The Effects of DAM Removal on River Colonization by Sea Lamprey Petromyzon Marinus: The Effects of DAM Removal on River Colonization by Sea Lamprey Petromyzon Marinus

ISI Document Delivery No.: CQ7FV Times Cited: 0 Cited Reference Count: 61 Cited References: Horreo Jose L., 2011, FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, V56, P2567 Lasne, E. Sabatie, M. -R. Jeannot, N. Cucherousset, J. ONEMA/Institut National De La Recherche Agronomique/Observatoire de Recherche en Environnement grant in the Unite Mixte de Recherche (UMR) Ecologie et Sante des Ecosystemes [A4-1]; Ministry for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy in the UMR Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystemes Aquatiques; 'European Reintegration Grant Marie Curie' grant in the lab Laboratoire Evolution and Diversite Biologique part of the Laboratoire d'Excellence [PERG08-GA-2010-276969, ANR-10-LABX-41] We are very grateful to all the people that participated to data collection especially Camille Saget (habitat data). EL was supported by a 2008-2009 ONEMA/Institut National De La Recherche Agronomique/Observatoire de Recherche en Environnement grant (sheet A4-1) in the Unite Mixte de Recherche (UMR) Ecologie et Sante des Ecosystemes and a Ministry for Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy grant (Programme de connaissances Natura 2000 en mer) in the UMR Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystemes Aquatiques. JC was supported by a 'European Reintegration Grant Marie Curie' grant (PERG08-GA-2010-276969) in the lab Laboratoire Evolution and Diversite Biologique, part of the Laboratoire d'Excellence entitled TULIP (ANR-10-LABX-41). The authors also thank Cedric Tentelier and three anonymous referees who provided valuable comments an earlier version of the manuscript. Wiley-blackwellInternational audienceHabitat fragmentation is an important cause of biodiversity loss in freshwater systems, as worldwide rivers have been fragmented by dams and other hydraulic structures. To restore freshwater fish populations, some barriers have been removed, but the long-term ecological effects of this removal have been rarely quantified. In the present study, we quantified the effects of barrier removal on river colonization by anadromous sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) by analyzing the spatial distribution and nest density in a small coastal river (France) from 1994 to 2011. Our results demonstrated the benefit of dam removal within few years after restoration. Indeed, the spatial distribution of nests shifted significantly upstream and was more uniform throughout the river after removal. Our results also suggest that the spatial patterns of habitat colonization were affected by the density of nests, river flow and connectivity. Finally, although the number of nests was significantly higher after removal, it was not possible to clearly identify the contribution of intrinsic versus external factors involved in this pattern. Further investigations are therefore needed to quantify the potential subsequent effects on juvenile recruitment and the overall population dynamics. Copyright (c) 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd