Fishes in MZNA-VERT: cyprinid and salmonid communities in the rivers Erro and Urederra (Spain). PhD project, Cristina García-Fresca

Study Extent

The specimens were captured in five localities dispersed through the Erro River (Sorogain, Villaveta, Larraingoa, Urricelqui and Lizoain) and eight localities of the Urederra River (Artavia, Baquedano, Estella, Eulz, Galdeano, Itxako, Artaza and Zudaire) in the years 1994, 1995 and 1997.

Sampling

The main sampling method was electric fishing, using a back-pack electrofishing unit. The method used was three-run depletion between two stop-nets. The captured individuals were sedated with 2-phenoxyethanol, identified, counted and measured (total length in mm). Then, fishes were returned to the river. Some specimens were euthanized, studied on the laboratory and deposited on the Museum of Zoology of the University of Navarra (MZNA, Pamplona, Spain).

Quality Control

Species identification was performed by R. Miranda and C. García-Fresca using suitable literature (Maitland & Linsell 1977) and scientific names were validated using the W. N. Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes (Eschmeyer 2014). Specimens were returned to the river or deposited in the Museum of Zoology of the University of Navarra. Each specimen was labelled with a unique collection number. Darwin test software (v3.3 Ortega-Maqueda and Pando 2008) was used to check out possible mistakes in the coordinates, characters and the format of dates.

Method steps

1. Specimens were sampled following the procedure described in the Sampling description section. The individuals were identified, measured and released in the majority of cases. In some cases the specimens were euthanized and deposited on the Museum of Zoology of the University of Navarra in labelled jars, preserved first with formalin and, more recently, with 70% ethyl alcohol. Field data was revised, digitalised and incorporated to the MZNA database (Zootron v4.5, Ariño 1991). The dataset was exported to DarwinCore v1.4 format and revised to correct errors to adequate it to DarwinCore standars. Metadata information was added and the Darwin Core Archive was incorporated to the Spanish GBIF IPT.

All specimens were identified to the species level using the Guide to Freshwater Fish of Britain and Europe (Maitland P. S. & Linsell K., 1977). Ten species were recorded, five belonging to the Cyprinidae family: Barbus haasi, Gobio lozanoi, Luciobarbus graellsii, Parachondrostoma miegii and Phoxinus bigerri. The rest of the collected species belong to the families Salmonidae (Salmo trutta and Oncorhynchus mykiss, this one is an invasive species), Nemacheilidae (Barbatula quignardi) and Cobitidae (Cobitis calderoni). One specimen of the critically endangered Anguilla anguilla (Anguillidae) was found. In number of individuals, the most abundant family is Cyprinidae, with the 65% of the captures. Moreover, six species recorded in this dataset are endemic from the Iberian Peninsula.

1. Anguilla anguilla
   common name: Eel rank: species
2. Cobitis calderoni
   common name: Northern Iberian spined-loach rank: species
3. Barbus haasi
   common name: Iberian redfin barbel rank: species
4. Gobio lozanoi
   common name: Pyrenean gudgeon rank: species
5. Luciobarbus graellsii
   common name: Ebro barbel rank: species
6. Parachondrostoma miegii
   common name: Ebro nase rank: species
7. Phoxinus bigerri
   common name: Pyrenean minnow rank: species
8. Barbatula quignardi
   common name: Pyrenean stone loach rank: species
9. Oncorhynchus mykiss
   common name: Rainbow trout rank: species
10. Salmo trutta
    common name: Brown trout rank: species

All specimens were collected in the Erro and Urederra Rivers, in the north of Spain. Both rivers are tributary of Arga river and, later, of Ebro river that flows into the Mediterranean sea.