PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Ladigesocypris ghigii (common name: Gizani) is a small-bodied endemic fish encountered exclusively in streams, springs and reservoirs of Rhodos island. It prefers rather slow waters, staying close to the banks among roots of trees, bank cavities, vegetation or dead segments of the stream that form its favourite niches. In these habitats, the water supply and the environmental conditions fluctuate markedly, especially during the dry season, both from natural and human causes. The fish's diet is comprised of small aquatic insects, insect larvae, invertebrates and plants. Its life span is estimated to be up to three years, and it reaches maturity at the end of the its first year. The Gizani is one of the most endangered European fresh water species and is included, as a priority species, in Annex II of the Habitats Directive. The main threat for the species is the lack of sufficient quantities of water in the dry season, due to low levels of rainfall and to unregulated irrigation (including direct pumping from streams). Habitats are also often deteriorated due to pollution of water sources and to interventions in the stream banks (waste disposal, gravel and sand collection, etc.). Competition with non-native fish introduced by humans is also a local threat. Since some species populations are already extinct, the gene pool of the species is very poor and the genetic diversity of the species has decreased resulting in a second threat for its survival. The main limiting factor however, is water availability; during the dry season, the fish survives in many areas only in isolated natural water pools.
OBJECTIVES
The project aims at the recovery and conservation of the species’ populations within two pSCIs in Rhodes. However, some of the actions (population survey, genetic analysis, etc.) are also undertaken in other water bodies that are not located within the two pSCIs. The expected results are:
RESULTS
This project is among the first ones (if not the first one) in Greece that targets an inconspicuous and unknown species, with a very "low profile", i.e. not a flagship species. As a Medwet document on freshwater fish very well puts it "beauty is not a prerequisite for protection". The project’s interest lies not only in the protection of this endemic priority fish, but also on its implications for the conservation and management of streams with intermittent flow. The project achieved its objective, which was the recovery and conservation of Ladigesocypris ghigii populations within both pSCIs in Rhodes. The beneficiary approached the conservation needs of the species in an integrated way, combining basic applied research, in situ and ex situ conservation measures, public awareness as well as strategic measures. The conservation measures applied improved significantly the chances of survival of the species’ key populations within the 2 pSCIs, and guaranteed the species’ survival ex situ through the creation of breeding stocks which could be used for re-introductions in case some catastrophic events (i.e. prolonged drought) affect the natural populations. The beneficiary deployed a clever strategy of combining the areas where breeding stocks were kept with public awareness (i.e. the reservoir in Eleoussa which contains a sub-population no longer found in the wild is also an information site, equipped with a small kiosk and a touch screen info point where a local person is in charge of informing visitors and distributing communication material). Similar strategies were deployed in the conservation/information site of Psinthos, and the Rhodes Aquarium with the Gizani exhibit. An important achievement of the project is that it significantly increased the knowledge on the species’ actual distribution (in addition to the population nuclei known prior to the project, six new were discovered), biology and ecology. Prior to the project, very little was known about the specific species. The acquired knowledge gave the necessary tools to the beneficiary to adapt conservation measures foreseen in the project so as to better meet conservation needs of the species, and thus to use the EU funds more effectively. It also allowed him to create some tools necessary for future conservation efforts regarding the species (action plan, proposal for the designation of new pSCIs). One of the most important findings concerns the high inter-population biological diversity and the low intra-population diversity, the latter revealing a significant degree of inbreeding. Significant genetic variations have been found between populations. This finding has made the beneficiary adapt his conservation efforts to each independent population. Another key achievement was that the beneficiary involved heavily and successfully local authorities (local development agency, 3 municipalities) in the conservation efforts for the species. This proves that despite the fact that the project was instigated by a research institute based in Athens, a good collaboration scheme involving locals is key to the successful implementation of the project with sustainable results that are expected to continue well beyond the project. The species’ conservation proved to be an excellent starting point for the discussion of water management use in the island: the beneficiary managed to put various stakeholders on a round table (local and regional authorities, Hotel owners' association – the tourism sector being the main "culprit" for water over-consumption in the summer months - , farmers’ associations, etc.), and involved them in the deliberations and approval of the species’ action plan.
