Abstract
The objectives of this study were to establish a swimming capability model for largemouth bass using the FishXing (version 3) program, and to determine the swimming speed and feasibility of fish passage through a waterway tunnel. This modeling aimed to replicate the waterway tunnel connecting the Andong and Imha Reservoirs in South Korea, where there is a concern that largemouth bass may be able to pass through this structure. As largemouth bass are considered an invasive species, this spread could have repercussions for the local environment. Flow regime of water through the waterway tunnel was calculated via the simulation of waterway tunnel operation, and the capability of largemouth bass to pass through the waterway tunnel was then estimated. The swimming speed and distance of the largemouth bass had a positive linear function with total length and negative linear function with the flow rate of the waterway tunnel. The passing rate of small-size largemouth bass (10–30 cm) was 0% at a flow of 10 m3/s due to rapid exhaustion from prolonged upstream swimming through the long (1.952 km) waterway tunnel. The results of FishXing showed that the potential passing rate of large size largemouth bass (>40 cm) through the waterway tunnel was greater than 10%; however, the passage of largemouth bass was not possible because of the mesh size (3.4 × 6.0 cm) of the pre-screening structures at the entrance of the waterway tunnel. Overall, this study suggests that the spread of largemouth bass population in the Imha Reservoir through the waterway tunnel is most likely impossible.
Highlights
The objectives of this study were to establish a swimming capability model for largemouth bass using the FishXing program, and to determine the swimming speed and feasibility of fish passage through a waterway tunnel
Reservoir after the introduction of largemouth bass (Zaret and Paine 1973); in South Africa, three indigenous species were reported to have been extirpated by largemouth bass (Hickley et al 1994); and Cuba witnessed a considerable decrease in the number of individuals of indigenous fish species after the introduction of largemouth bass, which increased the number of malaria mosquitoes and raised malaria infection rates among residents (Lasenby and Kerr 2000)
Inflow rate of waterway tunnel via simulation The inflow rate depended on the inner diameter of the waterway tunnel and the difference in water head between the two reservoirs (Table 2)
Summary
The objectives of this study were to establish a swimming capability model for largemouth bass using the FishXing (version 3) program, and to determine the swimming speed and feasibility of fish passage through a waterway tunnel. Largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) were introduced into South Korea in 1973 from Louisiana, USA, with the intent of providing a sustainable food source Their population has rapidly increased in the ecosystems of rivers and reservoirs across the country and has exerted great influence on freshwater food webs (Lee et al 2008; Kim et al 2013). Reservoir after the introduction of largemouth bass (Zaret and Paine 1973); in South Africa, three indigenous species were reported to have been extirpated by largemouth bass (Hickley et al 1994); and Cuba witnessed a considerable decrease in the number of individuals of indigenous fish species after the introduction of largemouth bass, which increased the number of malaria mosquitoes and raised malaria infection rates among residents (Lasenby and Kerr 2000) Such ecological disturbances caused by largemouth bass have been reported at a global level, including Canada, Japan, and Europe (Lasenby and Kerr 2000; Yasunori and Tadashi 2003; Wasserman et al 2011; Almeida et al 2012). The detrimental spread of largemouth bass directly affects freshwater food webs, thereby reducing species richness and biodiversity, and their potential for damaging the integrity of aquatic ecosystems has led to widespread discussion (and disagreement) with regard to the best methods to manage this ecological challenge
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