Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rcrh6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-30T07:16:01.055Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Seasonal changes in fish assemblages in the River Minho tidal freshwater wetlands, NW of the Iberian Peninsula

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 June 2014

Micaela Mota ,
Ronaldo Sousa ,
Ana Bio ,
Jorge Araújo ,
Catarina Braga  and
Carlos Antunes
Micaela Mota*
Affiliation:
Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal
Ronaldo Sousa
Affiliation:
Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal CBMA – Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Ana Bio
Affiliation:
Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal
Jorge Araújo
Affiliation:
Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal
Catarina Braga
Affiliation:
Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal
Carlos Antunes
Affiliation:
Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research (CIIMAR/CIMAR), University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, P 4050-123 Porto, Portugal Aquamuseu do Rio Minho, Parque do Castelinho, 4920-290 Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal ESG – Gallaecia University School, Largo das Oliveiras, 4920-275 Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal
*
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

The ichthyofauna of the River Minho tidal freshwater wetlands (TFWs) was studied in a semi-enclosed area, between June 2007 and May 2010, to determine temporal patterns of abundance, biomass and species composition. Fish catches, standardized by the number of fyke nets and by the fishing effort, were analysed and related to river flow, water temperature and precipitation. In total, 21 fish species were identified including six non-indigenous species (NIS) which represented 15% of the total captures (yet 43% of the biomass). Regarding ecological guilds, 82% were freshwater species (61% of the biomass) which included all NIS, whereas 13% of the catches were catadromous species (31% biomass) corresponding to eels. Only 4% were estuarine species (1% biomass) and together marine estuarine opportunists and anadromous species accomplished 1% (2 and 6% biomass, respectively). The fish assemblage showed seasonal patterns with a clear distinction between autumn/winter and spring/summer periods. Significant differences in abundance and biomass were also detected between autumn/winter of 2007/2008 and 2008/2009, i.e., inter-annual variations, with the latter period with lower catches yet higher dominance of NIS. Besides, higher water temperature had a significant negative effect on the observed number of species, but a positive effect on the abundance and biomass of NIS. More attention has to be given to TFWs and their role in structuring fish assemblages, because this information is vital for a sound management, conservation and restoration of estuarine areas.

Keywords

abiotic factorsassemblageichthyofaunaMinho estuarynon-indigenous species
Type
Research Article
Information
Annales de Limnologie - International Journal of Limnology , Volume 50 , Issue 3 , 2014 , pp. 185 - 198
Copyright
© EDP Sciences, 2014

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Antunes, C., 1990. Abundância, distribuição sazonal e diversidade da fauna ictiológica do estuário do rio Minho (“Abundance, seasonal distribution and diversity of ichthyofauna in River Minho estuary” in Portuguese), Instituto Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Portugal, 90 p.Google Scholar
Antunes, C. and Rodrigues, H., 2004. Guia natural do Rio Minho – Os Peixes (“Natural guide of River Minho – fish”, in Portuguese), Aquamuseu do Rio Minho. Câmara Municipal de Vila Nova de Cerveira. Vila Nova de Cerveira, Portugal, 84 p.Google Scholar
Antunes, J.C. and Weber, M., 1990. A pesca profissional no estuário do rio Minho-resultados da pesca experimental (“The professional fisheries in River Minho estuary – experimental fisheries results” in Portuguese). Proceedings of the 1st Symposium on Protection and Revaluation of Minho – Liz section, 16–31.
Attrill, M.J., 2002. A testable linear model for diversity trends in estuaries. J Anim. Ecol., 71, 262–269.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Attrill, M.J. and Rundle, S.D., 2002. Ecotone or ecocline: ecological boundaries in estuaries. Estuar. Coast. Shelf S., 55, 929–936.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barendregt, A., Whigham, D. and Baldwin, A. (eds.), 2009. Tidal Freshwater Wetlands, Backhuys Publishers, Leiden, 320 p.Google Scholar
Batzer, D.P., Radar, R.B. and Wissinger, S.A., 1999. Invertebrates in Freshwater Wetlands of North America: Ecology and Management, John Wiley & Sons, USA.Google Scholar
Becker, R.A., Chambers, J.M. and Wilks, A.R., 1988. The New S Language. Wadsworth & Brooks/Cole (S version), Pacific Grove, CA, USA.Google Scholar
Buisson, L., Blanc, L. and Grenouillet, G., 2008. Modelling stream fish species distribution in a river network: the relative effects of temperature versus physical factors. Ecol. Freshw. Fish, 17, 244–257.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cigoña, E.F. and Ferreira, S.G., 1996. Peces desconocidos da Galicia, la lamprehuela ibérica Cobitis calderoni en las aguas del bajo Miño (“Unknown fish of Gallician, Iberian loach Cobitis calderoni in Miño estuary waters” in Spanish). Proceedings of the 1st Iberian Symposium of River Minho Hydrological Basin, Portugal, 65–71.
Clarke, K.R. and Warwick, R.M., 2001. Change in Marine Communities: an Approach to Statistical Analysis and Interpretation (2nd edn), PRIMER-E Ltd, Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Plymouth.Google Scholar
Cobo, F., Vieira-Laneiro, R. and Servia, M.J., 2010. Temporal trends in non-indigenous freshwater species records during the 20th century: a case study in the Iberian Peninsula. Biodivers. Conserv., 19, 3471–3487.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Costa-Dias, S., Freitas, V., Sousa, R. and Antunes, C., 2010. Factors influencing epibenthic assemblages in the Minho estuary (NW Iberian Peninsula). Mar. Pollut. Bull., 61, 240–246.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Doadrio, I., 2002. Atlas y Libro Rojo de los Peces Continentales de España (“Atlas and Red Book of Continental fish of Spain” in Spanish). Dirección General de Conservación de la Naturaleza/Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales-CSIC, Madrid, 364 p.Google Scholar
Doadrio, I., Perea, S., Garzón-Heydt, P., González, J.L., 2011. Ictiofauna Continental Española (“Spanish Continental Ichthyofauna” in Spanish), DG Medio Natural y Política Foresta. MARM, Madrid. ISBN:978-84-491-1158-7.Google Scholar
Elliott, M. and Dewailly, F., 1995. The structure and components of European estuarine fish assemblages. Neth. J. Aquat. Ecol., 29, 397–417.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Elliott, M. and Hemingway, K.L. (eds.), 2002. Fishes in Estuaries, Blackwell Science, Oxford, 636 p.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Elvira, B. and Almodóvar, A., 2001. Freshwater fish introductions in Spain: facts and figures at the beginning of the 21st century. J. Fish Biol., 59, 323–331.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Encina, L., Rodríguez, A. and Granado-Lorencio, C., 2006. The Iberian ichthyofauna: ecological contributions. Limnetica, 25(1–2), 349–368.Google Scholar
Ferreira, J.G., Simas, T., Nobre, A., Silva, M.C., Shifferegger, K. and Lencart-Silva, J., 2003. Identification of sensitive areas and vulnerable zones in transitional and coastal Portuguese systems. Application of the United States National Estuarine Eutrophication Assessment to the Minho, Lima, Douro, Ria de Aveiro, Mondego, Tagus, Sado, Mira, Ria Formosa and Guadiana systems. INAG/IMAR ISBN 972-9412-66-9.
Ferreira, M.T., Sousa, L., Santos, J.M., Reino, L., Oliveira, J., Almeida, P.R. and Cortes, R.V., 2007. Regional and local environmental correlates of native Iberian fish fauna. Ecol. Freshwat. Fish, 16, 504–514.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Field, J.G., Clarke, K.R. and Warwick, R.M., 1982. A practical strategy for analysing multispecies distribution patterns. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 8, 37–52.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
França, S., Costa, M.J. and Cabral, H.N., 2011. Inter- and intra-estuarine fish assemblage variability patterns along the Portuguese coast. Estuar. Coast. Shelf S., 91, 262–271.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hernando, J.A. and Soriguer, M.C., 1992. Biogeography of the freshwater fish of the Iberian Peninsula. Limnetica, 8, 243–253.Google Scholar
Humphries, P., Brown, P., Douglas, J., Pickworth, A., Strongman, R., Hall, K. and Serafini, L., 2008. Flow-related patterns in abundance and composition of the fish fauna of a degraded Australian lowland river. Freshwat. Biol., 53, 789–813.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kappel, C., 2005. Losing pieces of the puzzle: threats to marine, estuarine, and diadromous species. Front. Ecol. Environ., 3, 275–282.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kraus, R.T. and Jones, R.C., 2012. Fish abundances in shoreline habitats and submerged aquatic vegetation in a tidal freshwater embayment of the Potomac River. Environ. Monit. Assess., 184(5), 3341–3357.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leunda, P.M., 2010. Impacts of non-native fishes on Iberian freshwater ichthyofauna: current knowledge and gaps. Aquat. Invasions, 5(3), 239–262.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leunda, P.M., Elvira, B., Ribeiro, F., Miranda, R., Oscoz, J., Alves, M.J., Collares-Pereira, M.J., 2009. International standardization of common names for Iberian endemic freshwater fishes. Limnetica, 28, 189–202.Google Scholar
Little, C., 2000. The Biology of Soft Shores and Estuaries, Oxford University Press, New York.Google Scholar
Lotze, H., Lenihan, H., Bourque, B., Bradbury, R., Cooke, R., Kay, M., Kidwell, S., Kirby, M., Peterson, C. and Jackson, J., 2006. Depletion, degradation, and recovery potential of estuaries and coastal seas. Science, 312, 1806–1809.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Magalhães, M.F., Batalha, D.C. and Collares-Pereira, M.J., 2002. Gradients in stream fish assemblages across a Mediterranean landscape: contributions of environmental factors and spatial structure. Freshwat. Biol., 47, 1015–1031.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mota, M., Sousa, R., Araújo, J., Braga, C. and Antunes, C., 2014. Ecology and conservation of freshwater fish: time to act for a more effective management. Ecol. Freshwat. Fish, 23, 111–113.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oksanen, J., Blanchet, F.G., Kindt, R., Legendre, P., O'Hara, R.B., Simpson, G.L., Solymos, P., Stevens, M.H. and Wagner, H., 2010. Community Ecology Package. R package version 1, 17–4. WWW Page, http://CRAN.R-project.org/package=vegan.
R Development Core Team, 2009. R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing, R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria, WWW Page, http://www.R-project.org.
Roegner, G.C., Dawley, E.W., Russell, M., Whiting, A. and Teel, D.J., 2010. Juvenile salmonid use of reconnected tidal freshwater wetlands in Grays River, lower Columbia River basin. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc., 139, 1211–1232.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schuchardt, B., Haesloop, U. and Schirmer, M., 1993. The tidal freshwater reach of the Weser estuary: riverine or estuarine? Neth. J. Aquat. Ecol., 27, 215–226.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sousa, R., Dias, S., Guilhermino, L. and Antunes, C., 2008a. Minho River tidal freshwater wetlands: threats to faunal biodiversity. Aquat. Biol., 3, 237–250.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sousa, R., Dias, S., Freitas, V. and Antunes, C., 2008b. Subtidal macrozoobenthic assemblages along the River Minho estuarine gradient (north-west Iberian Peninsula). Aquat. Conserv., 18, 1063–1077.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sousa, R., Freitas, F., Nogueira, A.J.A., Mota, M. and Antunes, C., 2013. Invasive dynamics of the crayfish Procambarus clarkii (Girard, 1852) at the international section of the River Minho (NW of the Iberian Peninsula). Aquat. Conserv., 23, 656–666.Google Scholar
Thiel, R. and Potter, I.C., 2001. The ichthyofaunal composition of the Elbe estuary: an analysis in space and time. Mar. Biol., 138, 603–616.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vasconcelos, R.P., Reis-Santos, P., Fonseca, V., Maia, A., Ruano, M., França, S., Vinagre, C., Costa, M.J. and Cabral, H., 2007. Assessing anthropogenic pressures on estuarine fish nurseries along the Portuguese coast: a multi-metric index and conceptual approach. Sci. Total Environ., 374, 199–215.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ward, J.H., 1963. Hierarchical grouping to optimize an objective function. J. Am. Stat. Assoc., 58, 236–244.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Xunta de Galicia, , 1996. Inventario piscícola-1995: cuencas de los rios Mandeo, Eo, Arnoia, Tea, Lérez y Ulla (“Fish inventory – 1995: drainages of Rivers Mandeo, Eo, Arnoia, Tea, Lérez and Ulla” in Spanish). Centro de Investigacions Forestais, Lourizan, Pontevedra, 107 p.Google Scholar
Xunta de Galicia, , 2007. Plan de ordenacion dos recursos piscícolas (“Management plan of fish resources” in Spanish). Conselleria de Medio Ambiente e Desenvolvemento Sostible, Santiago de Compostela.Google Scholar