Fish ecology and diversity in the lower Vjosa river and its delta

Résumé fourni par la source

The lower Vjosa river and its delta support a diverse ichthyofauna comprising at least 34 fish species, of which 30 are native. Among these, eight species are endemic to the Balkan Peninsula. The family Cyprinidae is the most species-rich, represented by 12 species, followed by Mugilidae with five species. Both Salmonidae and Acipenseridae are represented by two species each, while ten other families are each represented by a single species. Four non-native species – Pseudorasbora parva, Oncorhynchus mykiss, Carassius gibelio, and Gambusia holbrooki – have been introduced into the Vjosa basin. The lower river also supports several estuarine and marine-associated species, including the European eel (Anguilla anguilla), mullets, gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), flounder (Platichthys flesus), and soles (Solea spp.). Notably, Atherina boyeri and Aphanius fasciatus are numerically dominant, underscoring their ecological relevance in this transitional habitat. Fish assemblages in the lower Vjosa and its delta are affected by multiple interacting stressors, including upstream damming, in-stream gravel extraction, pollution, land-use change, urban development, non-native species, and climate change. Understanding the cumulative and interactive effects of these pressures is essential for the development of effective conservation and river management strategies.

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