Swimming behavior of crucian carp in an open channel with sudden expansion

Abstract

AbstractThe sudden‐expansion effect created by natural and man‐made structures such as unsubmerged boulders, spur dikes, and culvert structures is common in open channels. Migratory fishes may use the heterogeneous flow generated by sudden expansion to their benefit, to select habitats for balancing energy expenditure or for maximizing predation opportunities. This study explores the swimming behavior of three size classes of crucian carp in response to hydrodynamic characteristics in an experimental open channel with sudden expansion. The flow field was characterized using particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements and featured a recirculation zone in the vicinity of the expansion. Based on the classification of the swimming trajectory, four specific swimming behaviours (SSBs) were utilized by crucian carp during migration. With increasing flow velocity, fish spent more time in the recirculation zone. Residence time in the recirculation zone was inversely correlated with fish body length. Due to the advantage in providing shelter from challenging heterogeneous hydraulic conditions, the recirculation zone was preferred by crucian carp, especially the smaller ones, indicating the importance of energy conservation in habitat occupation. These findings confirm that the recirculation zone generated by sudden expansion may be beneficial to the upstream passage of fish and in habitat restoration.