Since 1968, year of the May Revolution in France, UNESCO realised that a rapid separation was developing between the human race and nature, especially in big cities. This resulted in the development of numerous Environmental Education Programmes for children. Tench fishfarms are a particularly good tool for educating children in the structure and function of freshwater ecosystems. The 'Vegas del Guadiana' fish farm (Badajoz, Spain) Environmental Education Programme, is included in the Transborder Environmental Education Programme and in INTERREG II, an European Community Initiative whose objective is to promote cross-border, international and interregional co-operation to encourage balanced development in Europe. Preliminary results have been evaluated and presented in the present work. The analysis of the efficiency of the programme was measured in children from ages 6 to 12. The results showed no significant differences among sex (t-Student=0.07, p=0.9470) nor social surroundings (t-Student=0.87, p=0.3910) but there were significant differences when comparing different ages (ANOVA, p=0.0437). In all cases, a significant increase in the knowledge and concern about the freshwater environment was found in children (Paired t-Student=)10.55, p=0.0001).
Light intensity preferences of Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) were evaluated in an indoor fiber glass trough, consisting of five equal length (4 m) zones with light intensities varying from dark to 1,000 lux (L), situated at the 'Las Vegas del Guadiana' fish farm in Extremadura (Spain). Four trials were performed, with different light zones set in three at sections of the trough, and the fourth providing a control with one light density (300 L) throughout the trough. Whereas the highest intensity (1,000 L) was preferred in trials 1 and 2, the dimmest condition (D) was favored in trial 3. Crayfish showed a strong preference to both outside ends of the trough, and the ''end effect'' of the trough on position of the crayfish was found to be stronger than the impact of light intensity.
Summary
The substrate preference of tench Tinca tinca (L.), 33 2‐year‐old individuals, mean size 10 ± 0.36 cm total length, was determined using four different substrates (concrete, artificial vegetation, sand and mud) in a 26 m long maquette. The species showed a high preference (100%) for the mud. Six more trials were performed combining the substrates by pairs (concrete–vegetation, concrete–mud, concrete–sand, mud–vegetation, mud–sand, sand–vegetation). Selection order was: mud (100% of the individuals when compared with concrete and sand and 98.26 ± 2.68% when compared with artificial vegetation), artificial vegetation (100% of the individuals when compared with concrete and 99.81 ± 0.76% when compared with sand), sand (98.29 ± 3.66% when compared with concrete) and concrete.
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