Abstract
The strong decline of freshwater fish species in Europe implies that further ex-situ conservation plans should be implemented in the near future. The present study reflects our experience with the Pyrenean sculpin (Cottus hispaniolensis Bacescu-Mester, 1964)—a small cottid endemic to the Hispano-French Garona River basin. In recent years, the Spanish Pyrenean sculpin population has reached a limit situation. Because of that, the non-profit association ADEFFA—with support from the public administration—started the first captive breeding program for this species in 2006. Fourteen years later, this study presents the results and evaluates the different steps of the program, with the aim of discussing and improving the ex-situ conservation plans for this and other cold freshwater species. There is a description and a comparison between six consecutive phases during the captive breeding process: nesting behaviour, courtship, egg fixation, parental care (incubation), hatching and survival during juvenile development. The purposes of this project are to: (1) identify the most determining phases for a successful captive breeding; (2) identify the factors that had a major influence to the success of the critical phases; and (3) increase the number of the offspring. This study is based on thirty-three wild individuals collected from Garona River (Val d’Aran, Spanish Pyrenees). During the program, twelve couples spawned in captive conditions, with around 2300 eggs laid. Eight couples bred successfully, with 751 hatched individuals and 608 juveniles reared. The analysis of each step of the captive breeding does not reveal significant differences between phases, so it can be concluded that they are all critical at the same level. In the literature, similar study-cases of captive breeding programs identify incubation and survival phases as the most critical. Consequently, the management made for this project has probably allowed to overcome in part the main impediments described in other similar programs.
Highlights
Freshwater ecosystems are some of the most threatened ones in the world
The Iberian Peninsula is experiencing a critical conservation status of its ichthyofauna, with 52% of species catalogued as critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable, according to the IUCN criteria. This condition is related to a high degree of endemism and a long history of human impact in these areas [2,3]
This study focuses on the Pyrenean sculpin (Cottus hispaniolensis Bacescu-Mester, 1964), a small cottid endemic to the Hispano-French Garona River basin and restricted to the southern part of the drainage—in the central part of the Pyrenean mountain range [4,5]
Summary
Freshwater ecosystems are some of the most threatened ones in the world. Over 37% of European freshwater fishes are threatened—which is one of the highest threat levels in any major taxonomic group [1]. The Iberian Peninsula is experiencing a critical conservation status of its ichthyofauna, with 52% of species catalogued as critically endangered, endangered or vulnerable, according to the IUCN criteria. This condition is related to a high degree of endemism (among native species, 65% are endemic to the Iberian Peninsula) and a long history of human impact in these areas [2,3]. In Europe freshwater species of the genus Cottus (family Cottidae, order Scorpaeniformes) are found in a variety of cold-water habitats such as well-oxygenated headwaters, lakes and channels. They are generally nocturnal and feed on wide variety of benthic invertebrates. Males guard the eggs until hatching, while they do not feed and may lose 20% of their body weight [4,5,6]
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