Conservation status of a re-introduced bullhead population in Flanders, Belgium: ecological, demographic and genetic assessments

Bullhead is a small, bottom-dwelling freshwater fish species. It used to be common in Flanders (Belgium) but nowadays only few and isolated populations remain. Consequently bullhead is listed as IUCN susceptible in the national Red List and fully protected. It is also listed in the EC Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). Management should aim to conserve as large metapopulations in order to prevent further genetic loss. Until 2003, bullhead was thought to be extinct from the Demer River basin in Flanders. That year a relict population, genetically distinct from other populations, was found in a sma... Mehr ...