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Posted on 05/21/2025 9:37:50 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Phys.org reports that farmers were transporting live fish to stock mountain lakes in the Pyrenees much earlier than previously thought. High mountain lakes are often historically fishless due to natural barriers created by glaciers, as was the case with Lake Redon in northeastern Spain. The 240-foot-deep lake is isolated from fluvial waterways by a 330-foot waterfall, which makes it impossible for fish to naturally enter and colonize it. However, there are an estimated 60,000 brown trout living in it today. Historic documents record that the process of fish stocking was begun by at least the fourteenth or fifteenth century. Recent sedimentary DNA analysis, though, detected the presence of fish parasites in the lakebed dating back to between the seventh and ninth century. This suggests that late Roman or Visigothic farmers who used the region for sheep pasturing initially began stocking the lake with fish 500 years earlier than scholars originally believed. Read the original scholarly article about this research in Nature Communications.
(Excerpt) Read more at archaeology.org ...
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Lake Redon, SpainElena Fagín
I didn’t even know fish wore stockings.
Someone has it made in the shade.
Okay, I’m still workin’ on that one.
At least I wasn’t the only one with Fishnet Stockings as my first thought. The lamp shade, some would call it literally over the top!
:^)
How Birds Help Spread Fish Across Remote Freshwater Lakes
Many species of birds have a unique role in the distribution of fish in remote freshwater lakes. Some birds, such as pelicans and cormorants, consume fish in one location and then fly to another lake to defecate. Fish eggs contained in their feces can survive the digestive process and hatch into fry, introducing a new population of fish to the second lake.
Other birds, such as ospreys and eagles, are known as “fish hawks” because of their habit of catching fish and carrying them to a nearby perch to eat. Inevitably, some of the fish are dropped during transport, allowing them to fall into the water and begin a new life in a new lake.
Even small songbirds can play a role in fish distribution. Some species, such as the blackbird, have been observed carrying small fish in their beaks, presumably to feed to their young. These small fish can be accidentally dropped during flight, again introducing a new population to a different body of water.
While the role of birds in fish distribution may seem minor, it can have significant impacts on the biodiversity and ecosystem of remote freshwater lakes. Understanding these relationships can help researchers better understand the complex interactions between different species and the environment.
The Contribution of Terrestrial Animals in Fish Dispersal
Many people may not realize that terrestrial animals also play a role in fish dispersal. Some animals, such as bears and raccoons, will consume fish and carry the undigested remains to other bodies of water. This can lead to the introduction of fish species to new environments. Similarly, some birds, such as ospreys and eagles, will catch fish and carry them to their nests, which can be located far from the original body of water. When the birds drop the remains, they can introduce fish species to new bodies of water.
Additionally, animals that cross over bodies of water, such as deer and moose, can carry fish eggs and larvae on their hooves, legs, and fur. These animals can transport fish across land, leading to the introduction of fish species to new watersheds.
It is important to note that while terrestrial animals can contribute to fish dispersal, they can also have negative impacts on fish populations. For example, predators such as raccoons and otters can consume large numbers of fish, while herbivores such as beavers can alter stream habitat and impede fish migration.
Aquatic predators play a crucial role in shaping the fish communities of remote freshwater lakes. These predators, which can range from fish to amphibians and reptiles, have a direct impact on the colonization of new fish species in these habitats.
Some aquatic predators can be keystone species in their ecosystems, meaning they have a disproportionate impact on their communities relative to their abundance. For example, the introduction of non-native predatory fish species can lead to declines in native fish populations and have cascading effects throughout the food web.
However, some researchers suggest that the presence of aquatic predators can also facilitate fish colonization. This is because these predators can act as vectors for fish eggs and larvae, transporting them between water bodies and increasing the likelihood of successful colonization.
Thanks!
Whoops, I mean, I cormorant come up with that on my own.
It’s a major award!
Sure beats being shat out as partially undigested remains!
Regards,
“However, there are an estimated 60,000 brown trout living in it today.”
There’s a joke in there somewhere...
The way the title is written, I thought it was about a seasonal thing.
:)
Your commentary is something I have been aware of for years, which destroys this tread’s article.
This article about fish stocking in the Pyrenees is just one more example of today’s junk science. However this story here is nothing, repeat nothing, compared to the junk science of global warming and covid.
“How Birds Help Spread Fish Across Remote Freshwater Lakes”
I built a small Koi pond in my backyard one time. It was far from any other bodies of water. I looked one day and there was not 1 but 2 red bellied bream in the pond. I think these “scientists” are jumping to conclusions.
Abe Vigoda’s fault.
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