A bit of quiet between the migrations: the resting life of the European eel during their freshwater growth phase in a small stream

Ovidio, Michaël; Seredynski, Aurore; Philippart, Jean-Claude; Nzau Matondo, Billy

doi:10.1007/s10452-013-9444-1

Article (Scientific journals)

A bit of quiet between the migrations: the resting life of the European eel during their freshwater growth phase in a small stream

Ovidio, Michaël; Seredynski, Aurore; Philippart, Jean-Claude et al.

2013 • In Aquatic Ecology, 47, p. 291-301

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

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https://hdl.handle.net/2268/150441

DOI
10.1007/s10452-013-9444-1

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Keywords :

Mobility; Home range; Habitat choice; Minimum flow; Telemetry

Abstract :

[en] The movements and habitat use of resident yellow eels were studied in a stream stretch having both natural and minimum flow zones. N = 12 individuals (total length 505–802 mm) were surgically tagged with radio transmitters and released at their capture sites. They were located using manual radio receivers during the daytime from 2 to 5 days/ week over periods ranging from 200 to 329 days, for a total of 1,098 positions. Eels showed home ranges ranging from 33 to 341 m (median value, 62 m), displayed strong fidelity to sites and demonstrated a great degree of plasticity in habitat use. Eels were slightly mobile throughout the year, but their movements were season and temperature dependent, with a maximum during the spring (mean water temperature, 12 C) and a minimum in winter (3 C). Stones and roots (utilization rate greater than 50 % of eels for more than 30 % of location days) were significantly the most frequently used habitats. Between the two flow zones, the natural flow was the most occupied, with a significantly higher proportion of resident eels(66.7 % of radio-tagged yellow eels) and longer occupation (81 % of location days) than the minimum flow zone with less suitable habitats.

Research Center/Unit :

AFFISH-RC - Applied and Fundamental FISH Research Center - ULiège

Disciplines :

Zoology

Author, co-author :

Ovidio, Michaël ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Laboratoire de Démographie des Poissons et d'Hydroécologie (LDPH)

Seredynski, Aurore ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences biomédicales et précliniques > Biologie de la différenciation sexuelle du cerveau

Philippart, Jean-Claude ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences et gestion de l'environnement > Biologie du comportement - Ethologie et psychologie animale

Nzau Matondo, Billy ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de Biologie, Ecologie et Evolution > Démographie des poissons et hydroécologie

Language :

English

Title :

A bit of quiet between the migrations: the resting life of the European eel during their freshwater growth phase in a small stream

Publication date :

13 June 2013

Journal title :

Aquatic Ecology

ISSN :

1386-2588

eISSN :

1573-5125

Publisher :

Springer Science & Business Media B.V.

Volume :

Pages :

291-301

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Funders :

SPW (DCENN) - Fonds Européen pour la Pêche (FEP)

Available on ORBi :

since 14 June 2013

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