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Behavior and potential threats to survival of migrating lamprey ammocoetes and macrophthalmia

Moser, M.L.; Jackson, A.D.; Lucas, M.C.; Mueller, R.P.

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Authors

M.L. Moser

A.D. Jackson

R.P. Mueller



Abstract

Upon metamorphosis, anadromous juvenile lamprey (macrophthalmia) exhibit distinct migration behaviors that take them from larval rearing habitats in streams to the open ocean. While poorly studied, lamprey larvae (ammocoetes) also engage in downstream movement to some degree. Like migrating salmon smolts, lamprey macrophthalmia undergo behavioral changes associated with a highly synchronized metamorphosis. Unlike salmon smolts, the timing of juvenile migration in lamprey is protracted and poorly documented. Lamprey macrophthalmia and ammocoetes are not strong swimmers, attaining maximum individual speeds of less than 1 m s−1, and sustained speeds of less than 0.5 m s−1. They are chiefly nocturnal and distribute throughout the water column, but appear to concentrate near the bottom in the thalweg of deep rivers. At dams and irrigation diversions, macrophthalmia can become impinged on screens or entrained in irrigation canals, suffer increased predation, and experience physical injury that may result in direct or delayed mortality. The very structures designed to protect migrating juvenile salmonids can be harmful to juvenile lamprey. Yet at turbine intakes and spillways, lampreys, which have no swim bladder, can withstand changes in pressure and shear stress large enough to injure or kill most teleosts. Lamprey populations are in decline in many parts of the world, with some species designated as species of concern for conservation that merit legally mandated protections. Hence, provisions for safe passage of juvenile lamprey are being considered at dams and water diversions in North America and Europe.

Citation

Moser, M., Jackson, A., Lucas, M., & Mueller, R. (2014). Behavior and potential threats to survival of migrating lamprey ammocoetes and macrophthalmia. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 25(1), 103-116. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-014-9372-8

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 2, 2014
Online Publication Date Sep 10, 2014
Publication Date Mar 1, 2014
Deposit Date Jan 12, 2015
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries
Print ISSN 0960-3166
Electronic ISSN 1573-5184
Publisher Springer
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 25
Issue 1
Pages 103-116
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s11160-014-9372-8

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