Permanent researchers: Emili García-Berthou, Ramon Moreno-Amich, Anna Vila-Gispert, Lluís Zamora
Fish are key species in aquatic ecosystems and among the most threatened taxonomic groups in the world.The inland water ecosystems of the Iberian peninsula are rich in endemic species, most of them threatened and declining.
EcoAqua has extensive experience in the ecology and biology of the conservation of Iberian continental fish, in rivers as well as in lakes, reservoirs and wetlands.We have studied theecology of numerous species such as the Spanish toothcarp (Aphanius iberus), the Mediterranean barbel (Barbus meridionalis), the catfish (Squalius laietanus) and the eel (Anguilla anguilla).We have devoted special attention to invasive species (see line 6).We have studied the fish of several Catalan continental aquatic systems (the lake in Banyoles, the wetlands in the Alt and Baix Empordà areas, numerous Catalan reservoirs and rivers such as the Ter, the Muga, the Fluvià and the Tordera).We have proven experience in theuse of techniques for the capture of fish (electrical fishing, traps, nets, biometric techniques, radio monitoring and ultrasonic telemetry, tagging (PIT-tags, coded wire tags, etc.), use of geographical information systems and advanced data analysis).We have a strong interest in the effects of anthropic alterations (for instance, degradation of habitat, hydrological alteration, chemical pollution, etc.) and in the abundance and life cycles (growth, reproduction, mortality, etc) of continental fish.We are also interested in the effects of natural factors (temperature, longitudinal variation along the rivers) on the abundance and biology of fish.
