ictio.cat Freshwater fish of Catalonia
Knowledge of the fish that inhabit the continental waters of Catalonia is still quite limited among society, especially if we compare it with that of other groups of organisms. Beyond some popular species due to their importance for fishing, like trout or carp, most remain largely unknown. In Catalonia we find it 29 native fish species, in addition to a significant number of introduced species.
Fish inhabit a wide variety of aquatic environments, from coastal lagoons and estuaries to high mountain rivers and lakes. Although the diversity of native ichthyofauna is relatively low compared to that of other European regions, presents a unique natural heritage, with numerous species endemic to the Iberian Peninsula.
Throughout its evolution, native species have adapted to the changing conditions typical of the Mediterranean climate, characterized by periods of drought and episodes of flooding. However, this fauna is particularly vulnerable to alterations caused by human activity, such as the modification of natural flows, the construction of reservoirs, water pollution and the introduction of exotic species. Getting to know our fish is the first step to valuing this natural heritage and contributing to its conservation.
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Inland Fish of Catalonia – Ecology, conservation and identification guide is a complete and up-to-date work of the native and introduced fish that inhabit the rivers, lakes, reservoirs and coastal wetlands of Catalonia.
The book is an excellent scientific and informative reference in which they are described 59 species of 21 families of fish. A section of the book is devoted to the identification of fish, with dichotomous keys to differentiate families and species. For each species information is given of its distinctive morphological characters, biology, habitat and distribution, with detailed distribution maps and high quality color photographs.
The book contains information on the characteristics of the river basins of Catalonia, the ecology and biology of fish, human relationships with aquatic systems and their environmental consequences, inland fishing and conservation.
Many of our native fish are threatened or endangered due to human activities that alter their natural habitat., as well as the introduction of a large number of invasive alien species.
History of ichthyology in Catalonia
