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Effects of fish size, time‐to‐fatigue and turbulence on swimming performance: a case study of Galaxias maculatus
Author(s) -
Nikora V. I.,
Aberle J.,
Biggs B. J. F.,
Jowett I. G.,
Sykes J. R. E.
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.2003.00241.x
Subject(s) - turbulence , froude number , biology , k epsilon turbulence model , turbulence kinetic energy , intuition , fish <actinopterygii> , reynolds number , mechanics , physics , fishery , flow (mathematics) , philosophy , epistemology
A simple relationship for the inanga Galaxias maculatus swimming velocity is suggested and tested in low and high turbulence channels. The relationship connects the swimming velocity with fish Reynolds and Froude numbers and can be used in both ecological analysis ( e.g . habitat requirements) and management strategies ( e.g . fishways design). Contrary to some previous studies and intuition, effects of turbulence on swimming performance appeared to be negligible. The most likely explanation for this result relates to mechanics of fish–turbulence interactions that may be dependent on both the turbulence scales and energy. The data suggest that future studies of turbulence effects on fish behaviour should involve, in addition to turbulence energetics, consideration of fish dimensions in relation to the spectrum of turbulence scales.