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Analysis of the ecological connectivity of dams in relation to the conservation status of Iberian fishes: a multidisciplinary approach (CONNECTFISH)

PRTR Call for Proposals Project

CONNECTFISH aims to optimise decision-making in the management and conservation of Spanish fish farming communities, by prioritising the location of future dams or the demolition of existing ones, based on the development of efficient and easy-to-apply tools, at different geographical scales and under different perspectives.

Line of action:

Knowledge generation and management

Status:

En ejecución

Spatial scale of work:

Cantabria, Navarre, Basque Country

Line of research:

Strengthening green infrastructure, connectivity and ecological restoration

Execution date:

2023

Duration:

01/07/2023 - 31/12/2025

Total budget:

€355,38.29

Amount of aid from the Biodiversity Foundation:

€298,911.21 (84.11%)

Coordinating entity:

University of Navarra

Institute of Environmental Hydraulics of Cantabria Foundation

Spain has one of the highest percentages of endemic freshwater fish species in Europe and is one of the countries with the highest density of prey per square kilometre in the world. This project aims to evaluate the impacts of dams on Iberian fish fauna in a multidisciplinary way, analyzing, on the one hand, the biological and, on the other, the social aspects related to the ecosystem services that rivers offer us. As a result of its analysis, a tool will be available for decision-making in the prioritisation and location of future dams or the demolition of existing ones.

Some of the actions included in the project are:

  • Gathering the information needed to conduct the study.
  • Elaboration of Spatial Distribution Models.
  • Calculation of the Population Connectivity Index.
  • Calculation of the Connectivity Index for Conservation.
  • Development of meta-population models for the analysis of river connectivity.
  • Analysis of the social perception about the services and impacts provided by dams.
programa
linea de actuación

Analysis of the ecological connectivity of dams in relation to the conservation status of Iberian fishes: a multidisciplinary approach (CONNECTFISH)