Decline of Native Freshwater Fishes in a Mediterranean Watershed on the Iberian Peninsula: A Quantitative Assessment

Aparicio, Enric; Vargas, Maria Josep; Olmo, Josep Maria; Sostoa, Adolfo de

doi:10.1023/a:1007618517557

Cited by 111 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…Nevertheless, the species studied have life-history traits adapted to unstable environments: both achieve sexual maturity in few years (Casals i Martí, 2006) and might be able to recover rapidly from disturbance Falke, Fausch, Bestgen, & Bailey, 2010;Labbe & Fausch, 2000;Magalhães, Schlosser, & Collares-Pereira, 2003;Schlosser, 1990), as long as it is not protracted for too many years (Magalhães et al, 2007). Therefore, controlling excessive water diversion is a critical requirement for fish conservation in the Tordera basin, as well as in many other Mediterranean streams and rivers (Aparicio et al, 2000;Changeux & Pont, 1995;Xenopoulos et al, 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water diversion reduces abundance and survival of two Mediterranean cyprinids

Merciai

Bailey

Bestgen

et al. 2017

Ecology of Freshwater Fish

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Water flow is a fundamental characteristic required for the ecological integrity of stream ecosystems. However, populations of many freshwater fishes in the Mediterranean region are threatened by man-induced drought due to water diversion.Mark-recapture methodology is an effective tool for estimating fish abundance and survival probability, but it has been seldom used with Mediterranean freshwater fish.We tagged over 2,400 individuals of two threatened cyprinids (Mediterranean barbel Barbus meridionalis and Catalan chub Squalius laietanus) inhabiting an Iberian streamaffected by water diversion, and used mark-recapture methods to evaluate the effects of flow, temperature and depth on their apparent survival and abundance at hydrologically altered and perennial reaches. Based on estimates over the summer drying season, survival of Mediterranean barbel was more than six times higher in an upstream reach with permanent flow than a middle reach impacted by water diversion.Water depth was the most important habitat feature accounting for differences in survival, with both barbel and chub exhibiting higher survival and abundance at permanent sites farther downstream where flow had been restored and in an unaltered tributary. Our results show clear negative impacts of water diversion on fish populations. Both species, but particularly barbel, have life-cycle characteristics that may allow populations to recover quickly if natural streamflow was restored by conserving water and reducing water diversion. K E Y W O R D SBarbus meridionalis, Cyprinidae, hydrologic alteration, mark-recapture study, population density, Squalius laietanus

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water diversion reduces abundance and survival of two Mediterranean cyprinids

Merciai

Bailey

Bestgen

et al. 2017

Ecology of Freshwater Fish

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“…It has been suggested that B . meridionalis is relatively tolerant to organic pollution [ 26 ] and, globally speaking, more tolerant to pollution than other cyprinid species [ 26 – 28 ]. It was hypothesized that fish previously exposed to ammonia in the wild should have a higher tolerance to this compound than fish coming from unpolluted waters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving water quality does not guarantee fish health: Effects of ammonia pollution on the behaviour of wild-caught pre-exposed fish

et al. 2021

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Ammonia is a pollutant frequently found in aquatic ecosystems. In fish, ammonia can cause physical damage, alter its behaviour, and even cause death. Exposure to ammonia also increases fish physiological stress, which can be measured through biomarkers. In this study, we analysed the effect of sublethal ammonia concentrations on the behaviour and the oxidative stress of Barbus meridionalis that had been pre-exposed to this compound in the wild. Wild-caught fish from a polluted site (pre-exposed fish) and from an unpolluted site (non-pre-exposed fish) were exposed, under experimental conditions, to total ammonia concentrations (TAN) of 0, 1, 5, and 8 mg/L. Swimming activity, feeding behaviour, and oxidative stress response based on biomarkers were analysed. Pre-exposed fish showed both an altered behaviour and an altered oxidative stress response in the control treatment (0 mg/L). Differences in swimming activity were also found as pre-exposed fish swam less. Lower feeding activity (voracity and satiety) and altered response to oxidative stress were also observed at ≥ 1 mg/L TAN. Biomarker results confirmed pre-exposed fish suffer from a reduction in their antioxidant defences and, hence, showed increased oxidative tissue damage. In summary, pre-exposed fish showed more sensitivity to ammonia exposure than fish from a pristine site.

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“…In this study, biomarkers included lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which is involved in anaerobic metabolism [22]; glutathione S -transferase, a xenobiotic that metabolizes II enzyme response [23]; glutathione (GSH) levels, which aid maintenance of the cell redox equilibrium as well as being a powerful antioxidant [24]; catalase (CAT EC 1.11.1.6—reduces H 2 O 2 to water) an antioxidant enzyme involved in detoxifying reactive oxygen species and markers of oxidative tissue damage such as lipid peroxidation [25]. It has been suggested that B. meridionalis is relatively tolerant to organic pollution [26] and, globally speaking, more tolerant to pollution than other cyprinid species [26–28]. It was hypothesized that fish previously exposed to ammonia in the wild should have a higher tolerance to this compound than fish coming from unpolluted waters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Improving water quality does not guarantee fish health: effects of ammonia pollution on the behaviour of wild-caught pre-exposed fish

Soler

Faria

Barata

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Ammonia is a pollutant frequently found in aquatic ecosystems. In fish, ammonia can cause physical damage, alter its behaviour and even cause death. Exposure to ammonia also increases fish physiological stress, which can be measured through biomarkers. In this study, we analysed the effect of sublethal ammonia concentrations on the behaviour and the oxidative stress of Barbus meridionalis that had been pre-exposed to this compound in the wild. Wild-caught fish from a polluted site (pre-exposed fish) and from an unpolluted site (non-pre-exposed fish) were exposed, under experimental conditions, to total ammonia concentrations (TAN) of 0, 1, 5 and 8 mg/L. Swimming activity, feeding behaviour and oxidative stress response based on biomarkers were analysed. Pre-exposed fish showed both an altered behaviour and an altered oxidative stress response in the control treatment (0 mg/L). Differences in swimming activity were also found as pre-exposed fish swam less. Lower feeding activity (voracity and satiety) and altered response to oxidative stress were also observed at ≥ 1 mg/L TAN. Biomarker results confirmed pre-exposed fish suffer from a reduction in their antioxidant defences and, hence, showed increased oxidative tissue damage. In summary, pre-exposed fish showed more sensitivity to ammonia exposure than fish from a pristine site.

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Decline of Native Freshwater Fishes in a Mediterranean Watershed on the Iberian Peninsula: A Quantitative Assessment

Cited by 111 publications

References 25 publications

Water diversion reduces abundance and survival of two Mediterranean cyprinids

Water diversion reduces abundance and survival of two Mediterranean cyprinids

Improving water quality does not guarantee fish health: Effects of ammonia pollution on the behaviour of wild-caught pre-exposed fish

Improving water quality does not guarantee fish health: effects of ammonia pollution on the behaviour of wild-caught pre-exposed fish

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