Role of large‐ and fine‐scale variables in predicting catch rates of larval Pacific lamprey in the Willamette Basin,Oregon

Pacific lamprey Entosphenus tridentatus is an anadromous fish native to the Pacific Northwest of the USA. That has declined substantially over the last 40 years. Effective conservation of this species will require an understanding of the habitat requirements for each life history stage. Because its life cycle contains extended freshwater rearing (3–8 years), the larval stage may be a critical factor limiting abundance of Pacific lamprey. The objective of our study was to estimate the influence of barriers and habitat characteristics on the catch‐per‐unit‐effort (CPUE) of larval Pacific lamprey in the Willamette River Basin, Oregon, USA. We sampled lampreys at multiple locations in wadeable streams throughout the basin in 2011–13 and used an information theoretic approach to examine the relative influence of fine‐ and large‐scale predictors of CPUE. Pacific lamprey was observed across the basin, but its relative abundance appeared to be limited by the presence of natural and artificial barriers in some sub‐basins. Lower velocity habitats such as off‐channel areas and pools contained higher densities of larval lamprey; mean Pacific lamprey CPUE in off‐channel habitats was 4 and 32 times greater than in pools and riffles respectively. Restoration and conservation strategies that improve fish passage, enhance natural hydrologic and depositional processes and increase habitat heterogeneity will likely benefit larval Pacific lamprey.     

Effects of water velocity,turbulence and obstacle length on the swimming capabilities of adult Pacific lamprey

The swimming capabilities of adult Pacific lamprey, Entosphenus tridentatus Gairdner, were tested in an experimental vertical‐slot fishway in response to three different fishway features: water velocity (1.2, 1.8 and 2.4 m s^?1), the length of the vertical slot (0.33, 0.66, 1.00 m) and during the presence/absence of a turbulence‐intensifying structure that increased turbulence for each respective treatment. Passage success was lowest (52.7%) and attachment rates were highest (92.9%) during the most difficult passage conditions (high velocity, high turbulence, long slot length). Passage success was >83% for all other treatment combinations. Although passage of the vertical‐slot weir was not associated with fish body size, Pacific lamprey with larger dorsal distances (distance between the two dorsal fins) were more likely to pass the vertical‐slot weir. Increased attachment rates and longer attachment times during strenuous passage conditions suggest that endurance capacity may be an important factor limiting the passage of Pacific lamprey at fishway obstacles.     

Laboratory assessment of sea lamprey larvae burrowing performance

Abstract –  To study the burrowing behaviour and performance of larval sea lamprey ( Petromyzon marinus L.), 120 ammocoetes were collected and observed in the laboratory. Burrowing movements of ammocoetes placed in an aquarium with sediments of differing grain size were video recorded. The video was reviewed and, for each larva, the total time spent moving, the number of stops during the burrowing movement, the total time spent stopped and total time elapsed until complete withdrawal below the substrate surface was registered. Smaller ammocoetes had lower burrowing performance than larger individuals, across all substrate types, but the differences were greater in coarser substrates. Additionally, coarser sediment particles increased the time spent on burrowing regardless of larval size.     

Acceptability of various microparticulate diets to first-feeding walleye Stizostedion vitreum larvae

The acceptability of eight diets made by a wide variety of microparticulate manufacturing processes was studied using first-feeding walleye Stizostedion vitreum larvae. Diets were formulated using a common dietary mix but differed in manufacture technique. The microparticulate diets fed were (1) carrageenan bound, (2) alginate bound, (3) starch/konjack bound, (4) microextruded/maurmurized (MEM), (5) zein bound, (6) carboxymethyl cellulose bound (CMC), (7) particle-assisted rotationally agglomerated (PARA) and (8) a commercial microparticulate diet (Fry Feed Kyowa B-700, FFK). Controls were groups fed live Artemia nauplii and unfed. Gut fullness was measured as the cross-sectional optical area of the bolus visible through the transparent body of the larvae using computer-aided image analysis. Feeding incidence on MEM particles (71 ± 8%, mean ± standard error), zein-bound particles (69 ± 7%), alginate-bound particles (68 ± 2%) and PARA particles (65 ± 6%) were not significantly different ( P   0.05) from the feeding incidence for Artemia (71 ± 6%). FFK (49 ± 14%) and particles bound with carboxymethyl cellulose (27 ± 0.07%), starch (21 ± 10%) or carrageenan (20 ± 0.8%) had significantly ( P  < 0.05) lower feeding incidence. Larvae that did initiate feeding did not differ significantly ( P  > 0.05) in the amount of each microparticulate diet or Artemia consumed. This data indicates that once first-feeding walleye start on a diet, they will consume that diet to a similar fixed level of satiation. Given the differences in the amounts of water and nutrients in the various diets, more nutrients were delivered to the gut of walleye larvae feeding on microparticulate diets than on the Artemia control.     

Distribution, growth and transformation timing of larval Geotria australis in New Zealand

Lamprey, Geotria australis, are widely distributed in New Zealand and are common in streams and rivers of the west coast of both islands, the southern tip of the North Island, the Banks Peninsula and the southern coast of the South Island. In fresh water, lamprey are found in association with all substrate types but are most commonly (> 50% of the sample sites) found in association with finer gravels. There is insufficient evidence to determine any change in historically abundant adult spawning migrations. Spawning, back calculated from larval growth rates, probably occurs late November-December, and emergence at 9.63 mm occurs in January. We estimate that, on average, ammocoetes grow 0.068 mm/day throughout the year, and metamorphose and emigrate to sea between January-May, 3.5 years after spawning at 101 mm (SD = 6.7).     

Development of the hypophysis of the arctic lamprey,Lampetra japonica

The hypophysis of early larval stages, from the moment of hatching on the 18th day after fertilization to the 101st day of larval life, of the arctic lamprey Lampetra japonica was studied with scanning and transmission electron microscopes. A solid cord of cells of the distal part of the nasopharyngeal duct represents the early adenohypophysis. On the 20th day after fertilization, several of the epithelial cells of this structure showed first indications of secretory activity with an extensive Golgi apparatus and small electron-dense secretory granules. On the 26th day, non-secretory, stellate (=supporting) cells and secretary cells can be distinguished. Already on the 39th day, two different parts can be distinguished in the adenohypophysis: the pars distalis with cells containing small dense granules, and the pars intermedia with cells containing larger granules of medium density. The number of granulated cells increases steadily; on the 101st day two pars distalis cell types can be distinguished. The neurohypophysis consists of a thin anterior and a thick posterior part. Already on the 20th day single nerve terminals in the ependymal layer of the diencephalic (=infundibular) floor contain dense elementary granules. The number of granule-containing terminals increases steadily; on the 101st day almost all terminals contain granules. The present observations suggest an early secretory function of the lamprey hypophysis.     

Radioisotope and stable isotope ratios (Δ14C, δ15N) suggest larval lamprey growth is dependent on both fresh and aged organic matter in streams

Lampreys have a complex life cycle which includes a multi‐year infaunal larval stage (ammocoete). Gut content analysis has generally identified detritus (i.e., unidentifiable organic matter) as the major dietary component to ammocoetes, though algae can also be important. However, gut content preserves only a snapshot of the animal's diet and does not reflect assimilated material. In order to better characterise the nutritional sources supporting ammocoete growth, we analysed ammocoete body tissue and potential dietary sources at two streams using natural Δ¹⁴C and δ¹⁵N to estimate time‐integrated nutritional support. Bayesian isotope mixing models revealed differences in the importance of sources supporting ammocoetes between sites. Ammocoetes from a stream in a mixed land usage area (~50% agriculture, ~40% forest and ~10% developed) were primarily supported (mean: ~50%) by fresh terrestrial organic matter but were also supported by substantial contributions (mean: ~30%) by aged organic matter (AOM) and autochthonous material (algae; mean ~20%). In a predominantly forested (~90%) headwater stream, different modelling scenarios (uninformed or informed priors) suggested that algal support of ammocoete nutrition ranged from 7% to 45%. However, the model relying on informed priors developed from gut content analysis produced the low estimates, suggesting these were more reliable. When algae were a minor component of the nutrition at the forested site, ammocoetes were highly dependent on AOM (83 ± 26%; mean ± SD). Based on these findings, ammocoete growth and development are predicted to be strongly influenced by both land use and the availability of allochthonous and autochthonous materials of varying ages within streams.     

Development of Pacific lamprey fishways at a hydropower dam

Abstract Traditional fishways do not accommodate the passage needs of all migrating species. In the north‐western United States, structures designed to aid adult Pacific lamprey, Lampetra tridentata (Gairdner), passage are critically needed. The structures described here were fabricated in modular units and installed at Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River (235 km). They featured a series of aluminium ramps interspersed with rest boxes that prevented lamprey from moving back downstream. The effects of various design changes and structure operation (water volume delivered) were assessed using lamprey counts and passive integrated transponder detections. Up to 40% of the lamprey entered the structures and 90–100% of these passed through to the exit. Lowering water volume pumped to the structures had little effect on lamprey performance, but passage improved when a 3.8‐m‐long, steep (40°) ramp was replaced with two, 1.4‐m‐long, 45° ramps. Pacific lamprey ascended the 8‐ to 9‐m‐high structures and entered the dam forebay in less than 1 h. The success of these prototypes was attributed to site selection and attention to lamprey‐specific performance.     

Effects of diets on the growth performance and shell pigmentation of Pacific abalone

This study investigated the effects of natural and artificial diets on growth performance and shell pigmentation of cultured abalone. A 7‐month feeding trial was conducted on 12 000 Pacific abalones (Haliotis discus hannai) with four diets including two extruder‐processed test diets (with & without addition of oleopaprika carotenoids), Pacific dulse (Palmaria mollis) and a combination of Pacific dulse and a test diet. The results showed that the two test diets resulted in higher survival of abalone, but with a lower growth rates when compared with Pacific dulse alone (P < 0.05). The combination diet achieved the highest survival and growth rates. The Pacific dulse resulted in abalone with dark‐brown shells, which are preferred by Asian markets. The test diets led to 52% and 55% of the animals with pink coloured shells and the supplementation of oleopaprika did not affect shell pigmentation. The aqueous acidic extracts from both dark‐brown and pink shells showed blue colour; HPLC‐MS chromatography revealed that the pigments in the extracts were consistent with a biliverdin and a cysteine‐biliverdin. These results are valuable for the development of abalone feed and the control of abalone shell colouration.     

The influence of different microalgal diets on European clam (Ruditapes decussatus,Linnaeus, 1758) larvae culture performances

The European clam, Ruditapes decussatus is a species with high commercial importance in Portugal and other Southern European countries. However, the development of R. decussatus culture has been limited by the highly variable patterns of natural recruitment. The development of hatchery technology will provide an alternative source of spat. The effect of six nutritional regimes on the survival, growth and biochemical composition of R. decussatus larvae were evaluated, aiming to provide crucial information on its nutritional requirements. A holistic approach incorporating all physiological response showed that the bispecific diet I. aff galbana and C. calcitrans (60/40 cell μL^?1) was the more adapted throughout larval development. Moreover, the monospecific diet I. aff galbana provided an overall good performance. Larvae cannot use C. calcitrans at early stages of development; however, the inclusion of these microalgae improved late larval development. The results obtained constitute an important first step in the hatchery R. decussatus larval nutrition and a prerequisite for future work on the improvement of larval development and the optimization of feeding practices that will maximize larvae yield and minimize cost in aquaculture hatcheries.     

Effect of culture system on the nutrition and growth performance of Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) fed different diets

Two 8-week feeding trials were conducted with juvenile Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone) to compare the growth and performance of animals fed a series of experimental and commercial pelleted shrimp and fish feeds and dietary feeding regimes within an indoor running-water culture system and an outdoor zero-water-exchange culture system. The best overall shrimp growth performance was observed for animals fed the experimental shrimp diet and all-day feeding regime under outdoor zero-water-exchange culture conditions. Final body weight and average weekly growth rate under these conditions were 2.8 and 3.4 times greater, respectively, than animals of similar size fed with the same diet under indoor running-water culture conditions. Although direct comparison between indoor and outdoor culture systems is difficult because of the lower indoor water temperatures, and consequently lower mean daily feed intake of animals, it is believed that the higher growth and feed performance of animals reared under outdoor `green-water' culture conditions was primarily due to their ability to obtain additional nutrients from food organisms endogenously produced within the zero-water-exchange culture system. The most promising features of zero-water-exchange culture systems are that they offer increased biosecurity, reduced feed costs and water use for the farmer, and by doing so provide a potential avenue of moving the shrimp culture industry along a path of greater sustainability and environmental compatibility.     

Evaluation of a spray-dried artificial diet for larval culture of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, and striped bass, Morone saxatilis

Larvae of the freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man), and the striped bass, Morone saxatilis (Walbaum), were fed artificial diets manufactured by a spray-drying process or live Artemia nauplii , separately or in various combinations. Spray-dried diets were neutrally buoyant, water stable (low protein leaching rate), and were satisfactorily consumed as verified by the observation of full guts after feeding. Survival and growth of larvae fed live Artemia nauplii was significantly greater than those of larvae fed spray-dried diets. Lowest survival and growth rates were observed when larvae were fed artificial diets exclusively from the onset of exogenous feeding. Survival rates were positively related to the duration of feeding live Artemia nauplii before weaning to artificial diets. The poor performance associated with spray-dried artificial diets may be the result of the digestive capabilities of the larvae of caridean shrimp and striped bass being insufficient to process compact, dense particles.     

Importance of the relative levels of dietary arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid for culture performance of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) larvae

The effect of different arachidonic acid (ARA) dietary contents at several dietary eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) levels on the growth, survival and biochemical composition of gilthead seabream larvae was studied to better define the importance of this fatty acid as a function of EPA. Larvae of 18 days were fed one of the five isonitrogenous and isolipidic microdiets with three different EPA (0.3%, 2% and 4%) and ARA amounts (0.1%, 0.6% and 1.2%). Although a dietary increase in either ARA or EPA alone did not improve survival significantly, the increase in both fatty acids significantly enhanced growth and survival, suggesting an optimum dietary value of EPA:ARA close to 4:1.2. Dietary ARA was more efficiently incorporated into larval tissues than EPA. Increased dietary EPA or ARA contents reduced the incorporation of ARA or EPA into larval lipids, indicating their competition as substrates for different enzymes. The possible negative effect of further elevation of dietary ARA and its competition with EPA for phospholipids synthesis deserves further studies in marine fish larvae.     

Distribution, larval stage duration and growth of the sea lamprey ammocoetes, Petromyzon marinus L., in a highly modified river basin

Abstract  – Larval stage duration of the sea lamprey, Petromyzon marinus , in the River Mondego is estimated to last for 4 years. The number of annuli provides reliable age estimates when compared with length–frequency distributions analysis. The growth rate of the sea lamprey ammocoetes displays strong seasonal patterns, and reaches its highest value during the first 2 years of larval stage. About 69% of the length increment between hatching and metamorphosis is attained at the end of the second year. There is a longitudinal gradient associated with ammocoete distribution along the river. Relative abundance of ammocoetes decreases downstream from the Açude-Ponte dam, the first obstruction encountered by the adult sea lampreys in their upstream spawning migration along the River Mondego.     

不同饵料对二次抱卵期间中华绒螯蟹生殖性能和HUFA组成的影响

中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir sinensis)经一次受精便可多次产卵.与其他的虾类一样,在卵巢发育过程中,中华绒螯蟹的肝胰脏需从外界汲取许多能量和营养物质,通过血淋巴转移到卵巢以供胚胎发育和幼体孵化.亲蟹的营养需求可以通过第一次和第二次卵巢发育过程加以研究.第一次抱卵之后亲蟹消耗了大量的营养和能量物质,需要在二次抱卵前的短时间内得到及时补充.通常来说,二次抱卵蟹的产卵力低下,幼体质量差.因此研究饵料对二次抱卵期间中华绒螯蟹生殖性能和幼体质量的影响是很有意义的.本实验分4组,分别以3种天然饵料缢蛏(TC)、沙蚕(TS)、杂鱼(TT)和一种人工饵料(TA)投喂中华绒螯蟹亲蟹,投喂周期为2个月(从初始一次抱卵至二次抱卵结束).天然饵料和人工饵料的日投喂量分别为亲蟹体重的10%和1%～3%,每日下午4点投喂.用PVC板将8m2的玻璃纤维槽隔成4个单元作为试验槽.每个单元底面积为2m2,水深40 Cm.同一槽中的3个单元用做一个试验组的3个重复,每个重复为10只蟹.海水盐度为20 g·L,pH 8.20～8.30,溶解氧为8.40～8.90 mg·L-1,依据水中氨氮和亚硝酸氮的浓度(分别小于1 mg·L-1和0.2 mg·L-1),每2至3天换一次水,水温为15～17℃.实验结束后,对二次抱卵亲蟹的生殖性能(相对饱卵量、卵径和亲蟹成活率)、孵化出的幼体质量(蚤Ⅰ幼体在饥饿状态下的成活率)以及卵、卵巢和肝胰脏的脂肪酸组成进行了测定.结果表明,卵、卵巢和肝胰脏的高级不饱和脂肪酸(HUFA)组成与试验饵料的组成具有很好的相关性,其中卵的DHA与EPA水平、肝胰脏DHA水平与饵料中相应的HUFA水平成正相关(R2＞0.90),说明外界营养物质的吸收和转移对卵巢的二次发育相当重要.统计学分析表明,投喂杂鱼的亲蟹(TT)孵出的蚤Ⅰ幼体对饥饿的耐受力以及投喂缢蛏的亲蟹(TC)的卵径显著高于其他组,各组之间其他指标(相对抱卵量和成活率等)均无显著差异.二次抱卵的中华绒螯蟹的卵、卵巢和肝胰脏中HUFA的水平与试验饵料中HUFA水平具有很好的相关性,说明无论在第一次卵巢发育过程中积聚了多少营养物质,第一次抱卵后消耗殆尽的亲蟹需要从外界食物中汲取大量的能量和营养物质,通过肝胰脏转运到卵巢供二次发育之用.本研究结论与其他作者对其他甲壳类的研究结果是一致的.此外组织器官的HUFA水平不只局限于饵料HUFA水平,还受器官本身对这些脂肪酸特定需求的影响.肝胰脏作为甲壳类动物的脂肪存储器,在饵料中的脂类物质被吸收和利用之前首先将其存储起来.甲壳类动物具有合成更长链的脂肪酸能力,虽然这种能力很有限,但仍能重新合成一定数量的脂肪酸.由于卵巢和卵中的n-3 HUFA,尤其是EPA和DHA含量高于肝胰脏,因此有理由相信它们在中华绒螯蟹繁殖过程中起着非常重要的作用.用人工饵料投喂对中国对虾的研究表明,n-3 HUFA的水平与亲本的生殖性能有很大关系,其中EPA与产卵量有很大的关系,而DHA在胚胎发育早期和幼体孵化起着很大的作用.本实验结果可以推论,EPA和DHA对中华绒螯蟹的卵巢的发育和生殖性能具有相当重要的作用,其中EPA的作用更加明显.遗憾的是本实验没有得出非常明显的相关性结论.应该指出的是本实验所用的不同饵料,不但HUFA含量不同,而且在蛋白质、总脂和微量营养素(维他命、矿物质、胆固醇、磷脂、钙盐等)的组成上差异很大,因此不宜下确定的结论.     

Effects of the North Pacific Current on the productivity of 163 Pacific salmon stocks

Horizontal ocean transport can influence the dynamics of higher‐trophic‐level species in coastal ecosystems by altering either physical oceanographic conditions or the advection of food resources into coastal areas. In this study, we investigated whether variability in two North Pacific Current (NPC) indices was associated with changes in productivity of North American Pacific salmon stocks. Specifically, we used Bayesian hierarchical models to estimate the effects of the north‐south location of the NPC bifurcation (BI) and the NPC strength, indexed by the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation (NPGO), on the productivity of 163 pink, chum, and sockeye salmon stocks. We found that for salmon stocks located in Washington (WA) and British Columbia (BC), both the BI and NPGO had significant positive effects on productivity, indicating that a northward‐shifted bifurcation and a stronger NPC are associated with increased salmon productivity. For the WA and BC regions, the estimated NPGO effect was over two times larger than the BI effect for pink and chum salmon, whereas for sockeye salmon the BI effect was 2.4 times higher than the NPGO. In contrast to WA and BC stocks, we found weak effects of both horizontal ocean transport processes on the productivity of salmon stocks in Alaska. Our results indicated that horizontal transport pathways might strongly influence population dynamics of Pacific salmon in the southern part of their North American ranges, but not the northern part, suggesting that different environmental pathways may underlie changes in salmon productivity in northern and southern areas for the species under consideration.     

Effects of ontogeny, temperature, and light on vertical movements of larval Pacific cod (Gadus macrocephalus)

The role of behavior, especially vertical migration, is recognized as a critical component of realistic models of larval fish dispersion. Unfortunately, our understanding of these behaviors lags well behind our ability to construct three-dimensional flow-field models. Previous field studies of vertical behavior of larval Pacific cod ( Gadus macrocephalus ) were limited to small, preflexion stages (≤11 mm SL) in a narrow range of thermal conditions. To develop a more complete picture of larval behavior, we examined the effects of ontogeny, temperature, and light on vertical responses of larval Pacific cod in experimental columns. While eggs were strictly demersal, yolk-sac larvae displayed a strong surface orientation as early as 1 day post hatch (∼ 5 mm SL). Consistent with field observations, small preflexion larvae (<10 mm SL) showed no response to varying light levels. However, there was a direct effect of temperature on larval behavior: Pacific cod larvae exhibited a stronger surface orientation at 4°C than at 8°C. The behavior of larger, postflexion larvae (>15 mm SL) in experimental columns was consistent with a diel vertical migration and independent of water temperature: fish were more widely distributed in the column, and median positions were consistently deeper at higher light levels. These laboratory observations are combined with observations from discrete-depth (MOCNESS) sampling in the Gulf of Alaska to characterize the vertical distribution of larval Pacific cod and contrast ontogenetic patterns with walleye pollock ( Theragra chalcogramma ). The vertical movements of larval Pacific cod described here will be applied in the development of dispersal projections from Gulf of Alaska spawning grounds.     

Use of new soybean varieties in practical diets for the Pacific white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of eight sources (designated A–H) of soybean meal (SBM) which included six new non‐genetically modified soya varieties in practical feed formulation for Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, using both growth and digestibility trials. A soybean meal‐based reference diet was formulated using conventional soybean meal (527 g kg^?1 diet), which was then replaced on an isonitrogenous basis with various other experimental soybean meals. In a 6‐week growth trial, shrimp in four replicate tanks per dietary treatment (10 shrimp per tank, initial weight 0.52 ± 0.04 g) were cultured in a recirculating system. There were no significant differences with respects to per cent weight gain and survival across all dietary treatments; however, final weights and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were lower in shrimp offered diet 3. Apparent digestibility coefficients for the eight (A–H) different soybean meals were determined in L. vannamei for dry matter (ADMD), gross energy (ADE) and crude protein (ADP) using 10 g kg^?1 chromic oxide as inert marker with 70 : 30 replacement techniques. Coefficients ranged from 71.3% to 88.3%, from 76.6% to 91.3% and from 93.6% to 99.8%, for ADMD, ADE and ADP, respectively. Improved digestibility values were observed in soybean C which was characterized by crude protein (471 g kg^?1), crude fat (97 g kg^?1), low cooking temperature (180 °C), higher nitrogen solubility index (689 g kg^?1) and protein dispersibility index (619 g kg^?1). This indicates that new lines of soybean meal can be used to improve digestibility coefficients in shrimp feeds.     

An assessment of the use of remote sensing to map habitat features important to sustaining lamprey populations

• 1. This study describes the use of colour aerial photography and Airborne Thematic Mapper (ATM) multispectral imagery (420–1050 nm) to map gravel‐bed river habitats important to sustaining river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) — an aquatic species with high conservation interest in Europe. The accuracy of the remote sensing approach was assessed by comparing the output from automated mapping of physical habitat features using image analysis and GIS and habitat maps derived from field survey.
• 2. Unsupervised classification of the aerial photography and ATM imagery mapped hydraulic habitat such as pools and riffles with overall accuracies of 57% and 65.5% respectively. Submerged sand and silt deposits, which are important to river lamprey ammocoetes could not be identified on the imagery by simple unsupervised or supervised classification. They could be mapped indirectly, however, by association between their presence and morphological attributes such as backwaters and embayments in the bank profile detectable on the imagery. Remotely determining the likely presence and location of lamprey ammocoete habitat can be useful in planning detailed electrofishing campaigns to estimate lamprey densities, to assess conservation status and any change over time, and to determine the need for restoration strategies.
• 3. The results suggest that on rivers wider than 20 m without a continuous wooded riparian fringe, and where there is good quality imagery, it is possible to automate mapping of physical habitat features important to many river species with high nature conservation interest. As a result organizations charged with monitoring and conserving river species should consider investing in airborne imagery covering river systems of high conservation value.

Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.