Fishes in MZNA-VERT: foraging ecology of the kingfisher. PhD project, Antonio Vilches

Study Extent

Different localities of six rivers of the Ebro basin were selected to study the diet of the kingfisher: Arakil, Areta, Arga, Erro, Larraun and Ultzama rivers. The sampling points were located in areas of humid, atlantic clime with mediterranean influence. The samplings took place from 2007 to 2010.

Sampling

The sampling was performed using a back-pack electrofishing unit Hans Grassl model IG200/2D. The sampling effort was 30 min in all the cases. The captured individuals were sedated with 2-phenoxyethanol, identified, counted and measured (total length in mm). Then, fishes were returned to the river. Species identification was performed by R. Miranda and A. Vilches using suitable literature.

Quality Control

Species identification was performed by R. Miranda and A. Vilches 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. 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 individuales were identified, measured and released. 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.

In total 22002 specimens belonging to 17 species were collected and identified. The 95% of the captures belong to the family Cyprinidae. Six invasive species were found: Alburnus alburnus, Ameiurus melas, Carassius auratus, Cyprinus carpio, Micropterus salmoides and Scardinius erythrophthalmus. Moreover, eight of the captured species are endemic and half of them are endangered in some degree: Achondrostoma arcasii (Vulnerable A3ce), Barbatula quignardi, Barbus haasi (Vulnerable A2ce+3ce), Cobitis calderoni (Endangered A2ace+3ce), Cobitis paludica (Vulnerable A2ce+3ce), Gobio lozanoi, Luciobarbus graellsii and Parachondrostoma miegii. Moreover, the native species Anguilla anguilla is critically endangered according to the IUCN.

1. Anguilla anguilla
   common name: Eel rank: species
2. Micropterus salmoides
   common name: Largemouth black-bass rank: species
3. Cobitis calderoni
   common name: Northern Iberian spined- loach rank: species
4. Cobitis paludica
   common name: Southern Iberian spined-loach rank: species
5. Achondrostoma arcasii
   common name: Bermejuela rank: species
6. Alburnus alburnus
   common name: Bleak rank: species
7. Barbus haasi
   common name: Iberian redfin barbel rank: species
8. Carassius auratus
   common name: Goldfish rank: species
9. Cyprinus carpio
   common name: Carp rank: species
10. Gobio lozanoi
    common name: Pyrenean gudgeon rank: species
11. Luciobarbus graellsii
    common name: Ebro barbel rank: species
12. Parachondrostoma miegii
    common name: Ebro nase rank: species
13. Phoxinus bigerri
    common name: Pyrenean minnow rank: species
14. Scardinius erythrophthalmus
    common name: Rudd rank: species
15. Ameiurus melas
    common name: Catfish rank: species
16. Barbatula quignardi
    common name: Pyrenean stone loach rank: species
17. Salmo trutta
    common name: Brown trout rank: species

Eight rivers of the Ebro basin (north of Spain) were selected to perform this PhD project, covering 126.7 km: Arakil, Areta, Arga, Erro, Larraun and Ultzama rivers.