THE PROTAGONISTS OF LIFE + SEGURA RIVERLINK

Description:

The terrapin leper ( Mauremys leprosa ) is an aquatic species of Ibero-African distribution belonging to the Order of the Quelonios (turtles). The main evolutionary success of chelonians for 200 million years, is their shell that protects them from predators. For this reason, chelonians constitute a very old zoological group within reptiles, currently inhabiting temperate or tropical climates on all continents.

Biology and Ecology:

Adapted to aquatic life, the diet of this native pond turtle is omnivorous and they are capable of estivating during the dry season and hibernating during the cold period. In addition, as a good part of the Galapagos species, they have a low metabolic rate, a high oxygen transport capacity, the possibility of non-pulmonary respiration underwater by various routes, and organic tolerance to oxygen scarcity.

The leper terrapin lives in estuaries, coastal marshes, ponds, rivers and streams, channels and swamps. The hatching of the eggs occurs after the autumn rains, it winters during the coldest months of the year, in the heat of spring and the reproduction occurs, taking place the egg laying in the summer. The coloration changes with age: at birth they are greenish brown with orange and yellow patterns, changing to a uniform dark olive color in the adult stage. Cases of albinism are known. Females are older than males and have a shorter tail.

Situation in the Segura Basin:

The species is widely distributed by the water bodies of the Segura Basin, be it rivers, reservoirs, boulevards and even artificial wetlands.

In certain places, it reaches high population densities, for example, in the Moreras lagoons (Mazarrón), a density close to 30 galapagos / ha of wetland has been estimated. However, in the Segura river it seems to present more modest densities.

The leper terrapin is considered a Vulnerable species to extinction in Spain according to Atlas and Red Book of Reptiles and Amphibians. One of its main threats to the leper turtle is the introduction of invasive alien species, since these move it to marginal areas and it is suspected that they can transmit various diseases to them. In addition, exotic species are more tolerant to human presence and have a less strict diet than the leper turtle.

Legal status:

The leprous pond turtle is a species of Community interest included in Annex II of Directive 92/43 EEC of the European Union. At the state level, it is included in the List of Wild Species under Special Protection Regime (Art. 53 of Law 42/2007 on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity).

Description :

Odonates are an order of insects associated with water, which is divided into two easily distinguishable suborders: dragonflies (Anisoptera) and damselflies (Zygoptera). It is an order whose species are relatively easy to recognize and observe, as well as being considered good bioindicators. Currently, it is estimated that about 6,000 species and subspecies have been described worldwide, but many species remain to be cataloged.

Biology and Ecology:

Dragonflies have two clearly different stages or stages in their life cycle: the larva and the adult, of which the adult stage is of aerial life, being responsible for dispersal and reproduction, while the larval is the aquatic phase.

Both larvae and adults are voracious predators, mainly of other invertebrates, although the larvae can prey on tadpoles, minnows, etc.

Eggs are deposited in or near water. For the above reason, adults are inhabitants of the environment of springs, ditches, small channels, rivers, temporary and permanent streams, ponds, ponds, lakes, lagoons, reservoirs and saline environments.

The larvae have quite strict ecological requirements, which determines the distribution of each species. By contrast, adults, who can go hunting in forests, meadows and even cities.

Odonates are very territorial animals, and only females can enter the male's territory without being expelled from it.

The life span of an adult is variable, from two or three weeks to a maximum of 10 months in some species, with periods of between 1 and 2 months being the most frequent.

Situation in the Segura Basin:

The last inventory of this fauna group dates from 1953 and it included 40 species of dragonflies and damselflies for the province of Murcia.

Subsequently, some species have apparently become rarer (or perhaps extinct), while new species have emerged (generally colonizations of North African species).

The Segura Basin is home to a remarkable diversity of this fauna group. On the one hand, the presence of threatened species in upper reaches of the river and mountain streams ( Calopteryx sp. Pl. Boyeria irene, Onychogomphus sp. Pl., Coenagrion sp.pl.) stands out. In low-lying areas, rare and threatened species coexist ( Coenagrion caerulescens ), species of Ibero-African distribution ( Orthetrum nitidinerve ), as well as species recently incorporated into fauna European ( Orthetrum trinacria, Diplacodes lefebvrii ).

At the project level, preliminary inventories have detected a very prominent presence of the genus Calopteryx and particularly C. xanthostoma, species considered rare at the state level ( Note on other species of Odonatos in danger in Spain ) and as Vulnerable in the Community of Andalusia.

More about the odonates of the Segura Basin:

Legal status:

A damselfly in the Segura basin, Coenagrion mercuriale , is a species of community interest under the Habitats Directive. In addition, this species has been included in the List of Wild Species under Special Protection Regime (RD. 139/2011).

Description:

The otter (Lutra lutra is a carnivorous mammal of the mustelid family linked to aquatic ecosystems, both natural and artificial, its most common habitats being rivers, streams, lakes, reservoirs and lagoons, showing a certain predilection for the shores of rivers surrounded by riparian forests, and thick vegetation, where you find suitable places to feed, settle and reproduce.

Biology and Ecology:

The otter is a species of nocturnal and semi-aquatic habits, with an anatomy clearly adapted to diving and that It also shows great abilities to move around the terrestrial environment. It is able to reproduce at any time of the year, thanks to the fact that it adapts its biological cycle to the availability of its prey.

The studies that have been carried out on the factors that determine the use and selection of the habitat by the otter, show that the quantity and quality of the water, the existence of shelters, the availability of food, and above all the environmental stability, are the most relevant factors.

Regarding their feeding, fish play a fundamental role in the ecology of this species, by constitute its main prey. In the Mediterranean area, cyprinids such as the Barbo gitano ( Luciobarbus sclateri ) are the foundation of your diet. However, during the dry season, the crayfish acquire special relevance, as it happens with amphibians, reptiles, birds and small riparian mammals.

Situation in the Segura Basin:

The otter population of the Segura Basin suffered a sharp decline in the second half of the 20th century as a consequence of the environmental changes of the river and the direct persecution.

Some of the main threats the otter faces in the Segura basin continue to be, today, difficult solution. These include the scarce amount of water that circulates through some of its channels, the destruction of its habitat as a consequence of the presence of regulatory infrastructures and the use of flows along its main rivers, and the disappearance of riverside vegetation autochthonous.

However, despite all these impediments, the improvement in water quality in the medium and low sections of the Segura basin in recent years, has allowed an expansion of this species in the Region of Murcia (in 2011 it was estimated a population of 40 specimens in the Region of Murcia), which has even started the colonization of the province of Alicante.

Legal Status:

Since 1995 it has been listed as an “Endangered Extinction” species in the Region of Murcia and is included in Annex II of Directive 92/43 / EEC. of the European Union.

Description:

The gypsy barbel ( Luciobarbus sclateri ) is a cyprinid endemic to the Iberian peninsula, with a distribution that encompasses the southernmost basins: Guadalquivir, Guadiaro, Guadalete, Guadalhorce, Segura, tributaries of the lower section Guadiana and other small basins in southern Spain and Portugal. It is a species that can reach large sizes greater than 75 cm in total length, with individuals in reservoirs being larger than in rivers. The coloration of younger individuals is cryptic, with dark spots unevenly distributed throughout the body. However, the larger individuals have the characteristic coloration of this species, with a dark greenish back and a lighter ventral area, which in some specimens turns yellowish. They have two pairs of barbells, the first one located in the upper jaw and the second one in the lip corner.

Biology and Ecology:

It is a typical species of the middle courses of rivers, although it is also frequent to find it in reservoirs and isolated water points such as fountains, irrigation ponds and headwaters of rambles and streams. It can become a locally abundant species and form schools especially in the pre-reproductive season, during which it carries out migrations of some importance upstream in search of suitable spawning grounds, with gravel bottoms and a moderate current. Reproduction generally takes place between the months of May and July.

It feeds mainly on benthic invertebrates, algae and aquatic macrophytes, and frequently on fruits, seeds and insects from the terrestrial environment. Therefore, it is a generalist species that adapts to the resources available at all times and places. They normally move close to the bottom where they search for food, using the barbells as exploratory organs and the protractile mouth to suck their prey. They also approach the surface to capture prey that may fall from the shore.

Situation in the Segura River Basin:

The gypsy barbel is widely distributed throughout the basin, almost completely occupying the Segura and Mundo rivers, with the exception of the higher altitude sections. It is also located in the Tus, Zumeta, Taibilla, Moratalla, Argos, Quípar, Mula, Pliego, Turrilla, Luchena and Chícamo rivers.

The main threats to this species are the degradation and alteration of the river habitat due to the modification of the natural hydrological regimes, the fragmentation of the habitat by hydraulic infrastructures (dams, weirs, etc.), the contamination of the waters and the presence of exotic predatory species (pike, black-bass, walleye, etc.), which exert a very negative pressure on the populations of this species in the basin.

In the Atlas and Red Book of the Continental Fish of Spain (2001) it is evaluated as a species in Low Risk - Not Threatened . However, the bases for monitoring the Spanish Continental Ichthyofauna (2011) indicate that the species should be considered as Near Threatened . In the Red Book of Vertebrates in the Region of Murcia (2006) it already appears as a Near Threatened species, and, furthermore, it is indicated that certain isolated populations in head sections should be considered with a higher risk of Local extinction, due to the fact that these are populations with a small number of specimens and highly exposed to possible impacts of human or natural origin.

The gypsy barbel has been selected as a sentinel species in the LIFE + SEGURA RIVERLINK project for its biological and ecological characteristics, for its conservation interest at the regional level, as well as for forming a relevant taxon for social groups directly affected by the project.

Legal status:

The gypsy barbel, along with the other Iberian barbels, is a species included in European and national legislation as a species of community interest whose collection in the wild and whose exploitation can be managed (Annex V, Directive 92 / 43 / CEE; Annex VI, Law 42/2007 on Natural Heritage and Biodiversity). Similarly, it is included in Annex III of the Berne Convention, regarding the conservation of wildlife and the natural environment in Europe, and in the regional legislation related to wildlife (Law 7/95).

At the same time, at the national level it is considered as a species subject to fishing (RD 1095/89), as in the Region of Murcia (Law 7/2003 of Hunting and River Fishing of the Region of Murcia).

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Description:

The river vogue ( Pseudochondrostoma polylepis ) is a cyprinid endemic to the Iberian peninsula, with a natural distribution that is limited to the Tagus river basin. However, it has been introduced in the Júcar and Segura basins. It is a species that does not usually exceed 50 cm in total length, the most frequent size being less than 30 cm. The coloration of the individuals is silver, with a dark band on the flanks that runs above the lateral line. The pectoral, ventral and anal fins usually have orange colorations. The buccal opening is ínfera, it opens downwards, and the lower lip is transformed into a well developed and almost straight corneal sheet.

Biology and Ecology:

It is a typical species of the middle courses of the rivers, although it is also frequent to find it in reservoirs. It is a very gregarious species and forms schools especially in the pre-reproductive period, during which it makes migrations of some importance upstream in search of suitable spawners, with sandy or gravel bottoms. Reproduction generally takes place between March and June.

It feeds mostly on algae and to a lesser extent on aquatic invertebrates and debris. The horny lip is used to scrape the substrate (stones, trunks, aquatic vegetation) and thus obtain food.

Situation in the Segura Basin:

The distribution of the river basin in the Segura basin is limited to the main axes of the basin (Segura and Mundo rivers), including the Talave, Camarillas, Ojós and Mayés reservoirs, as well as pipelines derived from these systems and other artificial bodies of water that directly receive the waters from the main channels. Its introduction and expansion in the basin is probably due to the invasion of specimens through the Tajo-Segura transfer. The first date of the species in the basin dates from 1997 and it can currently be said that it is adapted. Viable and locally abundant populations can be detected, although in contrast, there are also certain river sectors with very low densities.

The main threats to this species in the Segura basin are the degradation and alteration of the river habitat due to the modification of natural hydrological regimes, the fragmentation of the habitat by hydraulic infrastructures (dams, weirs, etc.), contamination of the waters and the presence of exotic predatory species (pike, black-bass, walleye, etc.), which exert a very negative pressure on the populations of this species in the basin.

In the Atlas and Red Book of the Continental Fish of Spain (2001) it is listed as a species in Low Risk - Not Threatened . However, in the bases for the monitoring of the Spanish Continental Ichthyofauna (2011) it is indicated that the species should be considered as Vulnerable and it is qualified about the need for its inclusion in the Spanish Catalog of Threatened Species . In the Region of Murcia it should be considered as a non-native (allochthonous) species, although at the present time its invasive nature and the possible impact on native species and ecosystems has not yet been evaluated. In the Júcar basin, where it has also been introduced from the Tajo-Segura transfer, it is considered an invasive species due to the negative effects it has on the populations of the loina or vogue del Júcar, an endemic species of said basin. </ p>

The river vogue has been selected as a sentinel species in the LIFE + SEGURA RIVERLINK project for its biological and ecological characteristics, for its conservation interest at the international level, as well as for forming a relevant taxon for social groups directly affected by the project.

Legal status:

The river vogue is a species included in European and national legislation as a species of community interest for whose conservation it is necessary to designate special conservation areas (Annex II, Directive 92/43 / EEC; Annex II, Law 42/2007 of Natural Heritage and Biodiversity). It is also included as a species of interest whose collection in nature and whose exploitation can be managed in the Berne Convention, relative to the conservation of wildlife and the natural environment in Europe, and in the regional legislation related to fauna. wild (Law 7/95).

At the same time, at the national level it is considered as a species subject to fishing (RD 1095/89), as in the Region of Murcia (Law 7/2003 of Hunting and River Fishing of the Region of Murcia). < / p>

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Description:

The goby ( Gobio lozanoi ) is a small cyprinid native to the Iberian Peninsula. There is some uncertainty about its original distribution, sometimes the populations of the Ebro and Bidasoa basins are described as indigenous, although a more detailed study seems to be necessary to clarify this question. In the rest of Spain it has been introduced and is currently distributed throughout most of the country's hydrological basins, although it is less frequent in the southernmost basins. It is a benthic species, of small size that does not usually reach 15 cm in total length. It has a dark coloration on the back with a row of dark rounded spots on both flanks. The mouth is ínfera and presents a pair of sensory chins or buccal chins.

Biology and Ecology:

It is a typical species of the middle and upper courses of the rivers, although it also inhabits more lentic bodies of water such as lakes, lagoons and reservoirs. It is a sedentary species that makes small movements in the reproductive season, which develops between the end of May and August. It is considered an indicator species of good water quality since it requires a clean substrate, not covered by sediment or debris, where to lay.

It mainly feeds on mollusks, crustaceans and benthic insects. They often use the spaces between the pebbles and pebbles of the river bed to take refuge.

Situation in the Segura River Basin:

The goby has a very wide distribution in the basin, covering practically all of the Mundo and Segura rivers (except for the lower reaches of the latter), as well as several of the tributaries of the headwaters (Tus, Zumeta and Taibilla). In addition, a small isolated population has been detected in the Quípar River downstream of the La Encarnación Strait.

The main threats to this species in the Segura Basin are the degradation and alteration of the river habitat due to the modification of natural hydrological regimes, the fragmentation of the habitat by hydraulic infrastructures (dams, weirs, etc.), contamination of the waters and the presence of exotic predatory species (pike, black-bass, walleye, etc.), which exert a very negative pressure on the populations of this species in the basin.

In the Atlas and Red Book of the Continental Fish of Spain (2001) it is listed as a Vulnerable species. However, in the bases for monitoring the Spanish Continental Ichthyofauna (2011) it is indicated that the species should be considered as Not Threatened and it is qualified about its strong expansion as a recent colonizer in many of the basins Southern Spain. In the Region of Murcia it must be considered as a non-native (allochthonous) species, although at the moment its invasive nature and the possible impact on native species and ecosystems has not yet been evaluated.

The goby has been selected as a sentinel species in the LIFE + SEGURA RIVERLINK project for its biological and ecological characteristics relative to its high colonization power, as well as for forming a relevant taxon for social groups directly affected by the project. </ p >

Legal status:

In the Region of Murcia it is considered as a species that can be fished (Law 7/2003 of Hunting and River Fishing of the Region of Murcia).

Other resources:

Description:

The alburno ( Alburnus alburnus ) is a cyprinid native to the European basins from the northern slopes of the Pyrenees, Alps and Caucasus to the Urals. Therefore, it is an exotic species to the Iberian peninsula whose current distribution covers the Ebro, Júcar, Segura, Guadalquivir, Guadiana, Tajo and Duero basins. It is a species that usually reaches 15 cm in total length, with a maximum size rarely exceeding 25 cm. It has an elongated and laterally compressed body, with a silver coloration on the flanks and belly, and greenish on the back. The scales are small and detach easily when handling specimens. The mouth is small and super (opens up).

Biology and Ecology:

It is a typical species of the middle and lower courses of the rivers, although it also inhabits lakes, lagoons and reservoirs. Normally it is a gregarious species, being able to form very numerous schools. The reproductive period is very wide, from March to August, although it depends on the temperature of the water in which a certain population develops. Spawns in shallow rapids and also on stony banks of lentic systems.

It mainly feeds on zooplankton, crustaceans and insects. It is frequent to observe it feeding on land insects that fall from the shore.

Situation in the Segura River Basin:

The alburno has experienced a substantial expansion in the basin during the last decade. The first date of the species in the basin dates from 2004, the year in which its presence in the main bed of the Segura river was confirmed in the area near the confluence with the Mundo river. The species was probably previously found in the upper part of the basin. Subsequently, its presence has been verified in sections of the Segura river located above the Cenajo reservoir, as well as in wide sectors of the Mundo river from upstream of the Talave reservoir. Currently, its distribution in the basin is limited to the main axes of the Segura and Mundo rivers, with the exception of the higher altitude sections.

In the Atlas and Red Book of the Continental Fish of Spain (2001) it is evaluated as an exotic species for Spanish fauna and is nuanced about its strong expansion in recent years. In the Region of Murcia it should be considered as an invasive exotic species, since it can exert an important modification in the trophic chains of aquatic ecosystems, as well as form hybrids with native species such as the chub ( Squalius pyrenaicus ) , as recently described in the Tajo basin.

The alburno has been selected as a sentinel species in the LIFE + SEGURA RIVERLINK project for its biological and ecological characteristics, for its interest in management and control as an invasive exotic species, as well as for forming a relevant taxon for social groups directly affected by the project.

Legal status:

The alburno is included in the Spanish catalog of invasive alien species (RD 630/2013) as a taxon for which there is scientific and technical information that indicates its threat to native species, habitats or the economic resources associated with our natural heritage.

The species is not included in the river fishing law of the Murcia Region (Law 7/2003 of Hunting and River Fishing of the Murcia Region). However, in the Order of Fluvial Fishing of the Region of Murcia of the year 2013, this is considered as a species that can be fished, although its return to the environment is not authorized as it is considered a species harmful to the aquatic ecosystems of the Region.

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