Conservation of Diadromous and Estuarine Fishes

Presentation on theme: "Conservation of Diadromous and Estuarine Fishes"— Presentation transcript:

1 Conservation of Diadromous and Estuarine Fishes
José Lino Costa Lisbon, 7 July 2010

2 INTRODUCTION Catadromous Fishes Diadromous Fishes Anadromous Fishes

3 INTRODUCTION Estuarine Fishes Resident Fishes
Fishes using estuaries as nursery areas Marine and freshwater fishes

4 INTRODUCTION Portuguese Estuaries Shape & Biogeography
TEJO MIRA ... and Global Changes

5 INTRODUCTION Major Constraints to Diadromous and Estuarine Fishes Conservation Construction of dams and weirs; Fisheries; Pollution; Harbour activities; Habitat reclamation; Lack ok knowledge and habitat protection.

6 Development of a multimetric conservation index for estuarine fishes
OBJECTIVES Development of a multimetric conservation index for estuarine fishes Complements the Portuguese Red Book of Vertebrates; Increases the perception of biological information by decision makers; Useful tool for conservation programs, water use planning and management, environmental impact assessment and monitoring studies. Paulo Branco

7 METHODOLOGY Truly estuarine fishes Metrics 16 systems;
Species inventory for each Portuguese estuary; Selection of species occurring in 50% or more of the northern or southern estuaries groups; Additional selection of important species in terms of conservation or functioning of a specific system. Metrics For the adult phase; Ranging from 0 to 10; Inventory of potential metrics; Data collection; Metrics selection and definition of respective classes; External validation.

8 METHODOLOGY Metrics Fenology (FEN) Resident 10 Nursery + Diadromous 5
Marine

9 METHODOLOGY Metrics Fenology (FEN) Resident 10 Nursery + Diadromous 5
Marine Regional Distribution (RD) Southern limit of distribution 10 Northern limit of distribution Wide distribution

10 METHODOLOGY Metrics Fenology (FEN) Resident 10 Nursery + Diadromous 5
Marine Regional Distribution (RD) Southern distribution limit 10 Northern distribution limit Widespread Local Distribution (LD) Restricted 10 Predominantly northern Predominantly southern Widespread

11 METHODOLOGY Metrics Intra-estuarine Distribution (IED)
Mainly at seagrass beds Mainly at middle and/or upper estuary 5 Mainly at the estuary mouth or all the estuary 0

12 METHODOLOGY Metrics Intra-estuarine Distribution (IED)
Mainly at seagrass beds Mainly at middle and/or upper estuary 5 Mainly at the estuary mouth or all the estuary 0 Trophic Ecology (TE) Parasite + piscivore Piscivore and invertivore Invertivore Invertivore and herbivore Herbivore Plankton feeders + detritic feeders

13 METHODOLOGY Metrics Maximum Size (MS) >100 cm 10 71 – 100 cm 8

14 METHODOLOGY Metrics Maximum Size (MS) >100 cm 10 71 – 100 cm 8
Age at First Maturation (Mat) > 10 years 10 9 – 10 years 8 6 – 8 years 6 3 – 5 years 4 1 – 2 years 2 < 1 year

15 METHODOLOGY Metrics Reproduction Strategy Reproductive Guild (RG)
Internal transportation Parental protection Benthic eggs (sticky/shells)/nesting 2 Pelagic spawner Spawning Frequency (SF) Smelparous Iteroparous 0

16 METHODOLOGY Metrics Population Trend (TN) Decreasing 10
Unknown but possibly decreasing Unknown Unknown but possibly stable or increasing 3 Increasing or stable

17 METHODOLOGY Metrics Population Trend (TN) Decreasing 10
Unknown but possibly decreasing Unknown Unknown but possibly stable or increasing 3 Increasing or stable Taxonomic Relevance (TAX) Sole family representative in Portuguese estuaries 10 Sole genus representative in Portuguese estuaries 5 Multi-specific genus in Portuguese estuaries

18 RESULTS 72 species analysed; Chosen metrics not highly correlated;
Only 5 values, from the 792, were classified as unknown.

19 RESULTS COPIEF – Conservation Priority Index for Estuarine Fish
Species with the highest scores # Species FEN RD LD IED TE TM Mat RG SF TN TAX COPIEF 1 Salmo salar Linnaeus, 1758 5 10 8 6 2 7.1 Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758) 6.3 3 Lampetra fluviatilis (Linnaeus, 1758) 4 5.7 Petromyzon marinus Linnaeus, 1758 7 Argyrosomus regius (Asso, 1801) 5.6 Conger conger (Linnaeus, 1758) 5.5 Raja undulata Lacepède, 1802 Salmo trutta Linnaeus, 1758 5.4 9 Gasterosteus aculeatus (Linnaeus, 1758) 5.1 Alosa alosa (Linnaeus, 1758) 4.9 Ciliata mustela (Linnaeus, 1758)

20 RESULTS Species with the lowest scores Species
# Species FEN RD LD IED TE TM Mat RG SF TN TAX COPIEF 61 Liza saliens (Risso, 1810) 5 4 2.3 62 Diplodus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758) 2 7 2.2 63 Arnoglossus laterna (Walbaum, 1792) 8 2.1 Arnoglossus thori Kyle, 1913 Echiichthys vipera (Cuvier, 1829) 10 Solea lascaris (Risso, 1810) 6 67 Liza aurata (Risso, 1810) 2.0 Liza ramado (Risso, 1826) 69 Diplodus annularis (Linnaeus, 1758) 1.9 70 Diplodus vulgaris (E.G. S.-Hilaire, 1817) 1.7 71 Sardina pilchardus (Walbaum, 1792) 1.3 72 Atherina presbyter Cuvier, 1820 0.9 72 Atherina presbyter Cuvier, 1820 2 5 0.9

21 RESULTS Validation - Specialists (r=0.49, p<0.001)
- Acipenser sturio (COPIEF: 7.4)

22 CONCLUSIONS COPIEF First multimetric index for estuarine fish conservation; New perspective for fish conservation; Definition of areas of higher ecological sensibility and prioritary conservation; Useful tool for conservation programs, environmental impact assessment and monitoring studies; Adaptable to other countries or geographic zones; Useful methodology for creation of a regional or European index.