Fishes in MZNA-VERT: interactions between signal crayfish and fish communities. PhD project, Iván Vedia

Study Extent

The specimens were captured in 42 localities dispersed through 21 rivers of Navarra in the year 2013.

Sampling

The main sampling method was electric fishing, using a back-pack electrofishing unit during 30 minutes. 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 I. Vedia.

Quality Control

Species identification was performed by R. Miranda and I. Vedia 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.

All specimens were identified to the species level using the Guide to Freshwater Fish of Britain and Europe (Maitland P. S. & Linsell K., 1977). Seven 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 Nemacheilidae (Barbatula quignardi). In number of individuals, the most abundant family is Cyprinidae, with the 74% of the captures. Moreover, five species recorded in this dataset are endemic from the Iberian Peninsula one of them (Barbus haasi) is Vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List.

1. Barbus haasi
   common name: Iberian redfin barbel rank: species
2. Barbatula quignardi
   common name: Pyrenean stone loach rank: species
3. Luciobarbus graellsii
   common name: Ebro barbel rank: species
4. Gobio lozanoi
   common name: Pyrenean gudgeon rank: species
5. Parachondrostoma miegii
   common name: Ebro nase rank: species
6. Phoxinus bigerri
   common name: Pyrenean minnow rank: species
7. Salmo trutta
   common name: Brown trout rank: species

All specimens were collected in 20 rivers of the Ebro basin in the north of Navarra: Arakil, Arañosil, Areta, Arga, Basaburua, Ega, Esca, Erro, Irati, Larraun, Legartza, Lizarrusti, Mediano, Orokieta, Salazar, Sorogain, Ubagua, Ultzama, Urederra, Urrobi and Zatoia