Migration of Freshwater Fishes - by Martyn Lucas & Etienne Baras (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Recent studies have increasingly demonstrated the widespread existence of spatio-temporal variations in the abundance and distribution of species of freshwater fishes, previously assumed not to move between habitats. These movements are often on a seasonal or ontogenetic basis, for spawning, feeding and refuge, and in many cases are fundamental for the successful completion of lifecycles.

This important book provides a single source for a range of previously widely dispersed information on these movements of fish in fresh waters, covering potamodromous fishes as well as the more familiar diadromous species, worldwide. Contents include full descriptions of types of migration and spatial behaviour, the stimulus and capacity for fish to migrate, the effects of climate on patterns of migratory behaviour, a taxonomic analysis (mostly by family) of freshwater fish migration, methods for studying migration, and details of the impacts of man's activities on freshwater fish migration.

Migration of Freshwater Fishes provides an excellent and comprehensive reference to which the river manager, biologist or student can now refer to obtain information, advice and current opinion on the migratory behaviour of most taxonomic groups of fishes occurring in fresh water. University libraries and aquatic research stations should also have copies of this essential reference book on their shelves.

• Well-known international authors.
• Of great commercial importance to fisheries and professional angling bodies.
• Draws together much new information in one place.
• Detailed review of world wide migratory behaviour for most groups of freshwater fishes.
• Pure and applied relevance, for academics, fisheries scientists, river managers and conservationists.
• This comprehensive book includes 67 tables and figures and over 1,400 references.

From the Back Cover

Many fish species that occur in fresh water make journeys between habitats in response to seasonal changes, reproductive patterns, feeding needs and so on. Many workers are familiar with the migrations made by salmon and anguillid eels for example, but may be less so with many other freshwater species. This new title redresses this balance by providing comprehensive information on the nature and extent of migration by freshwater fishes, including diadromous species, world-wide.

Covering topics such as the incidence and types of migration exhibited by freshwater fishes, the capacity and stimulus to migrate, the methods used to study the spatial behaviour of freshwater fishes, and applied issues of freshwater fish migration, this important book will be invaluable for a wide range of fish biologists and fisheries managers.

Review Quotes

"...a source of detailed information on freshwater fish migrations, particularly given its taxonomic and geographical breadth, this volume will prove to be exceedingly valuable." (American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists)

"This is an excellent, well researched and presented text that provides solid information on a subject of increasing importance to our knowledge of fish populations in freshwater systems." (Fish)

"Many know about salmon, but few know as much about freshwater fish movements as is contained in this volume. Therein lies its value." (Fish and Fisheries)

"This text is almost certainly the most comprehensive and up-to-date one there is on the subject of freshwater fish migration and it is bound to become the standard reference work for many years." (Fisheries Research)

About the Author

Martyn Lucas is at the Department of Biological Sciences, University of Durham, UK, Etienne Baras is a research associate of the Belgian FNRS at the Department of Ethology and Animal Psychology (Tihange Aquaculture Research Station) at the University of Liege, Belgium.