Variability in Population Traits of a Sentinel Iberian Fish in a Highly Modified Mediterranean-Type River

Human pressures on water resources have been suggested as a driver of biological traits that induce changes in native fish populations. This study highlighted the interplay between environmental stress factors, mostly related to flow regulation, and longitudinal river gradient such growth, size structure somatic condition sentinel fish, Luciobarbus sclateri. We found an increase size-related metrics at population levels associated with downstream reaches, although fragmentation habitat alteration, regime alteration abundance non-native were also significantly involved their variability. Age-related parameters growth only explained by alterations species. The high plasticity observed L. sclateri suggests this is key factor species adaptability resist strongly altered Mediterranean basin. However, multiple stressors plays important role dynamics could complex responses may be essential for long-term monitoring