Using intensive multiyear fish-pass monitoring to analyse seasonal upstream movement patterns of patrimonial holobiotic potomadromous fish species in a medium size river

Belgian rivers are fragmented by numerous obstacles which considerably limit the free access of fish to functional habitats. Fish-passes are major tools used to increase stream continuity and improve connectivity in the upstream direction. Using two modern multispecies fish-passes, this study aims to investigate multiyear abundance of holobiotic potamodromous fish and their seasonal movement patterns in relation with environmental factors. The fish passes were monitored continuously during 5 and 7 years and are located in two Belgian streams: the (19.3m³.s-1) and the Berwinne (1.9m³.s-1). Results revealed the presence of 20 different fish species, 14 species in the Berwinne and 19 species in the occurrence, salmonids and cyprinids species were predominant. A great interspecific and intraspecific variability in capture periodicity and in terms of stimulation by combination of factor environmental was observed. This study highlights the complexity and the omnipresence of holobiotic potamodromous fish movements at different life stages, in medium size river and brings new information on fish passes efficiency and use by these poorly known species.