ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Rheotrauma

Okay kiddo, have you ever been in a river or a stream and felt the water pushing on you really hard? Well, imagine if you were a fish swimming in that river or stream all day, every day. That's kind of what rheotrauma is all about.

See, when fish swim in fast-moving water all the time, it can cause them to get hurt. The water pushes against them so hard that it can damage their bodies and make it harder for them to swim properly.

And it's not just the fast water that can hurt fish - sometimes dams or other structures in the river can create strong currents or whirlpools that are really tough for fish to swim through. This can cause even more damage to their bodies.

Rheotrauma is a big problem for fish populations, because it can make it harder for them to reproduce and survive. That's why scientists and conservationists are working to find ways to protect fish from rheotrauma and keep their habitats healthy and safe.