Swimming performance and ecomorphology of the Iberian barbel Luciobarbus bocagei (Steindachner, 1864) on permanent and temporary rivers

Abstract

Spatial variability in streamflow characteristics is responsible for a large range of habitat variations to which fish are adapted through life-cycle strategies and morphological adaptations. In this study, we compared the swimming performance and related morphology of two Iberian barbel populations from permanent and temporary rivers. The permanent river was characterised by its Atlantic influence with higher water availability and a more unstable and turbulent environment, contrasting with the lower discharge setting observed in the southern Mediterranean ecosystem during most of the hydrological year. Barbels from the permanent river exhibited a higher critical swimming speed (U crit ) associated with a more fusiform body shape, narrower head and caudal peduncle, lower body condition and longer and higher pectoral and dorsal fins, when compared with the population from the temporary watercourse. These results reflect a morphological response in a way to reduce hydrodynamic resistance and energy expenditure during locomotion that we hypothesise here to be related with the different hydrological regimes of the studied systems.

Differences in swimming performance and energetic costs between an endangered native toothcarp (Aphanius iberus) and an invasive mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki)

“…In fact, there is a close link between habitat characteristics (e.g. water flow) and swimming performance of a fish (Alexandre, Quintella, Ferreira, Romão, & Almeida, 2014;Langerhans, 2009;Oufiero & Whitlow, 2016).…”

The relationship between cranial morphology, bite performance, diet and habitat in a radiation of dwarf chameleon (Bradypodion)

“…Morphological and behavioural traits are shown to co-vary with environmental features in a wide array of species (Schluter & D, 2000;Dumont et al, 2009;Losos & Mahler, 2010;Alexandre et al, 2014). In lizards, because the head is involved in many ecologically and socially relevant activities (i.e.…”

Effects of flow regulation on the movement patterns and habitat use of a potamodromous cyprinid species

“…Barbel were chosen for this study because of (i) relatively large dimensions of the individuals, allowing individual tagging with electronic devices with a battery large enough to cover a 1-year cycle, (ii) large distribution area, allowing a broad application of the study output and (iii) they are potamodromous individuals that perform migrations for reproduction and feeding purposes and are, for that reason, more exposed to habitat alterations. This species has received some attention in recent years, mainly through studies on its aerobic swimming capacity (Mateus et al, 2008;Alexandre et al, 2014) and behaviour (e.g. Silva et al, 2011;Alexandre et al, 2013b), but specific research about cyprinids response to short-term flow regulation still remains scarce (e.g.…”