How do Different Types of River Maintenance Works Affect the Ichthyofauna of Small European Watercourses?

Abstract

Abstract Watercourses serve the needs of agriculture in certain sections and are subject to strong anthropopressure. When agriculture prevails in the catchment, it often has abundant vegetation, macrophytes in particular, and the bottom is covered by a substantial layer of silt. In order to ensure patency of flow and access to water, small watercourses are very often subject to river maintenance works. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of 3 types of works on the diversity of fish species and density of fish in the 1 and 2 year after the works at 21 sites located on 8 rivers in the European Central Plains Ecoregion. As a result of the works, especially in the 1 year after the works, significant changes were found in hydrochemical and hydrological parameters, especially with the increase in velocity and mean depth in watercourses. Additionally, habitat change contributed to differences in the composition of the ichthyofaunal. After 1 year, the diversity of fish species and fish population density increased or remained unchanged after dredging and removal of plants from the river channel, but they decreased after the removal of macrophytes from river banks. After year 2, a decrease in the diversity of fish species and density was observed, associated with re-infestation and siltation of the watercourses. Particularly in the case of dredging and removal of macrophytes from the river bank, maintenance works should not be done too frequently, because some species of natural value disappear.