Population Characteristics of Spirlin Alburnoides bipunctatus (Bloch, 1782) in Serbia (Central Balkans): Implications for Conservation

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the population characteristics of spirlin, Alburnoides bipunctatus, in Serbia, since this small fish species is facing a severe decline in its abundance and its natural habitats in Europe. We investigated the spirlin population dynamics, including size, age structure, growth pattern, mortality, and exploitation rate. Additionally, we used the Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection approach with the Decision Tree algorithm to investigate the influence of different environmental parameters on the population parameters to unveil which factors shape the abundance and distribution of spirlin. The results showed that the highest values of production, abundance, and biomass were estimated in sites with low temperature, optimal pH, and well-oxygenated water, even though we found them in heavily polluted waters with extremely high values of conductivity. Moreover, we observed a pattern of migratory behavior, in which spirlin migrate upstream to sites at a higher altitude in early summer and autumn. Despite the putative vulnerability and high sensitivity of spirlin populations, our results showed that the species was abundant, occurring in altered habitats (due to pollution, climate change, anthropogenic pressure, etc.).