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The seaward migration of European eel at a continental scale: A Europe‐wide biotelemetry meta‐analysis
Verhelst, P.; Righton, D.; Aarestrup, K.; Almeida, P.R.; Bašic, T.; Bolland, J.D.; Carter, L.; Coeck, J.; Costa, J.L.; Dainys, J.; Davidsen, J.G.; Domingos, I.; Dorow, M.; Feunteun, E.; Frankowski, J.; Griffioen, A.B.; Monteiro, R.M.; Moore, A.; Oldoni, D.; Piper, A.T.; Quintella, B.; Reeds, J.; Trancart, T.; Verschelde, P.; Winter, H.V.; Reubens, J. (2025). The seaward migration of European eel at a continental scale: A Europe‐wide biotelemetry meta‐analysis. Fish Fish. Early view: 1-18. https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/faf.12904
In: Fish and Fisheries. Blackwell Science: Oxford. ISSN 1467-2960; e-ISSN 1467-2979
Peer reviewed article  
Available in  Authors 
    Vlaams Instituut voor de Zee: Open access 413774 [ download pdf ]
Keywords
    Diadromy
    Measurement > Telemetry > Acoustic telemetry
    Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758) [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    European Tracking Network | migration barriers | migratory state identification
Authors  Top 
  • Verhelst, P.
  • Righton, D.
  • Aarestrup, K.
  • Almeida, P.R.
  • Bašic, T.
  • Bolland, J.D.
  • Carter, L.
  • Coeck, J.
  • Costa, J.L.
  • Dainys, J.
  • Davidsen, J.G.
  • Domingos, I.
  • Dorow, M.
  • Feunteun, E.
  • Frankowski, J.
  • Griffioen, A.B.
  • Monteiro, R.M.
  • Moore, A.
  • Oldoni, D.
  • Piper, A.T.
  • Quintella, B.
  • Reeds, J.
  • Trancart, T.
  • Verschelde, P.
  • Winter, H.V.
  • Reubens, J.
Abstract
    The European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) has a catadromous life cycle, with a single panmictic population that colonises continental Europe and northern Africa yet migrates 5000 to 9000 km to spawn in the Atlantic Ocean. It is unknown how this continental migration is organised so individual eels arrive in time for spawning with conspecifics. This meta-analysis combined tracking data from 18 water bodies in freshwater and transitional systems distributed along the southwest-northeast axis of Europe, resulting in a dataset of 2306 eels, making it the most comprehensive in terms of geographical coverage and number of eels tagged. The eels were tracked using acoustic telemetry and the Nedap Trail System and allowed us to study the eel's migration phenology at a continental scale. The findings reveal that the day when eels arrive at sea varies significantly with latitude, with northern eels arriving earlier. Migration speed differs between tidal and non-tidal habitats, suggesting that tidal currents facilitate faster movement. However, despite these patterns, we observed substantial variability in arrival at sea time and migration speed within water bodies, suggesting that the eel's migration phenology is considerably plastic. The presence of water regulating structures such as weirs, pumping stations and hydropower plants can impact migration timing and speed, potentially delaying eels, but is likely dependent on local hydrological conditions which can be water body specific.
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