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Does fragmented river connectivity alter the reproductive behavior of the potamodromous fish Alburnus vistonicus?

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Abstract

Blocked riverine spawning migration routes constitute one of the main threats of potamodromous fish that require well-connected habitats of high quality to maintain their unique life-history form. Alburnus vistonicus, a potamodromous species inhabiting the Vistonis freshwater system in northern Greece, manages to cope with wide salinity fluctuations in Vistonis Lake, but the impact of the fragmented connectivity of the lake’s two main freshwater suppliers, Kosynthos and Kompsatos rivers, has not been assessed. We analyzed the species whole reproductive cycle and we divided it into phases. Cyclicity was observed in gonadosomatic index and oocyte diameter, while total fecundity remained constant prior to the onset of the spawning season. Stomach fullness and condition factor differed among the surveyed habitats. Successful spawning and multiple spawning were verified, as well as spawning migration and potamodromy. However, mature females with markers of recent spawning activity were captured also in the lake, suggesting spawning occurrence in the lake or a previously undocumented oscillatory behavior between the lake and the rivers during the spawning season and between sequential spawning events. Either behavior may serve as a mechanism to overcome the restricted spawning migration routes due to the fragmented river connectivity.

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The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Management Body of the Delta Nestos and Lakes Vistonida – Ismarida for providing all the necessary permissions for fish sampling and their technical and financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloníki, Greece

    Foivos Alexandros Mouchlianitis, Dimitra Bobori, Efpraxia Kritikaki & Kostas Ganias

  2. Department of Organismal Biology, Comparative Physiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

    Emmanouil Tsakoumis

  3. Fisheries Research Institute, Ellinikos Georgikos Organismos DIMITRA, Nea Peramos, Kavála, Greece

    Argyris Sapounidis

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  1. Foivos Alexandros Mouchlianitis
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  2. Dimitra Bobori
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Mouchlianitis, F.A., Bobori, D., Tsakoumis, E. et al. Does fragmented river connectivity alter the reproductive behavior of the potamodromous fish Alburnus vistonicus?. Hydrobiologia 848, 4029–4044 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-021-04621-x

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