DISTRIBUTION AND CONSERVATION STATUS OF <i>APHANIUS IBERUS</i> (VALENCIENNES, 1846) IN MURCIAN REGION (S.E. OF IBERIAN PENINSULA). ESTABLISHMENT OF <i>OPERATIONAL POPULATIONS GROUPS</i>

Abstract

Aphanius iberus (= Lebias ibera) is one of the most endangered Iberian vertebrates. It is an endemic fish and its drastic regression for the last two decades has involved the cataloguing of the species into the all national and international Red Listes. Because the area of this study is probably the area where the habitat´s species is most threatened, so the increment in conservation’s efforts on this species is absolutely necessary to secure its perpetuation. As a first step to develop a Recovery Plan for the species in the Murcian region, we have studied its distribution and assessed its conservation status of each locality in which it occurs. For that purpose, we reviewed historical references of the species and sampled all potential sites identified on 1:25000 scale maps using different sampling gears: trawls, fyke nets, minnow traps, hand nets and small bag seines. A.iberus occurred in 40 out of 266 localities visited, 39 localities (9 new records) were included in the Mar Menor coastal lagoon. We also found a new population for the species in the Chicamo Stream (30SXH749368), an isolated population outside of the distribution range known for the species in the Murcian Region. In the study area the regression of A. iberus is clear and coincides with the observed in other areas. Finally, we establish 6 Operational Population Groups (OPGs) as the management units to preserve the species in the Murcian region.