This study examined the effects of finfish length and behavior on passage success on the wetted ramp, a proposed passage device for finfishes at low-head aquatic barriers. There were two hypotheses: there is a size effect to passage success because larger fish have relatively less propulsive surface area in partial submersion, and fish respond to changes in ramp angle of inclination during a passage attempt. Creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) and white sucker (Catostomus commersonii) were observed, using a high speed camera, as they attempted to scale the wetted ramp. Smaller fish traveled farther and were also able to accelerate on the ramp despite entering at lower velocities. Larger fish had relatively greater head and tail amplitudes and greater body bending during strokes, suggesting the use of a less efficient swimming mode. Finfish as a group did not respond behaviorally to a change in ramp angle of inclination. The wetted ramp appears to be a size selective passage device, suggesting its use at low-head obstructions to service smaller-bodied finfishes.
","abstract_html":"<p>This study examined the effects of finfish length and behavior on passage success on the wetted ramp, a proposed passage device for finfishes at low-head aquatic barriers. There were two hypotheses: there is a size effect to passage success because larger fish have relatively less propulsive surface area in partial submersion, and fish respond to changes in ramp angle of inclination during a passage attempt. Creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) and white sucker (Catostomus commersonii) were observed, using a high speed camera, as they attempted to scale the wetted ramp. Smaller fish traveled farther and were also able to accelerate on the ramp despite entering at lower velocities. Larger fish had relatively greater head and tail amplitudes and greater body bending during strokes, suggesting the use of a less efficient swimming mode. Finfish as a group did not respond behaviorally to a change in ramp angle of inclination. The wetted ramp appears to be a size selective passage device, suggesting its use at low-head obstructions to service smaller-bodied finfishes.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Kivari, Levi"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Open Access Thesis","degree_discipline":"Biology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Ulrich Reinhardt","Steven Francoeur","Peter Bednekoff"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2016,"date_issued":"2016-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2016-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:17:27Z","subjects":["Behavior","Finfish","Fisheries","Fishway","Migration","Swimming Mechanics","Biology","Life Sciences"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://commons.emich.edu/theses/833","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Ulrich Reinhardt","Steven Francoeur","Peter Bednekoff"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Kivari, Levi"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2018-03-14T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Biology"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Open Access Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Behavior","Finfish","Fisheries","Fishway","Migration","Swimming Mechanics","Biology","Life Sciences"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/833"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This study examined the effects of finfish length and behavior on passage success on the wetted ramp, a proposed passage device for finfishes at low-head aquatic barriers. There were two hypotheses: there is a size effect to passage success because larger fish have relatively less propulsive surface area in partial submersion, and fish respond to changes in ramp angle of inclination during a passage attempt. Creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) and white sucker (Catostomus commersonii) were observed, using a high speed camera, as they attempted to scale the wetted ramp. Smaller fish traveled farther and were also able to accelerate on the ramp despite entering at lower velocities. Larger fish had relatively greater head and tail amplitudes and greater body bending during strokes, suggesting the use of a less efficient swimming mode. Finfish as a group did not respond behaviorally to a change in ramp angle of inclination. The wetted ramp appears to be a size selective passage device, suggesting its use at low-head obstructions to service smaller-bodied finfishes.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["The wetted ramp as a useful tool to service smaller-bodied finfishes at low-head acquatic barriers"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Ulrich Reinhardt","Steven Francoeur","Peter Bednekoff"],"dc:creator":["Kivari, Levi"],"dc:date.available":["2018-03-14T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["This study examined the effects of finfish length and behavior on passage success on the wetted ramp, a proposed passage device for finfishes at low-head aquatic barriers. There were two hypotheses: there is a size effect to passage success because larger fish have relatively less propulsive surface area in partial submersion, and fish respond to changes in ramp angle of inclination during a passage attempt. Creek chub (Semotilus atromaculatus) and white sucker (Catostomus commersonii) were observed, using a high speed camera, as they attempted to scale the wetted ramp. Smaller fish traveled farther and were also able to accelerate on the ramp despite entering at lower velocities. Larger fish had relatively greater head and tail amplitudes and greater body bending during strokes, suggesting the use of a less efficient swimming mode. Finfish as a group did not respond behaviorally to a change in ramp angle of inclination. The wetted ramp appears to be a size selective passage device, suggesting its use at low-head obstructions to service smaller-bodied finfishes.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://commons.emich.edu/theses/833"],"dc:subject":["Behavior","Finfish","Fisheries","Fishway","Migration","Swimming Mechanics","Biology","Life Sciences"],"dc:title":["The wetted ramp as a useful tool to service smaller-bodied finfishes at low-head acquatic barriers"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Biology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Open Access Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:17:27Z"}