Anthropogenic barriers to longitudinal river connectivity in Greece: A review

New boundaries: Redefining the geographical range of a threatened fish through environmental DNA survey

“…Although these small streams may not be threatened by large‐scale water development, such as hydropower (Freyhof et al, 2020), they are threatened by further water abstraction works (for irrigation and potable water) and the effects of multiple stressors such as combined climatic, meteorological, and direct localized human‐induced pressures (such as increasing longitudinal fragmentation by barriers). Because of the longitudinal fragmentation and poorly charted artificial barrier problems (Panagiotou et al, 2021) it is not possible to apply species distribution modeling or other spatial statistics tools to ascertain or explore the localized distribution of each population per drainage basin. The exact distributional and population data for each drainage is an imperative for conservation planning.…”

“…The hotspot and important areas inventory and assessment will assist in the designation of new protected areas or support special care where water management and other water‐centered development actions are being planned. A complete mapping of barbel distribution will assist plans to restore longitudinal connectivity, since many areas have small artificial barriers (Panagiotou et al, 2021).…”

A history of Greek inland fishery development during 1928–2019

“…Construction of large hydropower plants during the 1950s-1970s also contributed to increased fisheries catches (unpublished data), through repeated stockings. Although some artificial lakes benefited commercial and recreational inland fisheries (e.g., in Lakes Plastira and Polyfytos), construction of dams negatively impacted not only on anadromous species (Panagiotou et al, 2021), but also most native species due to altered flow, thermal and chemical regimes, and sedimentation (Olden, 2016). The invigorating post-war period for inland fisheries catches reversed abruptly after 1988.…”