Similarly, dammed lakes can cause serious disruption to fish migration routes, making migration extremely difficult.

That's why we need a "fish way". A fishway is an artificially constructed channel that allows fish to migrate around dams or dammed lakes. It usually consists of a series of ramps, gates, and water flow control mechanisms. Fishpassages must be designed taking into account the characteristics and needs of different fish species to provide optimal access conditions. For example, some fish prefer to migrate in rapids, while others prefer to move in slow-moving waters. Fish passages must be able to mimic the characteristics of natural water currents to attract fish and help them navigate through obstacles.

The emergence of fish passages has provided new hope for fish migration. Through the fish passage, fish can continue to reproduce, maintaining the stability and diversity of the population. At the same time, it also helps to protect the living environment of other organisms in the waters. When fish pass through the fish passages, they bring in a lot of nutrients and activate the food chain in the waters.

Despite the importance of fish passages for fish migration, we also need to pay attention to their sustainability and effectiveness. The design of the fishway needs to be integrated with the planning of the dam or dammed lake, and be scientifically evaluated and observed in the field. This is the only way to ensure that the fishways can actually function and help the fish migrate successfully.

The "fishway" was created to protect and promote the important ecological phenomenon of fish migration. They are human efforts to repair man-made damage, as well as concerns for biodiversity and the health of aquatic ecosystems. By creating efficient and sustainable fish passages, we are able to ensure that fish migrate smoothly, providing us with a more beautiful and rich water environment.

Effects of dams on fish migration

Dam construction is one of the important measures of modern social and economic development, which provides a large amount of water and energy for human beings. However, the construction of the dam has also brought a series of environmental problems, one of which is the impact on fish migration. Fish migration is an essential behavior in the process of fish reproduction, and it plays a vital role in maintaining the health and ecological balance of fish populations. We need to understand the impact of dams on fish migration and take appropriate measures to protect this precious biological resource.

The main effect of dams on fish migration is that they block their migration pathways. Fish usually migrate through rivers in search of suitable breeding grounds and nutrient resources. However, the construction of the dam led to the cutting off of the river, creating a huge barrier that blocked the migration path of the fish. This prevents some fish from reaching their original migratory areas, affecting their reproduction and survival.

The impact of dams on fish migration is also reflected in changes in water flow velocity and water quality. Dams can impede the natural flow of rivers, creating reservoirs or artificial lakes. This body of water is artificially controlled, and the flow of water slows down, causing problems for fish migration. Due to the slowing down of the current, fish need to expend more energy during migration, affecting their migration efficiency. Dams alter the water quality characteristics of the river, such as water temperature, dissolved oxygen content, etc., causing changes in the environment in which fish grow, further affecting their reproduction and living conditions.

However, we must also acknowledge that during the construction of the dam, some conservation measures have been taken to mitigate its impact on fish migration. For example, some large hydropower plants build fish ladders or other fish passages to help fish cross the dam and continue their migration. Scientists are also looking for better ways to reduce the impact of dams on fish migration. They tried to use ecological principles to design some environmentally friendly dams to better protect fish migration.

Dams have a significant impact on fish migration. They block the migration paths of fish, change the speed of water flow and water quality conditions, and pose challenges to fish reproduction and survival. However, we can mitigate this impact by taking appropriate measures, such as building fish slides or other passageways, designing environmentally friendly dams, etc. Only by protecting fish migration can we maintain the stability of aquatic ecosystems and maintain the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature.

Design and construction of fish passages

With the increasing environmental pollution and the development of water conservancy projects, more and more fish in rivers and lakes are blocked from migratory paths. Migration is very important for fish, it not only affects the survival and reproduction of fish, but also plays an important role in the balance of the ecosystem. In order to protect the migratory rights of fish species, the design and construction of fish passages became necessary.

A fish passage, as the name suggests, is a passage designed specifically for fish to complete their migration process smoothly. When designing a fish passage, it is the biology and migratory habits of the fish that need to be taken into account. Different species of fish have different requirements for environmental factors such as water depth, water speed, and water quality. When constructing a fish passage, it is necessary to understand the characteristics of the target fish and make a reasonable design according to its needs.

The design of the fish passage should also take into account the specific hydraulic project and the geographical conditions of the river. Some rivers are relatively wide and the current is fast, which requires the design of fish passages with wide and moderate water speedsSome rivers have a lot of curves, which requires the design of corners and bends to guide the fish through smoothly. The water quality of the fish passage also needs to be consistent with the water quality of the river to provide a good living environment.

When building a fish passage, it is necessary to ensure that it is stable and durable. High-quality materials need to be selected for construction to ensure that the fish passage can withstand the long-term erosion of the water and the external environment. In the construction process, it is also necessary to pay attention to the reasonable layout to avoid dead corners or blockages in the fish passage, which will affect the passage of fish. At the same time, for some large-scale water conservancy projects, it is also necessary to install monitoring equipment to monitor the migration of fish in real time and take timely measures to protect their safety.

The significance of the construction of the fish passage is not only to protect the fish, but more importantly, to maintain the balance of the entire ecosystem. As an important link in the food chain, fish has an important impact on the survival and reproduction of other organisms. If fish are unable to complete their migration, it will lead to the collapse of the ecosystem, which will affect the survival of other organisms.

The design and construction of fish passages are of great significance for the protection of fish migration rights and the maintenance of ecosystem stability. In the future, we should strengthen the research and technological innovation of fish passages, and constantly improve the design and construction of fish passages to improve the effect of their functions, and at the same time, we need to strengthen publicity and education, enhance the public's awareness of fish migration protection, and work together to contribute to the survival of fish and the protection of the ecological environment.

How fish use the "fish passage" for migration

Migratory refers to the long-distance migration of fish to reproduce, forage or escape environmental changes. In rivers and lakes where human activity is frequent, the construction of "fish passages" has become an important measure to help fish complete the migration process smoothly. So, how do fish use the "fishway" to migrate?

The "fishway" was built to address the obstacles encountered by fish during migration, especially those that affect the natural ecosystem of the river due to human intervention, such as weirs, hydropower stations, etc. These obstacles prevent fish from migrating smoothly, leading to their population decline and population degradation.

The design of "fish passages" usually takes into account the migratory habits and behavioural characteristics of fish. Generally speaking, fish will choose to leap or swim up and down when migrating, so in the design of the "fish passage", there are ramps and steps of different heights to simulate the flowing environment in natural waters. In this way, the fish can pass through the "fish passage" smoothly during their migration without hindrance.

In order to guide fish into the "fish passage" correctly, guidance facilities are installed at the entrance, such as fish passage signs, water flow guidance devices, etc. These facilities can help fish find the right passage and avoid migration failures caused by the wrong direction. At the same time, in order to provide a better flow environment, people will also set appropriate water flow speed and water quality conditions inside the "fish passage" to simulate the environment of natural waters, so that fish can feel a more comfortable and natural environment during migration.

In addition to the above design and construction, the maintenance of the fish passage is also crucial. Because "fish passages" are usually located in areas with high human activity, they need to be cleaned and maintained regularly to maintain smooth and good conditions of use. At the same time, it is also necessary to observe and detect the fish passage to understand the migration and population changes of fish, so as to provide data support for further improvement and optimization of the design of the fish passage.

The use of "fish passages" for migration is an important conservation measure. Through proper design and construction, the "fishway" provides a good migration passage for the fish, helping them to complete the migration process smoothly. However, we should also be aware that it is not enough to rely on "fishways" alone, it is equally important to protect aquatic ecosystems, maintain water quality health and reduce human overexploitation of water resources. Only with all-round protection measures can fish truly enjoy a safe and comfortable migratory environment.

The significance and effect of migratory spawning through the "fish passage".

Fish migration refers to the behavior of fish traveling long distances for the purpose of reproduction within a certain range of time and space. In order to ensure the smooth migration of migrators, "fish passages" have been built in many places to help fish overcome the obstacles imposed on them by human activities and the natural environment.

The significance of fish migration and spawning through the "fish passage" is to protect the population and ecological balance of fish. Fish migration is a very important part of the life cycle of fish, and they choose a specific river or lake as a spawning site. Without "fish passages" to help them overcome man-made structures such as dikes and sluices, fish would not be able to reach suitable spawning grounds, leading to population decline or even extinction. In addition, fish migration also maintains the ecological balance of the waters, and plays an important role in the stability of the entire aquatic ecosystem by bringing nutrients upstream and promoting the growth of algae and benthic organisms.

The effect of fish migration and spawning through the "fish passage" is to improve the biodiversity and resource richness of the waters. Fish passages not only help fish migrate smoothly, but also effectively reduce the escape and fishing pressure of farmed fish. By controlling the migration channels of fish, different species of fish can migrate in an orderly manner, thereby increasing the number and variety of fish in the water. In this way, the biodiversity of the water area is protected and improved, and at the same time, it also provides fishermen with more fishery resources and improves the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry.

In the process of fish passage construction, it is also necessary to pay attention to the protection of the ecological environment and water quality of the river. In order to help fish migrate smoothly, people pay attention to the protection of the natural landscape and biological habitat of the river when building fish passages. For example, when building a fish passage, dense vegetation is planted on both sides of the river bank to protect the stability of the soil and the purification of the water quality. At the same time, during the construction of the fish passage, the riverbed will be cleaned up and the water ecology will be restored to provide better environmental conditions for fish migration and reproduction.

The construction of the fish passage requires the active participation and support of the general public. Only through the joint efforts of the whole society can the migratory spawning behavior of fish be protected. This not only involves the planning and construction of local governments and relevant departments, but also requires the environmental awareness and action of the general public. For example, members of the public can consciously observe the fishing ban period and refrain from illegally fishing and selling rare fishYou can also actively participate in volunteer activities, participate in the inspection and maintenance of fish passages, and make your own contribution to the protection of fish migration.

The significance and effect of fish migration and spawning through the "fish passage" are not only reflected in the protection of fish population and ecological balance, but also in the improvement of biodiversity and resource richness of waters. Only through the joint efforts of the whole society can the conservation and sustainable development of fish migration and spawning be realized. We should actively participate in and support the conservation of fish migration, and make efforts to improve the ecological environment of waters and the coexistence of humans and nature.

Proofreading: Swallow.

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