Fishes in MZNA-VERT: freshwater populations in the Erro river (Spain). PhD Project, Pedro Leunda.

Study Extent

The specimens were captured in 17 localities dispersed through the Erro River in the years 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2005.

Sampling

The main sampling method was electric fishing, using a back-pack electrofishing unit (ACUITEC, 300-600 V, 0.2-2 A). The method used was three-run depletion between two stop-nets. The captured individuals were sedated with 2-phenoxyethanol, identified, counted and measured (total length in mm). Then, fishes were returned to the river. Species identification was performed by P. Leunda and R. Miranda.

Quality Control

Species identification was performed by R. Miranda and P. Leunda using suitable literature (Maitland & Linsell 1977) and scientific names were validated using the W. N. Eschmeyer’s Catalog of Fishes (Eschmeyer 2014). Specimens were returned to the river or deposited in the Zoological Museum of the University of Navarra. Each specimen was labelled with a unique collection number. Darwin test software (v3.3 Ortega-Maqueda and Pando 2008) was used to check out possible mistakes in the coordinates, characters and the format of dates.

Method steps

1. Specimens were sampled following the procedure described in the Sampling description section. The individuales were identified, measured and. Field data was revised, digitalised and incorporated to the MZNA database (Zootron v4.5, Ariño 1991). The dataset was exported to DarwinCore v1.4 format and revised to correct errors to adequate it to DarwinCore standars. Metadata information was added and the Darwin Core Archive was incorporated to the Spanish GBIF IPT.

All specimens were identified to the species level using the Guide to Freshwater Fish of Britain and Europe (Maitland P. S. & Linsell K., 1977). Eight species were recorded with 5 belonging to the Cyprinidae family (Barbus haasi, Gobio lozanoi, Luciobarbus graellsii, Parachondrostoma miegii and Phoxinus bigerri). The rest of the collected species belong to the families Salmonidae (Salmo trutta), Nemacheilidae (Barbatula quignardi) and Cobitidae (Cobitis calderoni). In number of individuals, the most abundant family is Cyprinidae as well, with the 87% of the captures. Moreover, six species recorded in this dataset are endemic from the Iberian Peninsula.

1. Cobitis calderoni
   common name: Northern Iberian spined-loach rank: species
2. Barbus haasi
   common name: Iberian redfin barbel rank: species
3. Gobio lozanoi
   common name: Pyrenean gudgeon rank: species
4. Luciobarbus graellsii
   common name: Ebro barbel rank: species
5. Parachondrostoma miegii
   common name: Ebro nase rank: species
6. Phoxinus bigerri
   common name: Pyrenean minnow rank: species
7. Barbatula quignardi
   common name: Pyrenean stone loach rank: species
8. Salmo trutta
   common name: Brown trout rank: species

All specimens were collected in the Erro River (Ebro basin, Spain).