Monday March 17, 2025
Earth.com —
Brown trout have long been considered vulnerable to beaver dams, which have traditionally been seen as obstacles to fish migration.
A new study refutes this idea, revealing that these resourceful fish can actually make their way through such obstacles in certain conditions.
Dams often trap fish in low water levels, preventing or delaying access to key spawning grounds. Researchers warn that global warming, with its extended periods of dryness, could intensify these issues in the future.
In the current study, researchers studied trout movement in two Scottish streams – one modified by four beaver dams and the other unaltered.
Using telemetry technology, they tracked how the fish responded to these natural barriers during the critical spawning season from October to December.