Fishes in MZNA-VERT: distribution of freshwater blenny in the Segre and Susia rivers (Spain)

Study Extent

The specimens were captured in two localities of the Segre river (Gualter and Ponts) and two in the Susia river (near Grado dam and Javierre) in the years, 2003, 2005 and 2006.

Sampling

The main sampling method was electric fishing, using a back-pack electrofishing unit. The captured individuals were sedated with 2-phenoxyethanol, identified, counted and measured (total length in mm). Then, fishes were returned to the river. Invasive species were euthanized, studied on the laboratory and deposited on the Zoological Museum of the University of Navarra (MZNA, Pamplona, Spain).

Quality Control

Species identification was performed by R. Miranda 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 with formalin and later in 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). Sixteen species were recorded, nine of the Cyprinidae family. The rest of the collected species belong to the families Salmonidae, Nemacheilidae, Cobitidae, Percidae, Centrarchidae, Bleniidae and Anguillidae. The 59% of the captures belong to the Cyprinidae family. Moreover, five species recorded in this dataset are endemic from the Iberian Peninsula and five are introduced.

1. Anguilla anguilla
   common name: Eel rank: species
2. Salaria fluviatilis
   common name: River blenny rank: species
3. Alburnus alburnus
   common name: Bleak rank: species
4. Barbus haasi
   common name: Iberian redfin barbel rank: species
5. Cyprinus carpio
   common name: Carp rank: species
6. Gobio lozanoi
   common name: Pyrenean gudgeon rank: species
7. Luciobarbus graellsii
   common name: Ebro barbel rank: species
8. Parachondrostoma miegii
   common name: Ebro nase rank: species
9. Phoxinus bigerri
   common name: Pyrenean minnow rank: species
10. Rutilus rutilus
    common name: Roach rank: species
11. Squalius laietanus
    common name: Ebro chub rank: species
12. Sander lucioperca
    common name: Pikeperch rank: species
13. Salmo trutta
    common name: Brown trout rank: species
14. Oncorhynchus mykiss
    common name: Rainbow trout rank: species

All specimens were collected in the Segre river in Ponts and downstream of the Rialb dam (Gualter, Spain) and the Susia river upstream the El Grado dam. Both rivers, Segre and Susia, are tributaries of the Ebro river and finally flow into the Mediterranean sea.