First Captive Breeding Program for the Endangered Pyrenean Sculpin (<i>Cottus hispaniolensis</i> Bacescu-Master, 1964)
The strong decline of freshwater fish species in Europe implies that further ex-situ conservation plans should be implemented in the near future. The present study reflects our experience with the Pyrenean sculpin (<i>Cottus hispaniolensis</i> Bacescu-Mester, 1964)—a small cottid endemic...
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MDPI AG
2020-10-01
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| author | Joan Manubens Oriol Comas Núria Valls Lluís Benejam |
| author_facet | Joan Manubens Oriol Comas Núria Valls Lluís Benejam |
| author_sort | Joan Manubens |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The strong decline of freshwater fish species in Europe implies that further ex-situ conservation plans should be implemented in the near future. The present study reflects our experience with the Pyrenean sculpin (<i>Cottus hispaniolensis</i> Bacescu-Mester, 1964)—a small cottid endemic to the Hispano-French Garona River basin. In recent years, the Spanish Pyrenean sculpin population has reached a limit situation. Because of that, the non-profit association ADEFFA—with support from the public administration—started the first captive breeding program for this species in 2006. Fourteen years later, this study presents the results and evaluates the different steps of the program, with the aim of discussing and improving the ex-situ conservation plans for this and other cold freshwater species. There is a description and a comparison between six consecutive phases during the captive breeding process: nesting behaviour, courtship, egg fixation, parental care (incubation), hatching and survival during juvenile development. The purposes of this project are to: (1) identify the most determining phases for a successful captive breeding; (2) identify the factors that had a major influence to the success of the critical phases; and (3) increase the number of the offspring. This study is based on thirty-three wild individuals collected from Garona River (Val d’Aran, Spanish Pyrenees). During the program, twelve couples spawned in captive conditions, with around 2300 eggs laid. Eight couples bred successfully, with 751 hatched individuals and 608 juveniles reared. The analysis of each step of the captive breeding does not reveal significant differences between phases, so it can be concluded that they are all critical at the same level. In the literature, similar study-cases of captive breeding programs identify incubation and survival phases as the most critical. Consequently, the management made for this project has probably allowed to overcome in part the main impediments described in other similar programs. |
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| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
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| series | Water |
| spelling | doaj.art-9e9f963b8a9f4ffe80ef9033c3c33dce2023-11-20T18:25:02ZengMDPI AGWater2073-44412020-10-011211298610.3390/w12112986First Captive Breeding Program for the Endangered Pyrenean Sculpin (<i>Cottus hispaniolensis</i> Bacescu-Master, 1964)Joan Manubens0Oriol Comas1Núria Valls2Lluís Benejam3Associació de Defensa i Estudi de la Fauna i Flora Autòctona (ADEFFA), Camadoca, Santa Maria de Merlès, 08517 Catalonia, SpainAssociació de Defensa i Estudi de la Fauna i Flora Autòctona (ADEFFA), Camadoca, Santa Maria de Merlès, 08517 Catalonia, SpainAssociació de Defensa i Estudi de la Fauna i Flora Autòctona (ADEFFA), Camadoca, Santa Maria de Merlès, 08517 Catalonia, SpainAquatic Ecology Group, University of Vic—Central University of Catalonia, Vic, 08500 Catalonia, SpainThe strong decline of freshwater fish species in Europe implies that further ex-situ conservation plans should be implemented in the near future. The present study reflects our experience with the Pyrenean sculpin (<i>Cottus hispaniolensis</i> Bacescu-Mester, 1964)—a small cottid endemic to the Hispano-French Garona River basin. In recent years, the Spanish Pyrenean sculpin population has reached a limit situation. Because of that, the non-profit association ADEFFA—with support from the public administration—started the first captive breeding program for this species in 2006. Fourteen years later, this study presents the results and evaluates the different steps of the program, with the aim of discussing and improving the ex-situ conservation plans for this and other cold freshwater species. There is a description and a comparison between six consecutive phases during the captive breeding process: nesting behaviour, courtship, egg fixation, parental care (incubation), hatching and survival during juvenile development. The purposes of this project are to: (1) identify the most determining phases for a successful captive breeding; (2) identify the factors that had a major influence to the success of the critical phases; and (3) increase the number of the offspring. This study is based on thirty-three wild individuals collected from Garona River (Val d’Aran, Spanish Pyrenees). During the program, twelve couples spawned in captive conditions, with around 2300 eggs laid. Eight couples bred successfully, with 751 hatched individuals and 608 juveniles reared. The analysis of each step of the captive breeding does not reveal significant differences between phases, so it can be concluded that they are all critical at the same level. In the literature, similar study-cases of captive breeding programs identify incubation and survival phases as the most critical. Consequently, the management made for this project has probably allowed to overcome in part the main impediments described in other similar programs.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/11/2986threatened speciesconservation planningclimate changecaptive breeding<i>Cottus hispaniolensis</i> |
| spellingShingle | Joan Manubens Oriol Comas Núria Valls Lluís Benejam First Captive Breeding Program for the Endangered Pyrenean Sculpin (<i>Cottus hispaniolensis</i> Bacescu-Master, 1964) Water threatened species conservation planning climate change captive breeding <i>Cottus hispaniolensis</i> |
| title | First Captive Breeding Program for the Endangered Pyrenean Sculpin (<i>Cottus hispaniolensis</i> Bacescu-Master, 1964) |
| title_full | First Captive Breeding Program for the Endangered Pyrenean Sculpin (<i>Cottus hispaniolensis</i> Bacescu-Master, 1964) |
| title_fullStr | First Captive Breeding Program for the Endangered Pyrenean Sculpin (<i>Cottus hispaniolensis</i> Bacescu-Master, 1964) |
| title_full_unstemmed | First Captive Breeding Program for the Endangered Pyrenean Sculpin (<i>Cottus hispaniolensis</i> Bacescu-Master, 1964) |
| title_short | First Captive Breeding Program for the Endangered Pyrenean Sculpin (<i>Cottus hispaniolensis</i> Bacescu-Master, 1964) |
| title_sort | first captive breeding program for the endangered pyrenean sculpin i cottus hispaniolensis i bacescu master 1964 |
| topic | threatened species conservation planning climate change captive breeding <i>Cottus hispaniolensis</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/12/11/2986 |
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