Effects of turbidity on the migration of juvenile banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus) in a natural stream

Abstract

Laboratory experiments have shown that the juvenile migratory stage of banded kokopu (Galaxias fasciatus (Gray 1842)) is more sensitive to turbidity than other native fish species and avoids turbidity levels of>25 nephelometric turbidity units (NTU). Field trials using juvenile fish collected from the Tarawera River and Hays Stream, New Zealand, were used to test the results from these laboratory experiments by measuring the effects of turbidity on the migration direction and rate for banded kokopu in a natural stream setting. In the stream setting, neither the migration rate nor the migration direction were affected at turbidity <25 NTU. At higher turbidity levels, significantly fewer fish migrated up stream within a given time period. Because there was rarely any downstream movement, this suggests the fish either halted or slowed their upstream movement. A slower rate of migration could result in fewer juveniles reaching adult habitat, and would account for the reduced abundance of adult banded kokopu in rivers that are turbid during the migration season. Achieving turbidity levels of <25 NTU in rivers and streams during the migration season would therefore help maintain upstream migrations and populations of banded kokopu, and hence other native fish species.