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Assessing population status of Parachondrostoma arrigonis (Steindachner, 1866), threats and conservation perspectives

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Abstract

Biodiversity is currently declining in the Mediterranean, particularly in freshwater ecosystems. The Iberian Peninsula is not an exception with many fish species threatened or endangered. This is the case of Parachondrostoma arrigonis, which has experienced a marked reduction of more than 80 % in both number and area of occupancy in the last 20 years. Species historical records showed a widespread distribution in the Júcar Basin, but according to recent records, P. arrigonis was completely absent in the main river course, being restricted to only some tributaries. Current fish distribution was grouped into only seven fish population nuclei geographically isolated among them. Only two population nuclei showed with well-developed fish populations. Factors affecting P. arrigonis distribution are associated to human activities, such as river channelization, flow regulation, pollution and habitat degradation, being concentrated in the middle and lower river reaches where the Júcar nase is in marked regression. Another key factor was the presence of introduced species, reporting a strong spatial segregation with the translocated Pseudochondrostoma polylepis, an ecologically similar species, and with the exotic piscivorous Micropterus salmoides and Esox lucius, which are currently occupying most of the P. arrigonis historical range. Because its dramatic situation, conservation measures must be urgently taken, for instance, by establishing conservation areas, an exotic fish removal programme, and by developing a flow regulation program to minimize dam effects. However it is necessary to increase our knowledge regarding the habitat requirements of the Júcar nase and its interactions with invasive species. If measures are not implemented its extinction seems inevitable.

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Acknowledgements

Financial support was provided by the Spanish Ministry of Environment (MMA) through the project CGL2010-231BOS. CA held a postdoctoral contract (DOC-INIA programme) granted by the Spanish National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA), Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness; and GCC held a doctoral fellowship (BR2010/10) from the University of Girona during preparation of the manuscript. We want to thank José Velázquez Cano and Jesús Hernández Núñez de Arenas (Biodiversity Service from the Consellería de Medio Ambiente, Generalitat Valenciana), and Elisabeth Fernández, (URS, United Research Services) for field assistance. Specials thanks are also due to CHJ for data provided. All appropriate ethics and permissions required for the realization of this manuscript were obtained, previously, by the authors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IRTA Aquatic Ecosystems, Carretera Poble Nou Km 5.5, 43540, Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Catalonia, Spain

    Carles Alcaraz

  2. Institute of Aquatic Ecology, University of Girona, 17071, Girona, Catalonia, Spain

    Carles Alcaraz, Gerard Carmona-Catot & Enric Aparicio

  3. Centro de Investigación Piscícola de El Palmar. Conselleria de Infraestructuras, Territorio y Medio Ambiente, Generalitat Valenciana, 46011, Valencia, Spain

    Pilar Risueño

  4. Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain

    Silvia Perea & Ignacio Doadrio

  5. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Ambientales, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Castilla León, Spain

    Cristina Pérez

Authors
  1. Carles Alcaraz
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  2. Gerard Carmona-Catot
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  3. Pilar Risueño
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  4. Silvia Perea
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  6. Ignacio Doadrio
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  7. Enric Aparicio
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Correspondence to Carles Alcaraz.

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Alcaraz, C., Carmona-Catot, G., Risueño, P. et al. Assessing population status of Parachondrostoma arrigonis (Steindachner, 1866), threats and conservation perspectives. Environ Biol Fish 98, 443–455 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-014-0274-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-014-0274-3

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