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Observations of American Eels Using an Upland Passage Facility and Effects of Passage on the Population Structure
Author(s) -
Schmidt Robert E.,
O'Reilly Catherine M.,
Miller Daniel
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
north american journal of fisheries management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.587
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1548-8675
pISSN - 0275-5947
DOI - 10.1577/m08-050.1
Subject(s) - anguilla rostrata , tributary , fishery , productivity , geography , population , population density , mill , biology , archaeology , cartography , demography , sociology , economics , macroeconomics
Over two seasons, we observed passage of American eels Anguilla rostrata at an eel passage facility (eel ladder) placed adjacent to an upland mill dam on a small tributary to the Hudson River, New York. American eel use of the ladder was significantly correlated with freshets and moon phase, similar to other studies of eel migration. Most of the migrants were young (<20 cm total length). Several large American eels (>35 cm) exhibited local movements, including use of the ladder, as shown by recaptures of individuals marked with coded wire tags. Operation of the eel ladder greatly reduced the density of small American eels below the mill dam. Placing eel ladders on upland obstructions has the potential to enhance the productivity of silver (sexually mature) eels, an important consideration in the Hudson Valley, where hundreds of barriers have been constructed on upland tributaries.