Response of Fish Communities to Hydrological and Morphological Alterations in Hydropeaking Rivers of Austria

摘要: Climate change asks for the reduction in consumption of fossil-based fuels and an increased share non-regulated renewable energy sources, such as solar wind power. In order to back up a larger these intermittent ‘battery services’ are needed, currently provided only large scale by hydropower, leading more rapid frequent changes flows (hydropeaking) downstream rivers. Increased knowledge about ecosystem response operations design cost-effective measures is needed. We analysed fish communities hydropeaking (frequency, magnitude, ramping rate timing) interaction with habitat conditions Austrian An index biotic integrity (Fish Index Austria) was used compare river sections varying degrees flow fluctuations under near-natural channelized conditions. The results showed that conditions, peak frequency (number peaks per year), (water level variation) between explained most variation Fish Austria. addition, peaking during night seems harm than day. hyporhithral epipotamal types rivers affected those metarhithral type support findings other studies stranding caused rates >15 cm h−1 likely be main cause community degradation when occurring often 20 times year. While ecological status degrades increasing nature-like rivers, heavily degraded regardless rate. mitigation hydropeaking, therefore, requires integrative approach considering combined effects hydrological morphological alterations on fish. © 2014 Authors. River Research Applications published John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.