Seguimiento biológico de la anguila europea Anguilla Anguilla (Anguilliformes: Anguillidae) en la red de riego de la Huerta de Murcia y el río Segura (sureste península Ibérica)

Abstract

En el presente trabajo se aportan los primeros datos sobre el uso del hábitat y el estado poblacional de la anguila europea (Anguilla anguilla) en el río Segura y la red de riego de la Huerta de Murcia. Los muestreos se desarrollaron de forma estacional durante un ciclo anual completo. Los resultados ejemplares capturados presentaron mayor tamaño que en los otros dos ambientes. La condición somática no mostró diferencias significativas, por lo que puede afirmarse que los tres ambientes proporcionan condiciones de hábitat similares para la especie.

This study presents the first data about the habitat use and the population status of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in the Segura river and the irrigation network of the Huerta de Murcia. Samplings were developed seasonally during a full annual cycle. Results show that the eel has recovered part of its original distribution after being considered extinct in the study area during the last decade of the XX century. However, the density values of the species continue very low. Both relative abundance and biomass were similar in the three environments studied: Segura river, irrigation channels and drainage channels. In the irrigation channels the captured specimens were larger than in the other two environments. The somatic condition showed no significant differences, so we conclude that the three environments provide similar habitat conditions for the species.