WEB LIFE NAIAD_REV-ENE2010

This is the cached copy of http://www.jcyl.es/web/jcyl/binarios/849/209/Preservation%20of%20Margaritifera%20margaritifera%20at%20LIC%20in%20Zamora.pdf?blobheader=application%2Fpdf%3Bcharset%3DUTF-8&blobheadername1=Cache-Control&blobheadername2=Expires&blobheadername3=Site&blobheadervalue1=no-store%2Cno-cache%2Cmust-revalidate&blobheadervalue2=0&blobheadervalue3=JCYL_MedioAmbiente&blobnocache=true.

Page 1

LIFE NAIAD Web Site

INDEX

THE LIFE NAIAD PROJECT

BACKGROUND

THE FRESHWATER NAIAD MARGARITIFERA MARGARITIFERA; AN ODD

SPECIES.

THE NAIAD MARGARITIFERA MARGARITIFERA; PROTECTION STATUS.

ACTION RANGE

GOALS

FUNDING

TEAMS

ACTIONS

WORK PLAN

DEVELOPMENT AND RESULTS

A. Preparatory Actions (A1-A5)

C. Single biotype management tasks (C1-C2)

D. Periodic management of the biotype (D1).

E. Information to the public and publicizing the results (E1-E3).

F. Functioning of the project (2005-2006).

OTHER INTERESTING LINKS

LINKS

CONTACT WITH LIFE NAIAD

Page 2

LIFE Naiad project / Background

In the year 2003 the European Commission approved the project LIFE03

NAT/E/000051 “Preservation of Margaritifera margaritifera at SCI in Zamora (Spain)”,

for a length of 48 months, between October 2003 and October 2007.

Page 3

LIFE Naiad project / The freshwater naiad Margaritifera margaritifera; an odd

species.

The freshwater pearl mussel or naiad (Margaritifera margaritifera) is a big (up to 16 cm)

bivalve mollusk, living in freshwater streams. It is a species which indicates the water

quality. It requires fast-flowing, cold, shady, clean and cool water.

Nowadays its population in Spain is restricted to a few rivers in the northeast, in

Asturias, GaSCIia and Castilla y León, only preserving in Zamora very important

populations.

The naiad has a complex life cycle. The adult female breeds 10 million larva (called

glochidium) some 60x70 µm in size, which attach themselves to the gills of some fish

species, where they spend several weeks before emerging as small bivalves, then they

drop off into spawning grounds.

While dwelling in the gravel and sand of the spawning grounds, the naiads grow to

adulthood and are swept along by the streams, settling colonies and burrowing among

boulders and pebbles.

It is thought that in Zamora the native host fish is the trout (Salmo trutta). Although the

rivers in which the naiads live still keep good populations of these, they have

diminished, which has damaged the present state of the populations. Thus, alterations

to the habitat of the host fish also work against the mussel. Therefore maintaining

natural populations of the native host fish is essential for the conservation and

population increase of the naiad.

This species is distinguished because of being a very long-lived mussel. They may live

for over 100 years.

Reproductive cycle of naiad

Page 4

LIFE Naiad Project / The naiad Margaritifera margaritifera; protection status.

Habitats Directive

92/43/CEE

It is listed as a Community Interest Species (appendix II)

to whose preservation it is essential to designate special

preservation areas.

Community Interest Species whose collection and

exploitation can be managed (appendix V).

IUCN (1996)

Endangered (EN A1ce + 2c)

There is currently an acting plan that gathers the measures aimed at the species

preservation (Araujo y Ramos, 2000).

Page 5

LIFE Naiad project / Action range

The LIFE´s project action range “Preservation of Margaritifera margaritifera in

Community Interest Area (SCI) Zamora (Spain)” is limited to the natural areas of

Carballeda and Sanabria (NW Zamora, Spain), specifically to the areas proposed for

“Red Natura 2000”: SCI Sanabria lake and surroundings (ES4190009), SCI Banks of

the rivers Tera and tributaries (ES41900067) and SCI Banks of the rivers Tuela and

tributaries (ES4190131).

LIFE Naiad action range

Page 6

LIFE Naiad Project / Action range / SCI and NP Sanabria lake and its

surroundings / Localization

The Area of Comunitary Interest (SCI) Sanabria lake and surroundings (ES 4190009)

is located in the northwest of the province of Zamora (Spain). The surface area

consists of medium and high mountain areas, specifically the mountain range of

Segundera and Cabrera. This natural reserve stretches over an area of 22.645

hectares comprising of several watercourses belonging to the river Duero basin (the

river Tera sub-basin) and the river Miño basin (the river Bibey sub-basin).

From Moncalvo and Peña Trevinca, at an altitude of more than 2,000 meters, this

territory gathers waters from almost all the flowing river basin of the Sanabria lake and

its main tributary, the river Tera. Under the summits, at an altitude of about 1,700

meters, these old mountains form an uneven high plateau filled with heather and dotted

with crystalline lagoons and peat bogs. From here, the water hurries through deep

canyons carved by the ice until it reaches the Sanabria lake, true jewel vestige of the

ice age, surrounded by great blocks of granite stone (moraine remains) and oak forests

that extends over the valley of the river Tera at about 1,000 m. above sea level.

Inside the SCI you can find the Natural Park of Sanabria lake and it’s surroundings,

which encloses four district councils (Galende, Trefacio, Cobreros and Porto) with

many small villages with a small and aged population, which keep alive customs and

traditions that represent a unique bequest.

Sanabria lake and its surroundings Natural Park

Page 7

LIFE Naiad project / Action range / SCI and NP Sanabria lake and its

surroundings / Protection system

The Natural Park of Sanabria lake was the first natural protected area declared in

Castilla y León. This designation dates back to 1978, by Decree 3.061/78. In the year

1990 the surface area was extended to 22.365 Hectares.

In 1991, after publishing the Law 8/1991, on Natural Reserves in Castilla y León, it was

renamed to “The Natural Park of Sanabria lake and its surroundings” and became

included in the Natural Areas Network (REN) of Castilla y León.

In 1998 a greater surface area was proposed to be included in the Natural Areas

Network (REN) of Castilla y León 2000 as an Area of Community Interest (SCI), under

the name “SCI of Sanabria lake and it’s surroundings ES 4190009”” and in the year

2000 it was declared in the Special Bird Protection Area, ZEPA (ES4190009), due to

the presence of other species, such as the partridge (Perdix perdix), the Montagu´s

harrier (Circus pygargus) and the golden eagle (Aquila chrysäetos).

SCI Sanabria lake and its surroundings

Page 8

LIFE Naiad project / Action range / SCI and NP Sanabria lake and its

surroundings / Natural asset / Geology. The glacier modelling

The glacial periods of the Quaternary marked deeply this land, moulding the

topography of the existing plain. The ice slides formed glacier cirques, moraines and

glacier basins, creating a very singular appearance, which is originally the main reason

for the preservation of this area.

The modelling resulting glacier originated more than 20 permanent lagoons, all

declared Catalogued Humid Zones. Amongst them excels the Sanabria lake, the

biggest lake of glacial origin in the Iberian Peninsula, with a length of 3,178 m, 1,590 m

wide and an average depth of 35 m.

The Sanabria Lake is the largest natural freshwater lake in Spain.

Page 9

LIFE Naiad project / Action range / SCI and NP Sanabria lake and its

surroundings / Natural asset / Fauna

The Atlantic and Mediterranean influences have aided to the existence of very diverse

habitats, which harbour an exceptional fauna.

Among the aquatic mammals, it is worth mentioning the otter (Lutra lutra), which

identifies this Nature Reserve, and the Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus). It is

also worth mentioning the group of the bats, among which we can find species of

community interest such as the Barbastelle bat (Barbastella barbastellus), the bent-

winged bat (Miniopterus schreibersii), the medium-sized mouse-eared bat (Myotis

blythii) and the small lesser horseshoe-bat (Rhinolophus hipposideros). Another

emblematic species is the Iberian wolf (Canis lupus signatus), present in the whole

Area of Community Interest but not reaching high population density, and the roe deer

(Capreolus capreolus) because of its abundance.

As for the birds, there are several species that due to their deSCIate population

situation in the scope of the European Union, it has propitiated the declaration of

Special Bird Protection Area (ZEPA). The most singular species related to the aquatic

environment are the kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) and the white-throated dipper (Cinclus

cinclus). Tied to other means there are more than 20 species in addition to the Birds

Directive (Directive 79/409/CEE).

The wealth and biodiversity of amphibians is extraordinary, as it was to be expected in

an area where water is the key element of the landscape. There are up to 10 species,

some of the most remarkable are the Bosca’s Newt (Triturus boscai), the

salamander (Salamandra salamandra), the common toad (Bufo bufo), the

Natterjack toad (Bufo calamita), Iberian painted frog (Discoglossus galganoi), the

Iberian frog (Rana iberica) and the European tree frog (Hyla arborea).

The most interesting lacertilians, because of its preservation importance in Europe are

the Iberian rock lizard (Lacerta monticola) and the Spanish green lacerta (Lacerta

schreiberi). Also, some remarkable fish species are the Iberian roach (Chondrostoma

arcasii) and the bogue (Squalius polylepis).

The historical presence of the naiad Margaritifera margaritifera is stated. Nevertheless,

just a few ones can be seen in the Natural Park nowadays.

Page 10

Freshwater pearl mussels in Sanabria.

Page 11

LIFE Naiad project / Action range / SCI and NP Sanabria lake and its

surroundings / Natural asset / Vegetation

The Pyrenean oak forests (Quercus pyrenaica) constitute the most representative

arboreal formation of this territory, as it adapts best to the conditions of transition

between the Mediterranean and the euro Siberian region. In the highest parts it is

possible to find Iberian birch trees (Betula celtiberica) and on the river and stream

banks, riparian forests of alders (Alnus glutinosa) and willows (Salix sppl.).

This wide catalogue of arboreal formation completes with the almost nominal existence

of hollys (Ilex aquifolium) and yews (Taxus baccata).

Heaths, genista purgans and genista sanabrensis are the dominant shrubs, occupying

the Crioro-Mediterranean and the oro-Mediterranean layers, in the high parts of the

Mountain range, where neither fire or cattle have damaged the prairies.

Among the species of community importance, outlined in the Habitats Directive

(Directive 92/43/CEE) are the Eryngium viviparum, the Festuca elegans and the

Isoetes boriana.

Riparian forests of alders (Alnus glutinosa).

Page 12

LIFE Naiad project / Action range / SCI and NP Sanabria lake and its

surroundings / Human way / Traditional architecture

The traditional house was a stone building, with a square or rectangular plant and a

slate flagstone roof. The building had two plants. The low plant was used to keep the

cattle, and the upper one for housing, which was acceded by stairs placed outside the

building.

The inside was very simple. It had a kitchen, which took up the main space of the

house, and most of the times the only one. More recent buildings also had a bedroom.

The kitchen was the centre of the house, with a chimney, an old “lareira”, a potful, a

cauldron, a bench, a table and a kitchen dresser, together with the arks and bread bins,

where they kept clothes and food, was the entire furniture.

There are almost no rests of another even more primitive building, a ground floor house

with a rye roof, called “cuelmo”, where animals and humans shared a common space.

The use of the straw vegetable roof remained relegated to hayricks, mills, ovens and

stables.

Old Mill in Sanabria.

Page 13

LIFE Naiad project / Action range / SCI and NP Sanabria lake and its

surroundings / Human way / People and lifestyle

The harshness of the climate in the region and the low soil productivity for agricultural

production determined the way of life of the Sanabria people “sanabreses”. Therefore,

the families which tried to live as a self-sufficient unit, lived just off the cattle.

Cows generated the highest part of their income in currency, through selling calves,

usually exported to other more oriental regions as draught animals. An organized

system of watered meadows, made the most of it in autumn and reserved for the

summer harvest, which filled the straw lofts to feed the cattle during winter. A rotary

use of the communal pastures and mountain ranges allowed just a limited number of

cows per family.

Almost all families owned a few sheep as well, whose wool together with linen, where

the textile basis for both clothing and domestic trousseau; lambs were kept two or three

years in the house with the aim of producing meat named “castrón”. A pig, a milking

goat and a few hens completed the family’s cattle.

Rye, the nourishing basis, was harvested in small farms in the best soils of every

village. The agricultural production was completed with a few pieces of ground, most of

the time dry farming was dedicated to the production of potato, pulse, cabbage, turnips

and some vegetables. In the surrounding areas people cultivated chestnut-trees of high

nourishing importance in ancient times together with, walnuts and other fruit trees such

as apple trees, cherry-trees and pear trees.

Alistano-sanabresa cow in Sanabria

Page 14

LIFE Naiad project / Action range / SCI and NP Sanabria lake and its

surroundings / Human way / Transhumance

From a long time age the immense pastures of the highest part in the region, the

mountain range, had been greatly appreciated by the transhumance herds for use in

the summer. Therefore, they were constantly a cause for dispute among the feudal

lords of the region, the monks of the Monastery of San Martín de Castañeda and the

people living in the nearby villages.

In the last century most mountain ranges went into the property of the village

neighbours who formed societies for their operation; this way the flocks of sheep and

the herds of cows and horses of each village spent the summer in the hills supervised

by shepherds, lads and cowboys from each village, sharing the grasslands with the big

herds of the masters from Castile, Salamanca and Extremadura or with other more

modest of flukes from Sayago or black sheep from Aliste. The revenues from the rent

of these hills hardly supported the shepherds, who had to cover the taxes they were

burdened with.

The shepherds of these outside herds spent the summer in small stone huts covered

with clods of prairie pull up from the soil with ground – and where some of the stones

served as hearth and a bundle of brooms as bed. These transhumant shepherds

brought together with their cattle, some cultural, gastronomic and folk practices that still

remain in the region today.

Trashumant sheeps in Sanabria.

Page 15

LIFE Naiad project / Action range / SCI and NP Sanabria lake and its

surroundings / Human way / Tourism

Tourism has currently turned into one of the most important socioeconomic resources

of the region. Initially focused on the recreational facilities of the Sanabria lake, it is

nowadays aiming to promote actively multitude of resources orientated to make the

ethnographic, cultural and natural values of the area known to the visitor.

The House of the Nature Park is located in an ancient Cistercian monastery of the

Middle Age in San Martín de Castañeda. The House of the Park acts as a centre of

interpretation, and there you can get plenty of information about the natural values, the

singularities of the Park and the Project LIFE Naiad.

In order to make the Lake and its environment accessible to the visitors, five

interpretive itineraries have been designed which start from the House of the Park, the

Casa de Calella in Quintana de Sanabria to the information office in the Nature Park; in

addition to these itineraries the park has a mountain footpath network, aimed at the

knowledge of higher areas, traditional tracks which link different villages and others

such as footpaths for cross-country skiing, recreational areas, viewpoints, etc.

The address of the House of the Park is:

Casa del Parque del Lago de Sanabria

Plaza de la Iglesia s/n

49360 – San Martín de Castañeda (Zamora)

Tel. 980 62.20.63

San Martín de Castañeda Cistercian monastery

Page 16

LIFE Naiad project / Action range / SCI Basin of the rivers Tera and the basin

of the rivers Tuela

Location (general aspects)

The SCI Banks of the river Tera spreads over the main tributaries of the river Tera (N

Zamora), including the sections and the banks in better state of conservation. It is

constituted by 2 sections of the river Tera, and the whole course of the river Negro and

tributaries; the Fontirín, the Sapo and the Ribera.

The SCI Banks of the river Tuela and tributaries comprises of the whole course of the

rivers Tuela and tributaries, from its source in the NW of the province of Zamora up to

its crossing over to the region of Tras os Montes (NE Portugal), in the neighbouring

country of Portugal.

SCI Basin of the rivers Tera and the basin of the rivers Tuela

Protection rules

The initial proposal to include the SCI Banks of the river Tera in the Network Nature

2000 dates back to 1999, although in the year 2004 the protected area was extended

to include some stretches that initially had not been enclosed. The included surface is

formed by the riverbed, plus a 25 m. -stretch on each bank in the case of the river

Negro and the higher stretch of the river Tera and 10 m. in the remaining stretch of the

Tera.

The proposal of the SCI Banks of the river Tuela and tributaries refers to the year 2004

and includes the Spanish stretch of the river Tuela and its tributaries Pedro and the

Leira. The surface included is defined by the riverbed plus a stretch of 25 m. on each

margin.

Page 17

Vegetation

One of the main values that motivated the proposal of this space for its inclusion in the

Network Nature 2000 was the existence of alluvial forests of alders (Alnus glutinosa)

that together with narrowleaf ash (Fraxinus angustifolia), build up rich forests that give

shelter to a great part of the fauna of the area, that find in them food and refuge.

Among the species considered of Community Interest, the Festuca elegans and

Narcisus asturiensis stand out.

Fauna

The otter (Lutra lutra) and the Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus), both

considered of community interest, are to be highlighted among the aquatic mammals.

The waigtails (Motacilla spp.), the cetti´s Warbler (Cettia cetti), the white throated

dipper (Cinclus cinclus) and the showy kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) stand out among the

main bird life, the last one is included in the Bird Directive (79/409/CEE).

Though the brown trout (Salmo trutta) is the most emblematic fish species of this

environment, the roach (Achondrostoma arcasii) and the bogue (Pseudo-

chondrostoma duriense) are those who contributed fundamentally in the proposal of

declaration of the area.

Though the presence of Margaritifera margaritifera has not been stated in the Spanish

stretch of the river Tuela, these have been detected in Portugal very close to the border

of Spain. In the sub basin of the river Tera the existence of populations is known in his

high stretch, though the most important are located in the average stretch of the river

Negro.

Riparian forest in the river Tera.

Page 18

Human way; Dams and mills.

The water strength has been used from immemorial time as a source of energy to grind

the grain that was cultivated in the nearby small plots. Therefrom was made bread and

fodder for the cattle.

To lead the water of the riverbeds to the millwheel, they built stone dams that

harnessed the water to the mills. During the low water seasons, the dams contributed

to the creation of stagnant water that served as zones of refuge and feeding for the

existing fauna.

The mills and dams of these courses are small constructions that gave service to a few

families (due to the seasonal variation of the water volume, that just allowed a few

months use). The particular building characteristics allowed numerous species of

animals to find suitable protected places to breed in the cavities of their stonewalls.

These mills are normally of small size, with the structure based of stone and wood,

having an only space, where the different grinding or millstones lodge.

Page 19

LIFE Naiad project / Goals

The aims of the LIFE project are to help the preservation of the Margaritifera

margaritifera naiad, which will guarantee the preservation of the present population and

ensure the environmental conditions for its long-term recovery.

The main goals of the LIFE Naiad project are:

1. To help the effective conservation of the species through the description of its

habitat and host species and establishing the threats hanging over the naiad.

2. To carry out an action plan to guarantee the survival of the species by preserving

its habitat.

3. To study and boost the host fish species population through reducing the water

pollution, recovering the spawning grounds and river basins, restoring riverbeds

and shelters...

4. To develop a campaign to give advice and make the local population

(schoolboys and girls, fishermen and women, institutions, companies)… aware of

the great natural value of the water ecosystem and it’s harbouring species.

LIFE Naiad mascot.

Page 20

LIFE Naiad project / Funding

LIFE Nature is the European Commission’s financial instrument for the environment,

which develops actions directed to the conservation of species and habitats of

community interest. All these habitats constitute what will be the Nature 2000 Network,

in which the most representative ecosystems in the European Union are included and

whose purpose is to contribute to the maintenance of the biological diversity.

The Project LIFE03 NAT/E/000051 was approved in September 2003, for a period of

48 months, from October 2003 until October 2007

The foreseen investment is 516.000 euros, 50 % of them (258.000 Euro) by the Castilla

y León regional government through the Environment Office and the remaining 50%

(258.000 Euro) by the European Union.

LIFE Naiad logo.

Page 21

LIFE Naiad Project / Teams

Management team: Consisting of technical staff of the Junta de Castilla y León, that

manages the Areas of Community Importance (technical, administrative and

environmental agents) and commissioning the direction, coordination and execution of

the different parts of the Project.

Investigation team: coordinated by a biologist, who will be in charge of the detailed

account, mapping the species populations and performances carried out within this

LIFE project.

PubSCIation team: coordinated by experts to achieve the pubSCIation and information

campaigns, which will take care of the diffusion of the project in schools and raising

awareness in all groups that intervene in the conservation of the species and its

habitat.

Vigilance and Control Team: Integrated mainly by environmental agents of the

Regional Environment Agency in the forest regions of Alta Sanabria, Baja Sanabria

and Carballeda. Their priority tasks are: colonies and spawning grounds vigilance, fish

activity, supervision of the restoration tasks of the biotype

Page 22

LIFE Naiad Project / Actions

Code

Action comment

A. Management plan elaboration and action preliminaries:

A.1

Scientific research into the species and its habitat.

A.2

Biological research into the water of the river Negro.

A.3

Assessment of the potential of the host species.

A.4

Action and management plans elaboration.

A.5

Editing of the preservation action projects.

C. Biotype management tasks:

C.1

Actions on the water recovery.

C.2

Habitat recovery and conservation.

D. Regular biotype management:

D.1

Monitoring, evaluation and maintenance of the preservation actions

E. Awareness-rising campaign and spreading of results:

E.1

Editing of leaflets in order to spread the project.

E.2

Experience exchange with other similar projects.

E.3

Reporting the project result and elaboration of a web page

F. Project development:

F.1

Scientific and technical monitoring of the preservation measures on the species and

its habitat.

F.2

External audit..

Page 23

LIFE Naiad Project / Work plan.

2003

2.004

2.005

2.006

2.007

Action

I II III IV

III IV

III

A. Action and management plans elaboration:

A.1

A.2

A.3

A.4

A.5

C. Biotype management tasks:

C.1

C.2

D. Regular biotype management:

D.1

E. Awareness-rising campaign and spreading of results:

E.1

E.2

E.3

F. Project development:

F.1

F.2

Page 24

LIFE Naiad Project / Development and Results / Preparatory Actions (A1-

A5)

A1. IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE NAIADS

DISTRIBUTION AREA

During 2004, the rivers of the acting area of the LIFE NAIADE Program have

been prospected (river sub-basins of the Tera, Negro and Bibey Rivers), concluding

the sampling work for the Margaritifera margaritifera in North-western Zamora.

The best populations of the species were found in the mid-section of the Negro

River, where their typical population structure in colonies is maintained. Naiads were

also found in the Tera and Bibey rivers, although in looser colonies dispersed

throughout the well conserved sections of the river.

Although no positive results were obtained in the year of 2005, this objective

was complemented with the SCI exploration, River Banks of the Tuela River and

Tributaries (ES4190131) in its Zamora section, since the Tuela River in Portugal hosts

important colonies of the species.

Prospection works

Page 25

A2. HYDROBIOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE NEGRO RIVER

During the years of 2004 and 2005 the hydrobiological study of the Negro river

was performed as part of the River Banks of the Tuela River and Tributaries

(ES4190131) SCI, and hosting the best naiad colonies. The planned purpose of the

Hydrobiological Study of the Negro River (objective A2) are directed towards

understanding the fluvial dynamics and its possible implications in the conservation of

the Margaritifera margaritifera and Salmo trutta populations, its host during the larval

phase.

Succintly, the features treated in those objectives are:

• Hydrological, limnological and biotic characterization of the river.

• Biological, physical and quality analysis of the Negro river water; with

special incidence in those zones where colonies are found.

• Understanding river dynamics through its path and the seasonal

succession during a 12-month period beginning in April of 2004.

The Negro river has a fluvial regimen with great oscillations of flow between the

winter high waters and the maximum ebb tide in September. Its waters are highly

acidic and oxygenated, very low in mineralization and not very buffered, of an intense

green-brown colour (due to the contribution of humus from the muddy grounds) and

cold during the whole year (see tables attached). In these oligotrophic conditions with

high redox potential, imposed by the insolubility of the basin substrate, the aquatic

organisms mainly depend on the contributions of the river bank vegetation, which is

exclusively formed by a thick and well structured forest of Alnus glutinosa

The low content of dissolved salts in the water, especially of calcium carbonate

(the principal compound of the naiads’ valves) determines the slow growth of the

naiads and a low metabolic rate. In these conditions of slight buffering, an

acidification process of the water is produced, which is negative for the general

biodiversity of the ecosystem.

The existence of a well conserved forest of Alnus glutinosa in both riverbanks

protects the water’s surface from solar radiation in sections with less current. This

allows the water to maintain low temperatures year-round and as such, to maintain a

high degree of oxygenation. Due to this, the habitability conditions for two bio-

indicator species, which are demanding with water quality are kept, namely the

Margaritifera margaritifera and Salmo trutta.

Nevertheless, the upper and mid-sections of the Negro River recently received

impacts from its river drainage basin, episodically, which alter the physical and

chemical qualities of the water, while contributing to changes in water typology, from

salmon waters to ciprionic waters during a great part of the year. Those changes

have been identified and monitored through the works developed within actions A1,

A2 and F2; and which are being corrected through actions C1 and C2.

Water acidity and high contents of fine sediments in suspension are the

principal changes in the water quality which are currently affecting the naiads’

colonies negatively in the mid-section of the Negro River, as well as with possible

reproduction in wild conditions of the river. The slime sedimentation in the river bed

over bentonic organisms is principally favoured by the lentic-regime sections which

are produced in the boards of the old mills.

Page 26

electrical

conductivity

water

temperature

Total

material in

suspension

Principal nutrients

water mineralization

µS/cm

º C

mg/l

total

phosphor

ous

µg/l

Nitrates

µg/l

Silica

mg/l

Alkalinity

meq/l

Chloride

mg/l

Calcium

mg/l

Sum of

Divalent

cations

mg/l

Average:

16,38

9,8

5,8

2,14

8,67

37,03 1,72

0,13

1,38

0,83

1,53

Maximum

value

19,9

6,7 7.860,3

64,56

90,91 2,07

0,30

19,8

1,554

2,77

Minimum

value

1,3

5,3

0,067

2,4

4,41

0,66

0,04

0,08

Altitude

Average

Slope

Chlorophyll

Fish

Communities

Minimum

Quota

msm

mg/l

Number of

Species

800

0,103

5,50

820

0,040

1,90

830

0,098

840

0,116

1,14

870

0,057

900

0,327

0,60

1070

5,3

0,53

Water parameters observed in naiad habitat.

Page 27

A3. Potential host species estimate

Basically two lines of work have been performed:

A3.1. Electric-fishing campaigns

During the year of 2004 a number of electric-fishing campaigns were realized

in order to determine the composition of the fish community and to inspect the

gills of the captured species, especially brown trout (Salmo trutta var. fario).

Altogether 1.342 trout were inspected without obtaining positive results. In the

sections with the best naiad populations a density between 0,01 and 0,08

trout/m2 aged 0+ and 1+ (the most susceptible to be infected by the glochidium)

has been found, inferior to the 0,1 alevins/m2 of other studied European

populations where naiad reproduction has been observed. There were no positive

results with the remaining species either.

During 2005 the study and follow-up tasks of the fish fauna continued. A total

of 18 electric fishing campaigns were realized aimed at determining if the

glochidium encystment is produced naturally in the trout’s gills. A total of 524 trout

from the Tuela, Tera and Negro rivers were examined.

5 infected individuals were infected in a natural fashion in the Negro River.

Although the capacity of infecting is greater in the 0+ and 1+ specimens, a 3+

trout (268 mm size) infected by Margaritifera, margaritifera glochidium was

captured.

Electric fishing works

During 2006 and 2007, the follow-up tasks regarding fish fauna continued in the

naiad potential distribution area and no new specimens of infected trout were

found. A total of 1.948 trout, 4.359 small size ciprinids, 388 centrachidae and 2 eels

have been examined since the beginning of the programme.

Page 28

In conclusion: the infestation rate founded in the Northwest of Zamora is under

2%, and in three out of the four years of the study the infection could not be

ascertained.

A3.2. Controlled environment study of the infection capacity of the M.

margaritifera glochidium of the Tera River’s and Tributaries’ Riverbanks SCI’s

and of the Tuela River’s and Tributaries’ Riverbanks SCI’s

The experiment was performed in the LIFE NAIAD Program Management

Centre, located on the banks of Lake Sanabria. The setting of glochidium was

provoked in order to carry out the study in trout which were maintained

temporarily in a controlled environment, and were captured in various sections of

the Negro, Tera and Tuela Rivers during the electric-fishing campaigns of 2005.

Those trout with sizes corresponding to the ages of 0+ and 1+ (ages in which the

capacity of infection is greater) were selected.

When the naiads were in a reproductive period the mature glochidium were

extracted from their gills through the siphons, using a pipette. Next these were

diluted in a recipient with a small volume of water in which they were kept in

contact with alevins during some minutes. After this, the infected alevins were

kept in independent and isolated fish globes, to check the evolution of the cysts

during its metamorphosis in the alevins’ gills.

The infection results in a controlled environment were positive, confirming that

trout (0+ and 1+) from the Negro River, as well as those from the Tera River,

developed cysts in their gills.

Experiment cuvettes and cyst in the trout’s gills.

Page 29

A4. Development of the Action and Management Plans

During 2005, and once the host species has been determined in the acting area,

several drafts of the “Action Plan for the Conservation of Margaritifera margaritifera in

Castilla y León” have been elaborated. The personnel directly assigned to the LIFE

NAIAD Program have participated in elaborating these drafts, and Dr. Rafael Araujo

from the Madrid National Museum of Natural Science (CSIC) has also participated very

actively, as well as being the current coordinator of the European Action Plan for the

recuperation of the species with whom a cooperation agreement has been signed.

We also have to emphasize the collaboration of the personnel from the Department

of Natural Spaces and Protected Species and of the Hunting and Fishing Department

of the Department of Environment, as well as the independent researches like Dr. Juan

Carlos Velasco and Joaquim Reis.

On December 22nd of 2005 the III LIFE NAIAD Conference was held at the facilities

of the Natural Environment General Management Board of the Department of

Environment. Personnel from different sections associated with the management of

fluvial habitats, their fauna and environment, attended the conference, as well as the

research personnel in charge of the program’s follow-up. The inter-departmental

revision of the last draft of the “Action Plan for the Conservation of Margaritifera

margaritifera in Castilla y León” took place at that conference.

At the end of November, the fifth, and until now, last draft was concluded. On May

8th, 2007 the “4th LIFE Naiad Conference” was again held at the facilities of the Natural

Environment General Management Board, the final revision of the “Action Plan for the

Conservation of Margaritifera margaritifera in Castilla y León” took place at that

conference.

For the preparation of these drafts the visits to the colonies observed in the

provinces of Avila and Salamanca were crucial, as well as the rest of the activities

described in section E2. Experience Interchange.

This document is organized in five large sections; its main objective is that of

stimulating the necessary actions so that the species achieves a more favourable

conservation status than the current one. In order for this, the following general

objectives have been established:

➢ Eliminate or minimize the non natural factors that cause the actual

Margaritifera margaritifera regression, enabling the viability and expansion

of its current reproduction nucleus.

➢ Preserve and promote the population of its host species (Salmo Trutta), and

the balance and nature of fish populations.

➢ Preserve the integrity of its current and potential habitat, promoting actions

that contribute to its recuperation and the improvement of its present

conditions.

➢ Establishing an adequate legal and administrative framework that

guarantees the species, its host, and habitat protection, allowing for the

achievement of the goals that have been set.

The application field would include all of the rivers of the Castilla and Leon

Community, in which the current or recent presence of the species has been detected,

Page 30

as well as the trout sections of the river located upstream, that would be vital for the

trout’s survival and reproduction. In that regard, the Plan has foreseen the

differentiation of Critical Areas (CA) and Sensitive Areas (SA), establishing an

adequate regulatory framework to guarantee the species, its host and the future of its

habitat.

The main work guidelines considered in the plan, to achieve the goals that have

been set are:

o Minimize or eliminate the non natural mortality factors that affect the species

and its host, promoting the conservation of the adult populations of

Margaritifera margaritifera,

o Increase the interconnection of the adult colonies of Margaritifera

margaritifera to impulse crossed fecundation through the elimination of

those sections of the river without current and not suitable for survival and

reproduction of the species.

o Expansion, improvement and implementation of spawning sites to facilitate

the common trout reproduction, as well as sandy river beds that ensure the

settlement of the Margaritifera margaritifera larvium form, more vulnerable.

o Increase of the Salmo Trutta population in the Critical Areas until a minimum

density of 0,1 alevins / m2, quantified during the months of August and

September.

o Improvement of the host species habitat through the following actions:

▪ Elimination and adaptation of the existing obstacles in the river courses, that

fraction the river and avoid the migration of the reophil species.

▪ Creation of turbulent stream zones for the favourable performance of the trout

hatching boards.

▪ Improvement, maintenance and adaptation of new spawning sites, minimizing

possible covering from fine inert sedimentation.

o Maintenance of the alnus glutinosa forest in a favourable conservation

status (habitat 91E0* Alluvial forests with Alnus Glutinosa and Fraxinus

excelsior, Alno-Pandion, Salicion albae, annex I D92/43/EU), as principal

habitat of M. margaritifera.

o Correction of the non natural contribution of inerts and organic dumps

entering the water courses designated as Critical Areas.

o Increase the scientific knowledge of the species, its host and its habitat.

o Promote the knowledge of the species, its host and its habitat among the

local population through the development of environmental awareness

programs.

o Improvement of the administrative coordination among those organisms and

organizations involved in the management and conservation of our rivers

and bodies of water, as well as of the participation of those sectors that

developed their activity in connection with the rivers.

In this regard, a number of guideline measures, that comprise the following

aspects, are proposed:

➢ Legislative and administrative measures

➢ Conservation measures for naiad and trout habitats.

Page 31

➢ Measures for reproduction and breeding in a controlled environment.

➢ Broadcast and environmental awareness measures.

➢ Vigilance and monitoring measures.

During 2007 the final document continued undergoing development, holding different

meetings with the Natural Environment Management Board.

A5. Preparation of the proposed conservation action projects

The technical documents are written each year since the beginning of LIFE

NAIAD; they describe and budget the different actions to be performed in the

project field.

Page 32

C. SINGLE BIOTYPE MANAGEMENT TASKS (C1-C2)

C1. Actions for water quality recovery (2004-2007)

The principal actions performed in this context have been:

C1.1 Preparation and cleaning of septic tanks and uncontrolled dumps in

especially sensitive zones of the Tera River’s and tributaries’ SCI’s

ES4190067

Since the beginning of the program almost all of the septic tanks that discharge

into the Negro river sections have been cleaned, as well as others of the Tera River

that were damaged and scorning the naiad’s habitat quality. The municipal septic

tanks of the following locations were cleaned:

MUNICIPALITIES

RIVER SUB-BASIN

Limianos de Sanabria

Truchas Creek, Tera

Manzanal de los Infantes

Negro

Otero de Centenos

Negro

Dornillas

Requera Creek, Negro

Sejas de Sanabria

Negro

Lanseros

Negro

Donadillo

Negro

Peque

Negro

Vega del Castillo

Fontirín Creek, Negro

Donadillo

Fuentealba Creek, Negro

Cerezal de Sanabria

Negro

Villar de los Pisones

Negro

Trefacio

Trefacio River, Tera

Rioconejos

Sapo Creek , Negro

Anta de Rioconejos

Negro

Doney de la Requejada

Negro

Rosinos de la Requejada

Negro

Donado

Fuente alba Creek, Negro

Muelas de los Caballeros

Fontirín Creek, Negro

Page 33

Cleaning of septic tanks

C1.2. Elimination and recovery of an uncontrolled waste dumping point’s

surrounding areas, on the Negro River

In the proximities of the Negro River (in Otero de Centenos) and in areas close

to naiad colonies, a waste dump was sealed and the river banks arranged,

eliminating this type of impact in the Tera River’s and tributaries’ riverbanks SCI’s

(ES4190067).

Restored waste dump

Page 34

C1.3. Removal of waste from the course of the Tera River’s SCI

Abundant quantities of trash and other waste which had been deposited in the

water course and margins of the Tera River were removed, in a Tera River Bank’s

and tributaries’ SCI (ES4190067) space, which presented a significant source of

pollution and alteration of the fluvial environment. The principal intervention zone

was situated between the localities of El Puente de Sanabria and Puebla de

Sanabria, although other conflictive points along the Castro River were also acted

upon.

Taking advantage of this intervention, an old iron footbridge dragged by a flood in

1989, rusting and blocking the course of the Negro River in its mid-section since

then, has been removed.

Remains of the passage removed from the Negro River

During 2006 wastes located upstream from El Puente de Sanabria were removed.

The area of action was estimated at 4.17 Ha, involving approximately 2.500 linear

metres of river banks.

This measure contributed to maintaining a favourable conservation status for the

alnus glutinosa forest, improving the water quality and the Margaritifera habitat.

Page 35

C2. Actions for restoring and improving the naiad biotype and the host

species (2004-2007)

The principal actions performed have been directed towards:

C2. 1. Mill pipe recovery

One of the principal problems of the M. Margaritifera is the scarce

population of common trout alevins detected in the surroundings of the principal

naiad colonies. The absence of appropriate zones for the trout’s reproduction

stands out as a principal cause, which led to the recuperation of a number of

mill pipes. Within these pipes, the flow and substrate are adequate for trout

spawning and with the implementation of this measure an increase of alevin

density in the surroundings of the naiad colonies is expected.

The intervention has been intense in the Donadillo, Lanseros and

Rioconejos mill pipes, located in the Negro River basin. It basically consisted in

adapting water intakes, wall reinforcement and stabilization, cleaning, levelling

and adaptation of the substrate, and increase of vegetation cover.

Donadillo mill pipe

Rioconejos mill pipe

Lanseros mill pipe

C2. 2. Recovery of small weirs

Page 36

The upper sections of the rivers are the principal trout spawning sites.

During the dry years, in which the river flow diminishes excessively, it is

convenient to create small “submerged” weirs in these sections which serve as

refuge and feeding sites for the future reproduction. These types of weirs have

been built in Fontirín, Sapo, Negro and Trefacio Rivers.

Submerged weir in the Fontirin River

C2. 3. Interventions for the recovery of river dynamics

Another principal problem detected regarding the species was the absence

of flow sections or rapids in the rivers. Setting obstacles or other elements in

the water course allowed for increased water dynamics in slow flowing sections,

besides diversifying the habitat and creating refuge sites for fish populations.

This kind of action has been performed in the mid-section of the Negro River, in

Cerezal de Sanabria, simultaneously serving to recover an old traditional

crossing.

Page 37

Deflector – pedestrian crossing at Cerezal de Sanbria

C2. 4. Clearing and recovery of spawning sites

Fires which occurred in the sloped river-basins of the action site favoured

the contribution of ash, organic material, and sands which were deposited in the

river beds. The lack of strong river-currents that wash away the substrate

caused a vast majority of spawn areas to become unusable for trout

reproduction.

Clearing and recovery of spawning sites

During 2005 and 2007 the river beds were cleaned - with rakes and other

manual methods - in specific sections of the Negro and Tera River which had

remained covered with slime and other sediment.

Some types of complementary actions were also performed in order to improve

these sections by installing submerged gabions with gravel, so as to favour the

creation of turbulent type currents.

Page 38

C2. 5. Actions involving the restoration and recovery of river banks in

especially sensitive zones

During 2004 the recovery of one of the Negro River’s margins was

performed. The construction of various trails in the Negro River’s basin

generated sites where solids were introduced to a very sensitive naiad

conservation section of the river. The actions consisted in the first case, in the

recuperation of one of the affected areas into its natural status. In the second

case the action consisted in the recovery of a slope creating a filter and

retaining dike for the runoff.

During 2005 the actions consisted in the following:

-. Recovery of the riverbank forest and reduction of runoff from the

burnt area in the Fontirin stream, a SCI of the River Banks of the Tera

River and its Tributaries SIC.

The action basically consisted in the withdrawal of burnt vegetation

from a river basin affected by fire, the installation of natural barriers to

reduce the levels of ashes and solids introduced by superficial runoff to

the Fontirin stream, and replanting the area with fast growing annual

plants and willow staking.

Barriers in burnt areas

-. Reduction of superficial runoff levels from a firebreak

The action consisted in the creation of a number of transversal

drainage channels in a firebreak and the construction of a retaining dike or

a containment barrier at its base, using natural materials.

Page 39

Sedimentation raft at the base of a firebreak.

During 2006 these kinds of tasks have continued, acting fundamentally on:

-.Adaptation of the riverbank forest, through cleaning, pruning and

clearing of the riverbed and the riverbanks vegetation in the spawning

sites.

For years the excessive and chaotic pressure that man has

practiced on the timber resources that the alnus glutinosa forest used

to generate (currently, habitats of major concern in the European

Union) and the popular belief that the alders and their leaves

“poisoned” the river destroying its icthio-fauna, have caused the total

deforestation or excessive cut of river sections motivating the loss

and alteration of the biological communities settled there.

Fortunately the regeneration level of these ecosystems is quite

high, which generally favours quick natural recovery.

Once the importance of the conservation of these ecosystems

occurs, it is necessary to adopt organizational measures which favour

the structural and specific diversity of the woodlands, regulating their

use and making them compatible with the conservation of the natural

wealth they contain.

With this in mind, actions performed during 2006 took place on

particular masses located in river sections of special sensitivity and

importance for reproduction and/or fattening of the common trout, and

which, in most cases, had undergone a chaotic exploitation.

The task basically consisted in the elimination of those alder

trees trunks that were damaged.

Page 40

This action was complemented with the elimination and specific

cut of bush vegetation, especially brambles (Rubus sp.) in river

sections where they had spread excessively for years, since the alder

trees provided no competition.

The actions also implied cutting, selecting and conserving

organic material for staking, essentially of Salix sp, and other

bioengineering techniques in the damaged river sections.

Location

Area

Performed task

Rosinos de la

Requejada

1,35 Ha.

Tree thinning, cleaning, cut and provision of

organic material for staking

Cerezal de

Sanabria

1,26 Ha.

Tree thinning, cleaning, cut and provision of

organic material for staking

Muelas de los

Caballeros

10,92 Ha.

Tree thinning, cleaning, cut and provision of

organic material for staking and staking.

Tree cut in Rosinos

-. Actions for the reduction of contribution of solids due to superficial

runoff to the river banks.

In the Negro River basin and, in general, in La Carballeda area,

forest fires are very frequent; therefore it is necessary to build

firebreaks to minimize the risk the wooded areas burning. These

infrastructures usually rely on environmental elements of low

combustibility (riverbeds, rocky formations, roads…).

Page 41

When the firebreaks rely on riverbeds, it frequently happens

that intense raining or storms cause dragging of particulate material

which ends-up in the riverbeds due to runoff, altering the water’s

physical-chemical properties.

The construction of transversal ditches that divert the runoff

water to vegetation areas, and the construction of small

sedimentation ponds is considered one of the main solutions to avoid

and minimize contributions of particulate material.

With this in mind, during 2006 some actions were performed in

these zones:

River

basin

Description of the actions

Opening of ditches for the transversal draining of a

firebreak and the provincial road gutter that links Otero

with Donadillo, including the construction of a pond for

the sedimentation and retention of solids (Manzanal de

los Infantes).

Opening of transversal ditches for solid deviation and a

sedimentation pond in the Regato Creek (Manzanal de

los Infantes).

Opening of transversal ditches for solid deviation and a

sedimentation pond in the Grandas natural place

(Espadañedo)

Negro

Opening of transversal ditches for solid deviation and a

sedimentation pond in the Entrepuentes natural place

(Manzanal de los Infantes)

Another action was performed in order to minimize the

contribution of solids derived from the vehicular traffic over the

riverbed of the Fontirín creek, at Vega de Castillo (Espadañedo).

Page 42

Settling basins at Pinar de Otero

-. Actions to improve passing obstacles in the Negro river.

Along the Negro river there are many obstacles that prevent the

pre-reproductive migration of trout to the high zones, where their

reproduction or spawning sites are located. In order to favour the

permeability and passage through these obstacles, during 2006 and

2007 the following works were started:

Site

Description of Action Taken

Cerezal de

Sanabria

(Asturianos)

Construction of a stone masonry spillway in the

Negro River.

Rosinos de

Requejada

Construction of a ramp to ease fish climbing in the

Negro River

Ribadelago

Viejo

(Galende)

Construction of a ramp to ease fish climbing through

an obstacle in the Thera River.

-. Organization and promotion of public use

During many years, and with different administrations, several

actions have been performed to promote the tourist and sports use of

specific areas of the Negro River. In the mid-section, where the best

naiad colonies are sited, we find some recreational areas (connected

to the Public Utility Mountains), two private fishing reserves, a free

section, a camping area, a river pool,…as well as different areas

traditionally used by locals and summer visitors as swimming areas.

Even though the pressure produced by these uses doesn’t

create major environmental problems (except when these imply the

construction of significant infrastructures), it is necessary to adopt

Page 43

measures favouring rational and proportional activities, adjusted with

the real necessities of the user.

The actions performed in this field pretend to arrange these uses,

taking the visitor to the most suitable places, already equipped with

services, as well as informing them about the natural values of the zone

and the importance of the Natura 2000 Net. In order to achieve this, there

have been installed 7 interpretation panels measuring 1.260 x 1.050 mm,

designed in accordance with the “graphic and constructive regulations

manual for the signage system of the Natural Spaces Net of the Castilla y

Leon Department of the Environment. “

Interpretation signs

During 2007, the performed tasks have been directed to the maintenance of the

actions performed until now: Cleaning and improvement of the spawning sites,

cleaning of the solid sedimentation pits, maintenance of the mills’ pipes, filling

gaps in the waste dump… Part of these actions respond to the

recommendations obtained from the first follow-up report on actions taken

(Action D1), from 2006.

Page 44

D. PERIODIC MANAGEMENT OF THE BIOTYPE (D1).

D1. Follow-up, evaluation and maintenance of the conservation actions

A follow-up of the actions to recover the biotype has been performed (Action C),

so that its undertaking be performed with the required sensitivity and precautions,

avoiding or minimizing any kind of damage to the fluvial ecosystem. Emphasis was

placed on training the workers involved in the construction works.

Maintenance and preservation of the performed works has been done,

searching for their full functionality.

The repercussion of the actions on the Margaritifera habitat has finally been

scientifically evaluated. In 2006 the first of these evaluation reports was written; it

evaluates the importance and efficacy of every one of the biotype management

actions performed until now (August 2006) and its conservation status, while

proposing corrective or complementary measures when necessary.

At the end of 2007, the 2nd follow-up report of actions to improve the biotype

was presented. The global evaluation of the actions on the whole was favourable,

although for some of them the possibility of improvement is suggested in certain

ways.

The actions performed around the river beds are considered positive since they

have improved the oxygenation conditions at various moments of the year, by

increasing the water turbulence, as well as the substrate aptitude in the gravel and

sand areas as a microhabitat for naiads and spawning of its host species. In the

Negro River the works carried out in three mill pipes as gravel areas for trout

spawning are considered adequate.

It is necessary that actions oriented at solving the water haze problems, caused

by surface runoff of particles during autumn storms and strong rains, be

implemented at other points where significant fine discharge remains, due to the

scale of the problem. The implementation of these measures, along with preventive

measures from the Action Plan should contribute to invert this impact, which is the

most problematic for the current preservation of the species and its host.

The efficacy of some of these sedimentation actions performed in the mid

section of the Negro River has been distorted due to the massive contributions that

arrive from the river headwaters and from the main tributaries due to the

intensification of the ground erosion problem in the entire river basin.

Actions directed to recover the Alnus Glutinosa forest, the riparian vegetation

and the slopes are considered good, depending on the acceptable staking

sprouting (in spite of the strong and long 2007 ebb tide) and the herbal substrate

sprout and grounding, as well as the stability of the fences that stop and collect the

surface runoff.

As a conclusion to Objective D1, the following Minimum Follow up Plan is

proposed to be undertaken in the following years, alongside the measures

considered in the Action Plan (Objective A4).

1/ Follow up of the naiads’ displaced by river surges, out of the river flow.

Similarly, the review of all the superficial river branches and mill pipes before

the ebb tide (end of May – June) for the saving of beached specimens and

their transfer to closer water colonies upstream.

Page 45

2/ Manual maintenance of the spawning sites in the autumn, and the creation

of new turbulence areas.

3/ Maintenance of the settling ponds emptying the sediments trapped after

each rain season. Also, there should be a monitoring in the network of follow-

up stations for water quality, sediment accumulation and changes produced in

the biotic communities.

4/ Maintenance tasks for fences and replanted areas along stream banks,

especially at the base of burnt slopes.

5/ Installation of new works which help reduce the entry of solids in the river

beds and eliminate the barrier effect of the traditional river ponds.

Page 46

E. INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC AND PUBLICIZING THE RESULTS (E1.-

E3.)

E1. Preparation of informative material for publicizing the project

The principal actions realized have been:

E1.1 Publishing of informative brochures

One of the principal objectives of the LIFE Project is to understand the species

and the importance of its conservation and that of the habitats in which it still

survives. With this goal, an informative brochure has been published for the general

public, where the value of the species is illustrated as are the measures and

actions developed by the LIFE project promoting its conservation. Although an

initial print of 5.000 copies was foreseen, the vast dissemination of the brochure

required a new print of another 5000 copies.

In order to fulfil the aim of generating the widest promotion to the project

possible, the brochure has been distributed to different sites of the LIFE program’s

field of action: Sanabria Lake Natural Park House and surroundings, town halls,

Department of Territorial Services of the Environment, fishing associations,

pedagogical centres (schools, secondary schools and universities), etc.

In March 2006, 450 brochures were sent to Ramon M. Alvárez Halcón, member of

the Spanish Society of Malacology, for distribution among the associates within the

annual magazine Iberus, published by the society.

Display Panels

E1.2 Publishing of an annual river information bulletin

“INFONAYADE”, the annual river information bulletin, has been published

annually. The principal aim of this bulletin is to inform the local population of the

importance of fluvial ecosystem conservation. The document is structured using a

number of fixed sections (editorial, identification keys, news in brief, “andarrios”,...)

and a series of opinion articles which vary in theme in each number.

Page 47

Infonáyade 2004

Editorial; Living close to the river

Natura 2000 Network, a real goal for conservation

Nature conservation and the LIFE Programs

River uses; Mills

Key; freshwater bivalves of the Sanabria and Carvalleda Rivers,

News in brief 2004

Sanabria, landscape of crystal-clear waters

Flora; alnus glutinosa forests, the forest that doesn’t allow to see the river

Fauna of our rivers; the Iberian desman

“Andarrios”; From Puebla de Sanabria to El Puente along the riverbanks of the Tera

Infonáyade 2005

Editorial; Trout and Naiads

About those mussels named naiads

The Margaritifera Margaritifera’s life cycle.

Fish Conservation in the Northwest of Zamora.

Key; Fish of the Sanabria and Carballeda Rivers.

LIFE projects in the province of Zamora.

News in brief 2005.

Flora; Corridors of life.

Fauna of our rivers; the common trout.

“Andarrios”; Vega del Castillo and its surroundings

Infonáyade 2006

Editorial; Recovering the Habitat

Hydrobiology of the Negro River

An Action Plan for the Conservation of Margaritífera

Legend of the Amphibians of the Sanabria and Carballeda Counties

Solutions for the fish migration problem

Traditional uses of the river; historical notes

News briefs

Flora; alnus glutinosa forests, the forest that doesn’t allow to see the river (II)

Fauna: Fish introduced in Zamora

“Andarríos”; San Ciprián - Los Vados

Infonáyade 2007

LIFE NAIAD; the Challenger of preserving our fluvial ecosystems.

Environmental volunteering; adopt a river….Bidasoa.

Leafs key to identify the riverbank trees in Sanabria and Carballeda.

Fishing and preserving our trouts.

Bio-indicator birds of the aquatic ecosystems.

News briefs

The Iron Age castros founded in the river network of Northwestern Zamora.

Notes on the state of conservation of the Iberian populations of Margaritifera margaritifera.

Along the banks of the Negro River.

E1.3 Informative campaign and publishing of a school textbook

In 2005 various informative lectures were realized, fundamentally directed at

the school-going and university populations. The fundamental aim of these talks

was to inform the population about the importance of conserving our rich fluvial

ecosystems.

Page 48

The lectures and/or talks given to the present date have been the following:

-. 22/02/05, Secondary Education Institute of Camarzana de Tera. Various

informative lectures were given regarding the generic subject “Conservation

of the riverbanks of Zamora.” A total of 75 students from the 5th, 6th, 1st and

2nd of the E.S.O. levels participated.

-. 05/05/05, Students of the Technical Engineering School of Public Works

of the University of Salamanca. Informative lecture and field visit to the

Trefacio and Tera Rivers. 18 students from the 2nd ITOP assisted.

-. 06/06/05, Secondary Education Institute of Alcañices. Informative

lectures were given regarding the generic subject “Conservation of the

riverbanks of Zamora.” A total of 53 students from the 3rd, 4th, 1st and 2nd of

the E.S.O. levels participated.

-. 09/10/05, Students of the Agricultural Technical Engineering School of

the University of Salamanca. Viriato University Campus (Zamora): Informative

lecture regarding the LIFE NÁYADE and the Natura 2000 Network. 29

students from the 3rd ITA assisted.

-. August-September/05, Talks to the participants in the Conference on

Volunteer Work in the Lake Sanabria Natural Park and surroundings. San

Martin de Castañeda Inn (Zamora). Promotional presentation of the LIFE

NAIAD Project, of the Natura 2000 Network and field visits. Number of

participants 72.

• 25/08/05: 24 Students

• 07/09/05: 23 Students

• 22/09/05: 25 Students

During November of 2005, we worked on the preparation of the presentation

schedule (lectures) in schools, secondary schools, town halls and cultural centres,

as well as organizing the travelling exhibition. To the present date, and subject to

confirmation, a minimum of 13 conferences are expected in different town halls, 10

exhibitions, and visits to 6 educational centres, giving different classes depending

on student age.

As for the student population, we think the most correct way is to structure the

conferences in three blocks.

-. In the first block, an oral exposition will be performed using multimedia

material in which different features will be treated: River ecology, its flora,

fauna, the naiads, the Natura 200 Network, and the LIFE Project, as well as the

factors and measures to be adopted in order to guarantee adequate

conservation of the ecosystem. Each conference will last approximately 20

minutes.

-. In the second block, a film lasting approximately 6 minutes, “Biology of the

Margaritifera margaritifera, a singular species” will be shown. This film was

shot mainly in the Tera River’s and Tributaries’ Riverbanks SCI. In the film the

students can see the habitat in which naiads live, their peculiar way of

Page 49

reproduction, their feeding habits, and their ecological role, while developing a

greater interest in the subject, through the use of underwater images.

-. In the third block, lasting approximately 20 minutes, the monitors will

reinforce and evaluate the knowledge acquired by the students, through

exercises included in the “Student’s Textbook”, published for the project’s

informative campaign.

Finally, it should be noted that the 2005 re-edition of the student textbooks of

the Lake Sanabria Natural Park and surroundings some contents referring the

Margaritifera, margaritifera and its ecosystem have been added.

TVE recording.

A vast part of these types of actions was supported with panels from the

travelling exhibition “Naiads, lookouts of our rivers” (see E1.4.3 bellow) and a

collection of the Castilla y León naiads valves.

Since many lectures were intended for young schoolboys and girls, the teaching

material was adapted to their educational level; therefore it was necessary to

simplify the educational notebook.

In the following table there is a summary of the different centres that were

visited and the participants involved in each conference.

Page 50

VISITED EDUCATION CENTRES 2005/2007

(Lumber of participants)

Alta Sanabria

El Puente

220

Lubián

Sanabria Lake Natural Park

volunteers

160

Baja Sanabria

Puebla de Sanabria

117

Palacios de Sanabria

Carballeda

Mombuey

Villardeciervos

Villardeciervos

Ferreras Arriba

Ferreras Abajo

Codesal

Aliste

IES Alcañices

Nuez de Aliste/ S. Juan Rebollar

Mahíde

San Vicente de la Cabeza

Los Valles

Camarzana de Tera

San Pedro de Ceque

Sta. Croya Tera

Santibáñez de Vidriales

Villardeciervos

Environmental Education

Centre

275

Zamora Technical

Engineering School of

Public Works

Zamora Agricultural

Engineering School

University of Salamanca

University of Valladolid.

Agrarian Engineering School

TOTAL LIFE NAIAD

1.678

Summary table of students participating in various

talks given on environmental awareness.

The total number of participants is shown in the

table, regardless of the year, since some centres were

visited more than once.

E1.4 Publicizing of the LIFE Project in different media

The principal actions developed in this scope have been:

E1.4.1 TV and Radio broadcast of the LIFE Project

-. June 16th, of 2004: a Spanish Television (TVE) team, directed by the

reporter Isaac Macho, went to Negro River (Northern Zamora) to film part of the

research team during its work day. The information was broadcasted in various

informative editions of regional and national television.

-. May 2005: Interview with the researching and coordinating personnel and

filming of the LIFE NAIAD Programme works for the performance and

Page 51

broadcasting of a short report in the local and regional television news bulletin

of the Television Channel: Antena 3. After this, Pablo Santos Redin, coordinator

of the LIFE NAIAD Programme was interviewed in the local television Canal 4

magazine: Más madera.

-. October 25th, 2005: The coordinator of the LIFE NAIAD Programme, Pablo

Santos Redin, participated in the programme “Veda Abierta” of the Digital+

Network’s program Canal de Caza y Pesca, which is presented by the well

known reporter Juan Delibes. During the program, the documentary filmed by

the LIFE team this year “Biology of the Margaritifera, margaritifera: a singular

species” using underwater cameras in the Sanabria and Carballeda regions

was shown, revealing unpublished images of the naiad and its host species, the

trout.

-. May 6th, 2006: The chief of the Zamora’s Department of Natural Spaces

and Protected Specimens, Mr. Jesus Palacios Alberti, participated in the

Cadena Ser program “Hoy por hoy Zamora”.

E1.4.1 Diffusion of the LIFE Project in the press and other media

-. November 11th, 2003. La Opinión, El Correo de Zamora. “A LIFE Program will

conserve the naiads of the Tera and Bibey Rivers”.

-. November 11th, 2003. La Prensa, “LIFE Program of the Junta to conserve

mussels”.

- . November 11 th, 2003. El Norte de Castilla. “Brussels inspires a plan for the

conservation of a river mussel in the rivers of the province”.

-. May 21st, 2004. La Opinión. El Correo de Zamora. “Initiative to conserve the

fluvial ecosystem”.

-. September 27th, 2004. El Norte de Castilla. “Project for the recovery of river

mussels”.

-. El Mundo Castilla y León. “The sad and difficult existence of the millennial

autochthonous mussel.”

-. November 2nd, 2004. La Opinión, El Correo de Zamora. “The Junta

researches in the Negro, Tera, Bibey and Tuela Rivers for a mussel that purifies

water”.

-. September 15th, 2004. Diario de Burgos, A Pleno Pulmón. “Life Project:

Recovery of the naiad, a freshwater bivalve”. Article also published by the

Diario Palentino, Día de Valladolid, and Diario de Ávila.

-. March 29th, 2005. La Opinión, El Correo de Zamora. “The birth of a Junta

bulletin for the defence of the naiad, a bivalve mussel from Sanabria”.

-. March 28th, 2005. Yahoo! News. Castilla y León. “Junta publishes the

information bulletin Infonayade publicizing the environmental wealth of the

Sanabrian rivers”.

Page 52

-. June 2nd, 2005. La Opinión, el Correo de Zamora. “Initiative to conserve the

fluvial ecosystem”.

-. May 6th, 2006. La Opinión, el Correo de Zamora. “The presence of naiads is

a bio-indicator of the rivers’ health”. Naturalmente, Supplement, pag.3

-. June 22nd, 2006. La Opinión, el Correo de Zamora. “Almost eight hundred

students receive lectures regarding river ecosystems”. Pag. 22

-. September 4th, 2006. La Opinión, el Correo de Zamora. “A scientific goal”.

Pag. 36

-. September 5th, 2006. Digital virtual newspaper library CESEFOR

(www.cesefor.com). “The common trout. Host species of the river mussel”.

-. September 2006. QUERCUS, Nature defence, observation, and study

magazine. “The importance of the river mussel preservation”. Pag. 7-9

-. February 13th, 2007. La Opinión de Zamora. “The Ministry of Environment

will invest 4 million Euros in the Negro River and its tributaries”. P.23

-. April 10th, 2007. La Opinión de Zamora. “Arribes’ Casa del Parque houses

the exhibition: Naiads, our rivers’ lookouts” p.20

-. June 11th, 2007. El Mundo and A Tenazón (digital newspaper). Zamora’s

Negro River, the last bastion for Margaritiferas Naiads.

-. September, 2007. El Noroeste; Sanabria, Carballeda and Los Valles (local

paper). “Negro River labelled as one of the thirty best preserved in Spain”. P. 6-

-. October 4th, 2007. El Norte de Castilla, Diario de León, Tribuna de

Salamanca and CESEFOR. “Fishing Regional Board proposes the absolute

ban of zebra mussel and asian clam use as bait for this season”.

-. October 7th, 2007. A tu salud (supplement of La Razón newspaper). “Castilla

y León tries to recover the freshwater mussel”. P23

-. February 13th, 2007. La Opinión de Zamora “The age of the mussel”.

-. November 4th, 2007. El Norte de Castilla. “Naiads show the climatic evolution

during last 80 years”. P. 14

-. December 2007. El Noroeste; Sanabria, Carballeda and Los Valles (local

paper). “LIFE NAIAD exterminates exotic fish in Negro River”. P. 12

Finally it should be noted that on September 26th, 2005 the Environment Counsellor,

Carlos Fernández Carriedo, in his institutional visit to the Lake Sanabria Natural Parks

and surroundings verified the “in situ” actions which had been performed recently.

Among various subjects, he showed interested in the development of the works

concerning the LIFE NAIAD Program.

E1.5 Travelling Exhibition

The development of the interpretation material for the “Naiads, our rivers’

lookouts” exhibition was concluded in October, 2006. The exhibition has eight

coloured panels made in canvas which can be rolled up for easier transportation. It

is complemented with two interpretative tables in which the main freshwater

Page 53

bivalves of our rivers can be learnt, a video on specimen biology and also several

panels with pictures of the principal biotype recovery actions performed by LIFE

Naiad.

During 2007 the exhibition continued through the Casas del Parque and main

interested Town Halls from the action area of the LIFE Naiad Program, namely:

CALENDAR 2007

Place / Locality

January – February

Casa del Parque Natural del Lago de Sanabria y alrededores.

San Martín de Castañeda (Galende)

March – April

Casa del Parque de Arribes del Duero. Fermoselle

April – May

Casa del Parque de Villafáfila. Villafáfila

June 7th to 14th

Rioconejos

June 14th to 25th

Puebla de Sanabria

July 26th to 9th

Mombuey

July 9th to 16th

Rionegro del Puente

July 16th to 30th

Puebla de Sanabria

July 30th to August 6th

Peque

August 7th to 16th

Manzanal de los Infantes

August 16th to 22nd

Mombuey

August 22nd to September 3rd

Casa del Parque Natural del Lago de Sanabria y alrededores.

San Martín de Castañeda (Galende)

September 3rd to 10th

Hermisende

September 11th to 17th

Rionegro del Puente

September 18th to 28th

Rosinos de la Requejada

October 9th to 16th

Rioconejos

November 23rd to 24th

LIFE Conference Margaritifera auricularia. Zaragoza

Between October 24th and 30th, 2007, there was a participation, in

collaboration with the Hunting and Fishing Department, in the “VIII Iberian Week of

Hunting and Fishing”” (Valladolid) with more than 40.000 visitors. Several biological

and informative material was provided, which was used in the aquariums and for

the edition of informative panels of the Junta de Castilla y León kiosk.

In the town halls the campaign was intensified during the summer time, since

more population is present in those months. One of the days was usually reserved

for an informative talk about species biology and its preservation. The exhibition

was placed in local spots and, trying to reach the maximum broadcasting, a letter

was sent to all town halls of the action area, informing them about the exhibit’s

conditions and the fact that it was free. The transfer and installation of the exhibit

was carried out by personnel from the program. Several informative posters were

installed and the media was informed.

Page 54

Panels from the exhibit “Naiads, our Rivers lookouts”

Page 55

E2. EXPERIENCE EXCHANGE (2004-2007)

The principal activities developed in this field have been:

E2.1. Meetings and Conferences specific to LIFE NAIAD

-. May 3rd, 2004, 1st

LIFE NAIAD Technical Conference: Although the

information exchange with the personnel in charge of developing the vigilance task

is practically continuous, it is convenient to develop joint and specific activities from

time to time, so that they can get to know the results and/or conclusions of the field

work in which they have participated in, while providing them with a personal

incentive.

At the same time this kind of forum reveals which are the principal problems

that the association has to face with, when developing its work, what are the main

factors that, in its opinion, may be affecting the species negatively, problems with

the local population, possible actions to improve the biotype, etc.

The Conference was held at the facilities of the Management Centre and the

environmental agents of the forest regions in which the program is developed (Alta

Sanabria, Baja Sanabria y Carballeda) attended the conference.

-. May 5th, 2005, II LIFE NAIAD Technical Conference: This occasion counted

with the participation of over 50 people including research personnel, specialists in

the species, specialists in the recovery of the fluvial environment and personnel in

charge of vigilance and follow-up tasks (environmental agents and Guardia Civil

Nature Protection Service agents - SEPRONA). The conference was held in the old

municipal schools of Rioconejos.

Alarcos, G. (Biologist). Animal Biology Department. University of Salamanca.

Lecture: “Vertebrates connected to the fluvial ecosystems, identification and

importance”.

González, G. (Biologist). Icthios, Environmental management S.L. Lecture:

“Fishing populations in the Natura 2000 spaces: Tera River’s Riverbanks SCI,

Lake Sanabria and surrounding SCI and Tuela River and its Tributaries’

Riverbanks SCI’s”.

Lizana, M. (Biologist). Animal Biology Department of the University of

Salamanca. Lecture: “Recent modifications of the taxonomic status of the

Spanish amphibian”.

Morales J. (Biologist). Tragsa S.L. Lecture: “Distribution of the Margaritifera,

margaritifera in the action scope of LIFE Naiad, and implications of its

preservation”.

Santos, P. (Biologist). Environmental S.T. of Zamora and Technical Coordinator

of the LIFE NAIAD Program. “The LIFE NAIAD Program for the conservation of

the M. Margaritifera in Zamora; actions performed”.

Velasco Marcos, J.C.: Biologist and Technician of the Territorial Service of

Salamanca. Lecture: “Fishing species and bivalves of the rivers of Castilla and

León”.

Page 56

The conference concluded with a round table in which all of the lecturers took

part in while the attendants could transmit any kind of suggestions for the future

Action Plan. The Town Hall of Astuarianos, the La Marra Cultural Association and

the Local Action Group ADISAC-LA VOZ provided an important collaboration in

organizing and developing the event.

- December 22nd, 2005, III LIFE NAIAD Technical Conference: The conference

was held at the facilities of the Natural Environment General Management Board of the

Department of Environment. Personnel from different sections related with the

management of the fluvial habitats, their fauna and environment, attended the

conference, as well as research personnel in charge of the program’s follow-up. The

inter-departmental revision of the last draft of the “Action Plan for the Conservation of

Margaritifera margaritifera in Castilla y León” took place at this conference.

-. March 24th, 2006. 4th technical LIFE NAIAD conference: It was a theoretical-

practical conference that took place in La Carballeda. It was oriented by some

technicians of the Hydra, Ingenieria y Gestión Ambiental firm, specialized in

hydrological restoration works with bio-engineering methods; the conference started

with a talk at the regional office and a visit to some of the restoration actions performed

within the scope of the LIFE program, as well as to other zones where a correction of

some kind of impact is foreseen.

-. November 30th, 2006. 5th technical LIFE NAIAD conference: the

representative of Zamora´s Confederación Hidrográfica del Duero (CHD) [Douro

River Hydrographical Convention], Mr. José Manuel Herrero, and his technical

team, were invited to this journey where the main conclusions regarding the

scientific and problematic experimentation of the specimen conservation were

revealed. The conference ended with a visit to some of the interventions performed

to improve the biotype.

During 2006, contacts were maintained with the supervisors from other

specimen conservation related programs, especially:

➢ Conservation of pearl mussel habitats in Belgium. LIFE2002NAT/B8590.

Page 57

➢ Large freshwater mussels Unionoidea in the border area of Bavaria,

Saxony and the Czech Republic. LIFE2002NAT/D/8458.

E2.2. Convention participation and attendance, technical visits, and

courses of scientific character

In the scope of science, the LIFE program also observes the interchange of

experiences with researchers and specialists in the species and its habitat

environment, as well as participants in similar projects or experiences. In this

respect, and within the framework of LIFE actions, adequate contacts have been

maintained with:

-. 16/06/04, Technical visit to the Margaritifera margaritifera in the

Portuguese section of the Tuela River (Northern Portugal). Accompanied by the

specialist Joaquim Reis, some of the Margaritifera colonies that he has

described and characterized were visited (Reis, J. 2003 The freshwater pearl

mussel [Margaritifera margaritifera (L.)] (Bivalvia, unionida) rediscovered in

Portugal and threats to survival). Experiences regarding the principal factors

that affect the species in the area, population status, present age rates, and

joint actions to be developed in order to guarantee species conservation, were

exchanged.

-. 01/07/04, Technical visit to understand the situation of the species in the

Alberche River (Ávila). In this occasion, invited by the specialist Juan Carlos

Velasco, one of the pioneer researchers of bivalve mussels in Castilla y León,

and by the personnel from the Natural Species Section and Protected Species

of Avila; there was a collaboration in a prospecting campaign in the Alberche

River (Northern Avila) where the presence of the species has been recently

described.

The prospecting and social journey also served to provide a first hand

explanation of the LIFE Project to Dr. Rafael Araujo, editor of the action plan for

the recovery of the species at the European level, as well as exchange opinions

and experiences with his knowledgeable team.

-. August/04. Visit to the Natural Science Museum, Madrid. A two day

technical-scientific experiences exchange seminar with Dr. Rafael Araujo, the

European coordinator for the conservation of the species in the European

Union, providing vast bibliographical information regarding the species,

available at the museum.

-. 8-9/08/04, Attendance and presentation of the Poster in the XII Congress

of the Spanish Limnology Association & IV Iberian Congress of Limnology

(Porto, Portugal). The poster titled “Characterization of the Margaritifera

margaritifea habitat in the Negro River (North-Western. Zamora, Spain)” was

displayed. The attendance to the congress was used to promote the LIFE

Project, to contact with researching personnel in projects with other bivalves,

specialized personnel in river course restoration, handling of fish populations,

etc.

-. 3/02/05, Visit to the Natural Science Museum, Madrid. The purpose of this

visit was to set down the guidelines with the European Coordinator for recovery

Page 58

of the species in the future Action Plan for M. Margaritifera conservation in

Castilla y León.

- July 20th, 2005. Visit to the M. Margaritifera populations of the Agueda

River (Salamanca). Invited by the researcher Juan Carlos Velasco, pioneer in

the freshwater mussel research in Castilla y León. In that journey opinions and

knowledge about the state of the populations were exchanged, and the possible

factors that were conditioning its decline in Castilla and León were compared.

Several data regarding the water were taken, and also a small percentage

of naiad that were collected to realize biometric comparisons between the

populations of the Tera River (Zamora) and those of the Agueda River. Basic

features of the Action Plan were also discussed.

-. July 31st – August 1st, 2005. Visit of Dr. Rafael Araujo, Coordinator of the

European Action Plan for the recovery of M. Margaritifera and researcher of the

Evolutive Biology Department of the National Museum of Natural Science in

Madrid (CSIC): The visit allowed him to get to know some of the best colonies

of the species “in situ”, their habitat and the principal factors that determine their

population dynamics. The guidelines for the future Action Plan were reviewed

and a scientific collaboration agreement, to be signed at a later date, was

prepared.

-. September 14th, 2005. University of Salamanca Summer Course: “Douro

River: Natural Resources and Territorial Development Politics”. Connected to

the congress: “Homage to the Douro: Memory, Culture and Future”. Oral

presentation by Javier Morales (Biologist of the Life Naiad project) from the

lecture: “Fauna resources of the Douro river-basin”.

-. 17-27 October/2005. 1st

Environmental Conferences of Puebla de

Sanabria. “Getting to know protected and singular species for better rural

development”. Organized by APAFMAZA (Professional Association of Forest

and Environmental Agents of Zamora), in collaboration with the Puebla de

Sanabria Town Hall and subsidised by the Department of the Environment.

.Javier Morales Martín. Research biologist of the LIFE NAIAD program. He

presented the conference “Biology and conservation of the freshwater

bivalves in Zamora”. He also gave a practical class session and an

interpretative visit to the Tera River, where he explained M. Margaritifea

biology “in situ”.

.Pablo Santos Redín. Biologist and coordinator of the LIFE NAIAD Project,

lectured at the conference “Protected Natural Spaces of Zamora; Natura

2000 Network”

-. October 19th, 2005. Visit of Juan Carlos Velasco, pioneer in the study of

freshwater mussels in Castilla y León, to the Management Centre: During his

stay he could confirm the experiments developed in a controlled environment to

determine the host species (Action A3). Moreover, there was a visit to the

Negro River sections where the most representative colonies of the naiad in the

study zone are found.

-. November 15th, 2005. Visit of LIFE NAIAD Program research personnel to the

University of Santiago de Compostela Faculty of Veterinary Medicine,

Page 59

Department of Zoology and Genetics, in Lugo: Opinions and experiences

regarding the works developed by the University and the LIFE NAIAD program

were exchanged, as well as possible collaborations in organizing a symposium

about the species and collaboration in future field prospecting and works

directed towards infestation.

-. November, 25th, 2005. Ichthyogenetic Centre of the Department of the

Environment in Galisancho (Salamanca). The research personnel went to this

centre to observe how different breeding and maintenance tasks for trout are

performed, to be able to evaluate the adoption of new work methods for

recovering the species.

-. January 9th, 2006 Visit to Dr. Rafael Araujo, Coordinator of the

European Action Plan for the recovery of M. Margaritifera and researcher of the

Evolutionary Biology Department of the National Museum of Natural Science in

Madrid (CSIC): Within the framework of the agreement signed with this

scientific entity, we tried to obtain some electronic microscopic picture of the

cysts obtained in the trout’s grills from the experimentation in controlled

environment performed in summer of 2005.

-. January 18th, 2006. Participation in a conference regarding Margaritifera

auticularia, organized by the Aragon Government General Department of

Natural Environment, within the scope of the LIFE program for the recuperation

of this specimen: Invited by the program supervisors, we attended the

conference hold at the Pignatelli Building in Zaragoza. The organization offered

us the opportunity of providing a short lecture describing the principal actions

and goals of the LIFE Naiad Program.

-. January 31st, 2006. Meeting with the directors of the Environment

Department of the Zamora Provincial Council. This institution assigns an annual

budget for aiding in the construction and cleaning of septic tanks. We insisted in

the necessity of cleaning all the tanks that pour into Natura 2000 riverbeds

linked with the rivers, especially those that represent the Margaritifera habitat.

As a result of this meeting, the septic tanks located in Natura 2000 areas were

included as criteria for evaluation of aid distribution.

-. April, 2006. Attendance to a lecture regarding river and riverbank

restoration, organized by the Burgos University and Oxigeno Foundation.

-. April 12th, 2006. Technical visit to the Galisancho fish farm (Salamanca)

(Invited by J.C. Velasco) This visit allowed us to learn “in situ” the techniques

used for the reproduction and breeding of the Danube Salmon (Hucho Hucho).

-. May 31st – June 3th, 2006. Participation in the scientific specialization

seminar regarding restoration of the aquatic ecosystems. Encoro do Con

Hydrobiology station, Santiago de Compostela University.

-. July 3-6th, 2006. Attendance in the XIII Congress of the Spanish

Limnology Association & V Iberian Congress of Limnology. The following oral

papers were presented:

➢ parameters and the river invertebrate communities that accompany

a Margaritifera margaritifea population of the Negro River (Zamora),

in an area affected by fires.

Page 60

➢ Limnologycal follow-up of the Negro River (Zamora)

-. July 3rd-4th, 2006. Participation in the “Course on river and riverbank

restoration” organized by the Valladolid University in Palencia. Besides

attending the course, the scientific coordinator provided a lecture on riparian

fauna conservation.

-. August 2006. Scientific collaboration with the Natural Sciences Museum of

Madrid. Within the scope of the collaboration with R. Araujo, 35 samples of M.

margaritifera were taken in order to perform a study of the genetic

characterization by the German investigator Jurgen Gëist.

-. February 12th, 2007. Attendance in the presentation of The National Program

of River and River Bank Restoration. MIMAM – CHD. Valladolid

-. April 28th, 2007. In the University of Salamanca (Faculty of Agronomy and

Environmental Sciences, Salamanca) in the degree: “University expert in

management and preservation of flora, fauna and protected spaces” the

following lecture was given: “Iberian freshwater bivalves. Natural and

problematic history of their preservation. Project LIFE Naiad of Junta de Castilla

y León.”

-. July 2nd, 2007. At the Summer Course “II Course of River and River Bank

restoration” of the University of Valladolid (Palencia Agro-forestall School) the

following lecture was given: “Peculiar mammals at the river banks and

protection and preservation of naiads”.

-. July 10th, 2007. At the Special Course of the University of Salamanca (faculty

of Agronomy and Environmental, Salamanca) entitled “Current tendencies in

the preservation of the Spanish biodiversity: recovery plans and management of

the habitat for threatened fauna”, the following lecture was given: “Preservation

status and plans of recovering the threatened freshwater bivalves. LIFE Naiad

project of Castilla y León”.

-. July 16th, 2007. At the Special Course of the University of Salamanca

(Puebla de Sanabria) entitled “Protected spaces in the peninsular northwest:

natural and cultural heritage” the following lecture was given: “the restoration of

former fluvial abandoned industries in order to recover river biodiversity. How?

Where? When?”

-. November 23rd-24th, 2007. Participation in the Margaritifera auricularia

Technical Conferences, organized by the Environmental Department of the

Government of Aragon and held in Zaragoza. P.Santos and J. Morales

presented the lecture “Preservation of M.Margaritifera in Castilla y León (LIFE-

03/NAT/E/000051)” with participation in a roundtable.

-. October 9th, 2007. Technical visit by the Hunting and Fishing department of

the General Management of Natural Environment to the biotype improvement

works performed by LIFE Naiad.

-. October 17th, 2007. Technical meeting to coordinate works and reports of

LIFE Program at the General Management of Natural Environment.

Page 61

E3. Communication of project results and creation of a Web page

(2004-2007)

One of the main aims of the LIFE NAIAD Project is to promote and broadcast

the Project and its results. In 2004 the project WEB page was created and is

periodically updated incorporating new contents, as well as a PDF copy of some of the

main reports and all of the publications.

Regarding the broadcasting tasks, we should quote numerous publications that

appeared on the media, in congresses, lectures, talks…. As described in section E2

Page 62

F. FUNCTIONING OF THE PROJECT (2005-2006)

F1. Scientific and technical follow-up of species and habitat conservation

measures

These types of actions were principally performed during 2006-2007, keeping

the periodical physical chemical controls at each of the sampling stations and

evaluating the efficacy and repercussion of the biotype improvement actions

performed to the present date.

As a result of this follow up the following work was written: “Follow up of the

biotype improvement actions performed within the scope of the LIFE NAIAD

program for the conservation of the Margaritifera margaritifera in SCI of Zamora,

Spain, (LIFE03—NAT-E-000051).

F2. Project external audit

The following control visits have been carried out by European Union

Technicians and the technicians of the external assistance companies of the

LIFE program.

-. May 12th-13th, 2004: Visit of technicians of the ATECMA external

assistance and Mr. Tomás Mateo (representative of the European Union)

-. May 18th, 2005: Visit of ATECMA

-. June 15th, 2007: Visit of Mr. Juan Perez Lorenzo (representative of the

European Union) and Mr. Iñigo Ortiz of the new external assistance company:

IDOM.

During the last month of 2007 an external financial audit of the project was performed

in order to evaluate the execution and financial situation of the project during its

undertaking.

Page 63

OTHER INTERESTING LINKS

Life Europe: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/life/home.htm

CSIC National Museum of Natural Science in Madrid: http://www.fauna-

iberica.mncn.csic.es

The Malacological Society of London, Bivalve Meeting: http://www.sunderland.ac.uk

INDUROT, University of Oviedo: http://www.indurot.uniovi.es

Spanish Malacological Society S.E.M. http://www.mactanvegaluz.com/soespmal.htm

Ministry of the Environment (Spain) : http://www.mma.es

Xunta de Galicia (Spain): http://www.xunta.es/conselle/cma

Diputación de Lugo (Spain): http://www.diputacionlugo.org/html/life_naturaleza.htm

English Nature: http://www.english-nature.org.uk

The Malacology society of London: http://www.malacsoc.org.uk

UK biodiversity action plan: http://www.ukbap.org.uk

LIFE Project “Large freshwater mussels Unionoidea in the border area of Bavaria,

Saxony and the Czech Republic”: http://www.life.bezirk-oberfranken.de

CONTACT LIFE NAIAD

“Junta de Castilla y León” Department of the Enviroment

Zamora Territorial Service of the Environment

C/ Leopoldo Alas Clarín nº 4 49071 ZAMORA

e-mail: infonayade@jcyl.es