Conservation of Endangered Freshwater Fish in Europe

339 Pages·1996·12.19 MB·English

by  A. Lelek (auth.), Dr. A. Kirchhofer, Dr. D. Hefti (eds.)

ALB
Advanoes in Life Soienoes
Conservation of
Endangered Freshwater
Fish in Europe
Edited by
A. Kirohhofer
D.Hefti
Birkhauser Verlag
Basel· Boston· Berlin
Editors
Dr.A. Kirchhofer Dr. D. Hefti
Institute of Zoology Federal Office of Environment,
University ofB ern Forests and Landecape (FOEFL)
Baltzerstr.3 HaJlwylBtr.4
CH-30l2Bern CH-3003Bern
Switzerland. Switzerland
The book has been kindly sponsored by: Swiss Academy of Sciences (BAS); Swiss Society of
Hydrology and Limnology (SSHL); Federal Office of Environment, Forest and Landecape
(FOEFL); Institute of Zoology, University of Bern; Lotteriefonde des Kantons Bern; Swiss
Fishery Assoc1a.tion (Schweiz. Fischereiverband, SFV); Swiss League for Nature Protection;
and the Gauma.nn Foundation of the Fischereiverein Aaretal.
Library of Congress ca.taloging-in-Publication-Data
CODServation of eJ1ClaJlCered freshwater fish in lIurope I edited by
A. Kirchhofer, D. Hefti.
p. em. - - (Advances in life sciences)
Includes bibliographical references
ISBN-13:978-3- 0348-9867-6 (a.Ik. paper). - - e-ISBN-13:978-3-0348-9014-4 (alk. paper)
1. Rare f1shes- - Europe. 2. Freshwater f1shes- - Europe. 3. Fishery
conservation - - Europe. I. Kirchhofer, A. (Arthur), 1963-
II. Hefti, D. (Daniel), 1968- . III. Series.
QL617.73.E86C66 1996
697'.0629'094- -dc20
Deutsche Bibliothek Cataloging-in-Publication Data
CODServation of enclaDgeredfreshwater fish in l!Iurope 1 ed. by
A. Kirchhofer; D. Hefti. - Basel; Boston; Berlin: Birkhii.user, 1996
(Advances in life sciences)
ISBN-13:978-3- 0348-9867-6
NE: Kirchhofer, Arthur [Brsg.]
ISBN-13:978-3- 0348-9867-6 e-ISBN-13:978-3-0348-9014-4
001: 10.1007/978-3-0348-9014-4
The publisher and editor can give no guarantee for the information on drug dosage and
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© 1996 Birkhii.user Verlag, PO Box 133, CH-4010 Basel, Switzerland
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1s t edition 1996
Printed on acid-free paper produced from chlorine-free pulp. TCF co
Cover illustration: B. Gysin
987664321
Contents
Introductiou . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IX
General considerations regarding the decline of species
A. Lelek .................................................. 1
Red lists
Threatened freshwater fishes of Great Britain
P.S. Maitland and A.A. Lyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Scottish natural heritage and fish conservation in Scotland
K.E. Sweetman, P.S. Maitland andA.A. Lyle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Endangered freshwater fish in Ireland
D. T. G. Quigley and K. Flannery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Endangered freshwater fish: The situation in France
P. Keith and J. Allardi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . 35
Endangered freshwater fish of Spain
B. Elvira .................................................. 55
The Red Data List of the freshwater lampreys (Cyclostomata) and fishes (Pisces)
of Slovenia
M. Povi .................................................. 63
Threatened freshwater fish in Hungary
K. Keresztessy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Vanishing freshwater fish species of Slovakia
J. HolCik . . . • . . • • . • • . • • • • . • • • . . . . • . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
The status of the fish fauna in the Czech Republic
S. Lusk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . 89
Endangered fishes of the River Morava (Czech Republic)
P. Jurajda and M. Penaz ........................................ 99
Species cooservatiou: Ecology, taxonomy and genetics
Long-term changes in the fish community of Neusiedler See (Burgenland, Austria)
E. Mikschi, G. Wolfram and A. Wais ................................ 111
Natural regeneration of endangered fish populations in the Pilica drainage basin
after reducing human impacts
T. Penczak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 121
VI
Fish conservation in Switzerland - three case-studies
A. Kirchhofer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 135
The decline of the European sturgeon Acipenser sturio in the Baltic and North Sea
L. Debus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 147
Occurrence and distribution of twaite shad (Alosa fallax Lacepede) in the lower
Elbe River, Germany
R. Thiel, A. Sepulveda and S. Oesrnann .............................. 157
Rehabilitation of salmon (Salrno salar L.) in Denmark; state, objectives and methods
P. Geertz-Hansen and J. J¢rgensen ................................. 171
The role of natural and artificial propagation on the genetic diversity of brown trout
(Salrno trutta L.) of the upper RhOne drainage
C.R. Largiader, A. Scholl and R. Guyornard ...................... . . . .. 181
Cellulose acetate electrophoresis for screening transferrin polymorphism in brown
trout (Salrno trutta L.) populations
C. R. Largiader and A. Scholl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 199
Decline and conservation of migrating brown trout (Salrno trutta f lacustris L.)
of Lake Constance
C. Ruhle .................................................. 203
The conservation ecology of Coregonus albula and C. lavaretus in England
and Wales, UK
1.J. Winfield, D. Cragg-Hine, J.M. Fletcher and P.R. Cubby ................. 213
Gonadal abnormalities in Coregonus peled Gmel. x Coregonus lavaretus L. hybrids,
introduced into natural waters
K. Dernska-Zakes andA. Marncarz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 225
Threatened populations and conservation of the European grayling,
Thyrnallus thyrnallus (L., 1758)
H. Persat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 233
Reproduction and habitat preference of the threatened spirlin (Alburnoides
bipunctatus Bloch) and soufie (Leuciscus souffia Risso) under laboratory conditions
(Teleostei: Cyprinidae)
R. Bless . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 249
Distribution of YaY-barbel Barbus barbus (L.) in the River SiegiGermany
J. Freyhof ................................................. 259
Drift, habitat choice and growth of the nase (Chondrostorna nasus, Cyprinidae)
during early life stages
K. Hofer and A. Kirchhofer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 269
Chondrostoma nasus - its reproduction strategy and possible reasons for a widely
observed population decline - a review
M. Pefuiz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 279
VII
Contribution to the knowledge of the distribution and spawning grounds of
Chondrostoma nasus and Chondrostoma toxostoma (Pisces, Cyprinidae)
in Switzerland
S. Zbinden and K.-J. Maier . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 287
Spawning grounds of Chondrostoma soetta Bonaparte, 1840 (Cyprinidae)
in Southern Switzerland
M. Zeh and J. Ortlepp ......................................... 299
The artificial propagation and culture of young weatherfish (Misgumus fossilis L.)
J. Kouril, J. Hamackova, Z. Adamek, l. Sukop, l. Stibranyiova and R. Vachta 305
Description of Knipowitschia punctatissima croatica, (Pisces: Gobiidae),
a new freshwater goby from Dalmatia, Croatia
M. Mrakovcic, M. Kerovec, S. Misetic and D. Schneider. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 311
The sculpin of the Lez spring (South France), Cottus petiti (BacesCl,l and Bacescu-
Mester, 1964), one of the most threatened fish species in Europe
H. Persat, D. Beaudou and J. Freyhof ............................... 321
Gpnservation of samaruc, Valencia hispanica (Valenciennes, 1846),
(PIsces: Cyprinodontidae), an endemic and endangered species, in the community
of Valencia (east Spain)
M. Planelles and S. Reyna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 329
Workshop reports
Workshop I: Faunistic surveys and vulnerability assessments
P.S. Maitland ............................................... 337
Workshop II: Conservation of European mudminnow, Umbra krameri
J. Wanzenbock .............................................. 339
Workshop III: Management and rehabilitation of habitat of endangered fishes
A. Lelek .................................................. 340
Introduction
Two events have recently improved the prospects of protecting fish and their environment in
Switzerland: the acceptance of a new Federal Water Protection Law in the plebiscite of May 17th
1992, and the new Federal Legislation on Fisheries, in force since January 1st 1994. With this
legal framework, the possibilities for protection of nature and landscape have now considerably
improved in Switzerland.
The most important aims of the Federal Law on Water Protection are to safeguard the natural
habitats of the native flora and fauna and water as the habitat of aquatic organisms. This includes
not only the preservation or restoration of water quality in lakes and rivers, but also, in rivers used
for hydroelectricity, irrigation or as industrial or other water supplies, the maintenance of sufficient
water to fulfill the minimal requirements for fish. However, good quality water in sufficient quan-
tities alone is not enough to guarantee the survival of fish. Intact fish habitats comprise various
phYsical structures including plenty of hiding places, hunting grounds, reproduction and nursery
areas within suitable distances from each other. This third aspect of conservation and restoration
of aquatic habitats is a central point in the new Federal Law on Fisheries.
Whereas the former versions of this law were more concerned with fishery regulations, the
recent legislation defines new areas of responsibility for the federal and the cantonal governments.
Aspects concerning fishery management lie now within the competence of the latter, leaving the
federal administration more freedom to concentrate on the protection of endangered species and
habitats. These objectives are acknowledged as a national responsibility, in agreement with the
international engagement of Switzerland, e.g., in the Convention on the Conservation of European
Wildlife and Natural Habitats which has been ratified by the Swiss Parliament.
Fish conservation in Swiss legislation
The new fishery law includes the conservation of the diversity of natural communities, especially
all native fish and cyclostomes, independent of their commercial or halieutic value. Furthermore,
clear priorities are set for the conservation of endangered species with a list of taxa to be protected
and encouraged with appropriate measures enforced by the cantons. This list was compiled on the
basis of a national distribution atlas of fish and cyclostomes (Pedroli, J.C., Zaugg, B. and Kirch-
hofer, A., 1991, Verbreitungsatlas der Fische und Rundmauler der Schweiz / Atlas de distribution
des poissons et cyclostomes de Suisse. Documenta Faunistica Helvetiae 11: 1 - 207) and a Red
List (Kirchhofer, A., Zaugg, B. and Pedroli, J.C., 1990, Rote Liste der Fische und Rundmauler der
x
Schweiz I Liste rouge des poissons et cyclostomes de Suisse. Documenta Faunistica Helvetiae 9:
1 - 26). From the 54 native taxa of fish and cyclostomes in Switzerland, the taxa requiring
protection are classified in the legislation in five categories:
Category 0 Lampetra jluviatilis, Acipenser sturio. Alosa alosa alosa, A. alosa
(already extinct) nilotica. Salmo salar, S. trutta trutta. Hucho hucho
Category 1 L. planeri, S. trutta marmoratus, Chondrostoma toxostoma,
(in danger of extinction) Misgumusfossilis, Zingel asper
Category 2 S. trutta lacustris, Barbus meridionalis, C. nasus. C. soetta,
(strongly endangered) Leuciscus souffia. Rhodeus sericeus amarus. Blenniusjluviatilis,
Padogobius panizzai
Category 3 A.fallax lacustris. Salve linus alpinus, Thymallus thymallus, Albur-
(endangered) noides bipunctatus. B. barbus plebej us. Leucaspius delineatus,
Leuciscus souffia muticellus, Cobitis-taenia
Category 4 Anguilla anguilla. S. truttafario. Coregonus spp, Cyprinus carpio,
(potentially endangered) Albumus albumus. A. albidus. B. barbus barbus, Gobio gobio.
Phoxinus phoxinus. Rutilus pigus. R. rubilio. Silurus glanis.
Gasterosteus aculeatus. Cottus gobio
The following 12 species are not included in this list, as their populations appear not to be threa-
tened: Esox lucius, Abramis brama, Blicca bjoerkna, Leuciscus leuciscus. L. cephalus, Rutilus
rutilus. Scardinius erythrophthalmus, Tinea tinea. Noemacheilus barbatulus, Lota Iota, Perea
jluviatilis and Gymnocephalus cemua.
With only less than a quarter of the total native fish fauna classified as not threatened, the situ-
ation in Switzerland may be judged as fairly critical. Just knowing the nature of the problem may
already lead to significant improvements for some species, whereas for others, specific conserva-
tion programmes have to be implemented to ensure their survival. A profound knowledge of the
ecological requirements of the species concerned is a prerequisite for an efficient protection
policy. Therefore, the federal government not only supports the restoration and revitalisation of
fish habitats, but also finances scientific research related to endangered species.
Sustainable fishery management
In Switzerland, the management of fish stocks and detailed regulations about fishery gears and
methods now lie in the competence of the cantons. The federal regulations only determine mini-
mal lengths and closed seasons for the majority of the commercial fish species. This allows an
optimal exploitation on a small scale, taking into account the ecological specificities of the lakes
XI
and rivers, as well as the biological characteristics of local fish populations. Nevertheless, the can-
tons are obliged to manage the fishery activities in such a way that fishery remains sustainable.
The introduction 9f alien species into natural systems belongs to fishery management and the
conservation of the native fish fauna. Exotic species can have a detrimental influence on the natu-
rally evolved interactions in. aquatic ecosystems or even transmit new diseases, to which the native
fauna is not adapted. Similarly, the introduction of hatchery strains from distant catchment basins
can strongly affect indigenous populations which are considered as optimally adapted to the local
environmental conditions. Both these kinds of introduction alter the structure of natural commu-
nities, and therefore the new Federal Law on Fishery contains restrictive regulations concerning
the import and introduction of live fish intended for stocking. For each introduction of both alien
species and genetically poorly adapted races or strains into natural systems, an authorisation is
required, so a restrictive practice can be enforced. For example, the introduction of rainbow trout
(Oncorhynchus mykiss) is now limited exclusively to mountain lakes and reservoirs with no free
connection to a river system. In all other open natural waters the introduction of this species is
banned. Henceforth restocking programmes must rely on indigenous fish, and large-scale intro-
ductions of alien species or genetically poorly adapted races have to cease.
The main objective of this legislative framework is to guarantee the integrity of the aquatic envi-
ronment combined with the conservation of the aquatic fauna. This "new spirit" in fishery legis-
lation was also the motive for the organisation of the Symposium on the Conservation of Endan-
gered Freshwater Fish in Europe, which took place in July, 1994 at the University of Bern. With
over 100 participants from 22 nations, the 65 spoken and poster contributions presented a survey
of the situation in other countries or specific catchment areas together with many new research
results in the fields of ecology, genetics and systematics on which the conservation of endangered
species must be based. Examples of species or community rehabilitations also illustrated the past
and present efforts to conserve the European fish fauna. In the three workshops organised by
Peter S. Maitland (Faunistic surveys and vulnerability assessments), Josef WanzenbOck
(Conservation of European mudminnow, Umbra krameri) and Antonin Lelek (Management and
rehabilitation of habitat of endangered fishes) the ways and means for effective conservation were
intensively discussed.
All manuscripts submitted for these proceedings were reviewed by specialists. The editors
would like to thank H. Ahnelt, J. Allardi, M.W. Aprahamian, L. Bematchez, P.G. Bianco, R.
Bless, S.J. de Groot, W. Donni, P.S. Economidis, B. Elvira, J. Holcik, R. Hofer, E. Kainz, H.
Keckeis, R. Kinzelbach, M. Kottelat, H.R. Kristiansen, A. Lelek, P.S. Maitland, W. Meyer, R.
Muller, M. Peiiaz, T. Penczak, A. Peter, J.F. Rubin, N. Ryman, R. Rosch, E. Staub, W. Steffens,
J. Wanzenbock and 1.1. Winfield for their helpful assistance.