Search Results (6)

Currently, more than half of Pyrenean high mountain lakes are occupied by fish as a result of historical introductions that date back centuries and which have accelerated during the last 70 years. In the southern slope of these mountains, the main fish that have been introduced are Brown trout (Salmo trutta), Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and European minnow (Phoxinus sp). The specific impacts of the introduction of fish include, among others, the transformation of the ecosystem structure and trophic relationships, and the reduction and extirpation of native species. The project LIFE RESQUE ALPYR (LIFE20 NAT/ES/000369), started in 2022 and ending in 2026, includes among its main objectives the restoration of ten high mountain lakes with fish (trout or minnow) and the recovery of native species of European interest by the eradication of introduced fish. We planned and executed continuous and sustained campaigns to achieve the complete removal of fish. From 2022, we began with operations in seven objective lakes by means of several capture techniques, mainly gill nets for trout and a combination of gill nets, fyke-nets, and electrofishing for minnows. In 2024 and 2025, in three other lakes, chemical treatments with rotenone were carried out to achieve rapid eradication of fish. Currently, we have already achieved the complete removal of fish in four lakes, either with sustained capture or chemical treatments. In the other three lakes, this objective is also expected to be achieved in 2026, and only few individuals persist in actuality. In the other two lakes, the European minnow has been removed, and trout are now the focus of a two-stage strategy. In the remaining lake, we have only achieved a reduction in the European minnow (>50% reduction), with trout still remaining. We present, in detail, the methodologies applied and the results obtained. Full article

A six-year study investigates the challenges of balancing stakeholders’ interests when implementing climate adaptation regulations and makes a case for analytical tools that can improve the acceptance and adoption of local planning initiatives. In this study, the challenges of adopting European Union and Norwegian national climate adaptation regulations at a local level are examined through the analysis of the ‘Fredlybekken Water Management Proposal’ case study. This study includes an overview of the proposed climate adaptation project ‘Fredlybekken’, a site analysis, quantitative surveys, and qualitative interviews with the project’s stakeholders. Reflexive thematic analysis is employed to establish themes of the project and categorically describe the feedback and objections of residents. The findings of the study set forth recommendations to improve the implementation processes of stormwater management infrastructure and other urban climatic adaptation initiatives. These findings are aimed at public policy makers and municipal administrations. The general conclusions within this paper are also relevant for egalitarian countries with similar societal challenges attempting to implement climate policy at the local level. Full article

Mountain wetland habitats are of particular importance because of their biodiversity, their aesthetic and recreational functions, and for providing services to humans (e.g., water for domestic use and livestock). At the same time, these practices can also have significant environment costs, including biodiversity loss and deterioration of water quality. For all their importance, these habitats are not well managed or conserved. The aim of the paper is to study the distribution of two of the most important and vulnerable habitats. The communities of Cardamino-Montion and Cratoneurion commutati belong, according to the European Red List of Habitats, to the habitats base-poor spring and spring brook (C2.1a) and calcareous spring and spring brook (C2.1b), respectively. This study draws on both original studies and national literature to highlight the characteristic features of mountain wetlands. The main objective of our research is to provide a management framework to facilitate the protection, enhancement and restoration of springs in the Romanian Carpathians and beyond. Full article

Calotriton arnoldi is an endemic amphibian inhabiting Montseny Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve (PNRBM), listed as “critically endangered (CR)” by IUCN. At the end of 2016, the Life Tritó del Montseny (LIFETM) project (LIFE15 NAT/ES/000757) was launched. The aim of the project was to promote around fifty actions to ensure the conservation of C. arnoldi and its natural habitat, and this entailed five strategic lines: (1) Increasing the scientific and technical knowledge with regard to C. arnoldi’s conservation status and its habitat management. (2) Expanding its geographic distribution. (3) Involving and engaging stakeholders in the conservation of the Montseny brook newt. (4) Eliminating or minimizing threats that exist in the riparian habitat. (5) Establishing proper legal coverage and defining long-term strategic planning. The successes and failures experienced throughout the process provide us with essential information that will enable us to develop an adaptive management of the habitat. In order to eliminate or minimize threats to the newt’s habitat, some of the actions that are currently being carried out are: (a) Land acquisitions and land exchanges with private properties. (b) Land stewardship procedures, with two custody agreements being signed. (c) Reduction of water withdrawal with nine water catchments and distribution being remodeled. (d) Improvement of water treatments and storage by installing ecological wastewater treatment facilities. (e) Ensuring ecological connectivity and riparian forest restoration. Here, we present an evaluation of the actions carried out to improve the habitat of this species, including the necessary considerations for them to be implemented correctly and to be successful in a natural area, which is under public-private management. Full article

Widespread habitat degradation has caused dramatic declines in aquatic biodiversity. Reconfiguring channels and adding physical structures to rivers has become common practice in order to reinstate natural processes and restore biodiversity. However, the effectiveness of such measures is often questioned, especially in urban settings where overriding factors (e.g., water quality) might constrain biotic responses to increased habitat heterogeneity. We monitored invertebrate and fish communities before and up to five years after extensive restoration of Beverley Brook, a small, urban river flowing through a Royal Park in London, UK. Total invertebrate density was 5–148% higher with restoration across the monitoring period, and there was an increase in evenness but not invertebrate richness. Riverflies (Ephmemeroptera and Trichoptera) and crustaceans (Amphipoda, Asellidae) showed marked increases in density with restoration, suggesting improved flow, enhanced water quality, and greater quantity of basal resources. Fish biomass increased by 282% with restoration as did fish richness and the average body mass of three common fish species. Our results provide evidence for the effectiveness of common restoration methods in increasing standing stocks across trophic levels, from basal resources to apex predators. However, we primarily observed changes in the density of existing taxa rather than the development of novel assemblages, suggesting that large-scale factors, such as water quality and the lack of adequate source populations, might be important for understanding changes in biodiversity following river restoration. Full article

This study examines the potential and limits of the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) applicability for the monitoring of stream restoration in an urban environment. UAV imaging was used for long-term post-restoration monitoring of an urban stream. The monitoring was aimed to track the stream changes significant for the assessment of the restoration success, such as the compliance of the restoration to the plan, stability and evolution of the stream channel, or changes in stream and riparian habitats. The recurrent imaging campaigns in the restored segment of Hostavicky brook in Prague, The Czech Republic, were undertaken for three years since the restoration using the DJI Inspire 1 Pro platform. The UAV monitoring revealed that the new stream pattern substantially differs from the proposed restoration plan. Despite this, the new channel has proved stability, supported by intense grassing of the floodplain, resulting in only marginal evolution of the restored channel. The new channel proved the ability to mitigate the course of a significant flood event without significant flood spills outside the riparian zone. The UAV monitoring also revealed intense eutrophication in newly created shallow ponds with insufficient drainage. The research proved that UAV imaging is a unique source of spatial data, providing reliable information for quantitative and qualitative assessment of the stream restoration progress and success. Full article