Population trends and current status of the endangered Pyrenean sculpin <i>Cottus hispaniolensis</i> in the Spanish part of the Garonne drainage

Rocaspana, Rafel; Aparicio, Enric

doi:10.1051/kmae/2017017

Cited by 2 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Sculpin are important mid‐level consumers linking benthic and water‐column portions of aquatic food webs by serving as both predators of benthic organisms and prey to higher trophic levels (Bailey, 1952; Meredith et al, 2015; Tabor et al, 2004); however, there is a paucity of information describing sculpin life history, demography and basic ecology in many systems (Adams & Schmetterling, 2007; Higens & Scarnecchia, 2022). Fishes of the genus Cottus are widely distributed across the northern hemisphere, and where present, often dominate the density and biomass of fish assemblages (Bellmore et al, 2013; Freeman et al, 1988; Rocaspana & Aparicio, 2017). Freshwater sculpin can be highly territorial as adults, tend to occupy small home ranges (Petty & Grossman, 2007), but also are capable of more extensive movements (Breen et al, 2009; Wells et al, 2017).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Density‐dependent processes and population dynamics of native sculpin in a mountain river

Pennock

Thiede

Budy

2023

Ecology of Freshwater Fish

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Understanding the processes governing population dynamics is important for effective conservation and environmental management. Disentangling the relative role of density‐dependent versus density‐independent processes on population dynamics is often made difficult by the inability to control for abiotic or biotic factors, but long‐term datasets are invaluable in this pursuit. We used a 14‐year dataset from the Logan River, Utah, to assess long‐term trends in abundance and evidence of density‐dependent and density‐independent effects on population dynamics of Paiute sculpin (Cottus beldingii) across six sites. Additionally, we evaluated the feeding ecology of sculpin over 4 years. Sculpin densities generally increased from upstream to downstream, and the annual per capita rate of increase was negatively and significantly correlated with sculpin density at four of six sites. We observed a negative relationship between total gut content and sculpin density but did not observe a negative relationship between relative condition and density. Sculpin displayed a generalist feeding strategy, and interannual differences in diet composition appeared to be influenced by interannual differences in flow, particularly years with higher magnitude flow. The observed spatial patterns in sculpin abundance throughout the watershed matched those of invasive brown trout (Salmo trutta), the top piscivore in the Logan River, and likely represent affinities for the suite of ecological conditions associated with downstream sections of the Logan River. Our results suggest that sculpin populations are regulated largely by density‐dependent processes and match those from other studies on sculpin population dynamics including a range of species and habitats that differ vastly in abiotic conditions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Density‐dependent processes and population dynamics of native sculpin in a mountain river

Pennock

Thiede

Budy

2023

Ecology of Freshwater Fish

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“…This study focuses on the Pyrenean sculpin (Cottus hispaniolensis Bacescu-Mester, 1964), a small cottid (up to 100-150 mm, total length) 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]. This species shows a discontinuous presence along its distribution range [17], with an apparent (but unknown) degree of isolation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the summer of 2013, there was a devastating flood in the Garona River-caused by heavy rainfall and a big fast snow melt-with an estimated return period (RP) of 30-50 years [22][23][24]. Changes in the river course and the subsequent arrangement by the machinery led the Pyrenean sculpin populations to a limit situation: only 16 individuals were captured during several samplings along most of the Spanish distribution area in 2014 [17].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…They have been sampling the population of the Pyrenean sculpin since 2001, in different points all along the Spanish part of the Garona and its tributaries, in order to determine its size, density and trends. Further actions need to be implemented-such as genetic studies [17]. Knaepkens et al [25] have suggested that in-situ actions are required to increase the population size and range of endangered populations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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First Captive Breeding Program for the Endangered Pyrenean Sculpin (Cottus hispaniolensis Bacescu-Master, 1964)

Manubens¹,

Comas²,

Valls³

et al. 2020

Water

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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.

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Population trends and current status of the endangered Pyrenean sculpin Cottus hispaniolensis in the Spanish part of the Garonne drainage

Cited by 2 publications

References 9 publications

Density‐dependent processes and population dynamics of native sculpin in a mountain river

Density‐dependent processes and population dynamics of native sculpin in a mountain river

First Captive Breeding Program for the Endangered Pyrenean Sculpin (Cottus hispaniolensis Bacescu-Master, 1964)

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