Ichthyofauna of the rivers in the Romincka Forest (Pregola River basin, northeastern Poland)     [SHORT COMMUNICATION]

Witold Białokoz; Łucjan Chybowski; Tadeusz Krzywosz; Piotr Traczuk

doi:10.2478/v10086-009-0005-0

Witold Białokoz
Łucjan Chybowski
Tadeusz Krzywosz
Piotr Traczuk

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10086-009-0005-0

Keywords: Romincka Forest, fish, river, species richness

Abstract

The composition and structure of the ichthyofauna of the rivers of the Romincka Forest (Pregola River basin, northeastern Poland) was investigated. Twenty-two fish species were confirmed to occur, four of which are protected: bullhead, Cottus gobio L.; spined loach, Cobitis taenia L.; bitterling, Rhodeus sericeus (Pall.); stone loach, Barbatula barbatula (L.). Species richness was the highest in the Bludzia River, in which 17 fish species belonging to 6 ecological reproductive guilds were confirmed. The ichthyofauna of the other rivers in the forest generally comprised 6-10 fish species belonging to 4-5 ecological reproductive guilds. The number of fish occurring at sampling sites decreased with increased river gradient, while the number of rheophilic species increased.

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:

W. Białokoz [+], Ł. Chybowski, T. Krzywosz, P. Traczuk
Department of Lake Fisheries
The Stanisław Sakowicz Inland Fisheries Institute in Olsztyn
Rajska 2, 11-500 Giżycko, Poland
Tel. +48 (87) 428 38 81; e-mail: wbialokoz@infish.com.pl