Rapid Assessment of the Status of Valencia letourneuxi, the Greek Killifish
(06/2005 – 12/2005)

OBJECTIVES

  • To complete a comprehensive field survey of known, former and suspected habitats of V. letourneuxi in Greece
  • To conduct a preliminary assessment of V. letourneuxi habitats including potential threats
  • To determine world-wide status of V. letourneuxi and provide information to facilitate an update for IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
  • To gather information and data to support the future drafting of a conservation management plan for V. letourneuxi

ACTIONS AND OUTCOMES

  • A thorough survey of 14 low-altitude aquatic systems of Western Greece (95 sampling sites) in 2005 revealed that the species’ historical geographical range had been reduced, with the westernmost and southernmost populations being extinct or near extinction respectively, and the remaining ones in a vulnerable state
  • Data analysis revealed that V. letourneuxi exhibits habitat specificity, with a strong affinity towards spring-fed wetlands with clear waters and rich surface vegetation
  • The species is vulnerable to human-induced hydrological and morphological modifications, and agricultural pollution, while the alien Eastern mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki is also a threat as a potential competitor

SCIENTIFIC OUTPUT

Kalogianni E., Giakoumi S., Zogaris S., Chatzinikolaou Y., Zimmerman B. & A.N. Economou (2010). Current distribution and ecology of the critically endangered Valencia letourneuxi in Greece. Biologia – Section Biology, 65/1: 128-139

COLLABORATING BODIES

This project was led by Dr Eleni Kalogianni, Researcher at the Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters (IMBRIW) of the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) and Brian Zimmerman, Aquarium Curator at the Zoological Society of London (ZSL).

FUNDING

European union of Aquarium Curators

PHOTOS