Rapid recovery of amphibian populations in eight high mountain lakes linked to the eradication of exotic fish

Abstract

The LIFE+ LimnoPirineus project (2014-2019) includes the recovery of amphibian populations in eight lakes of the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park and the Alt Pirineu Natural Park, by eradicating or control non-native fish. During the summers from 2014- 2018 practically all of the fish present in the lakes have been removed. We found that most of the autochthonous amphibian species present in each valley have naturally colonised all lakes during or following fish removal. This shows the high resilience of the amphibian fauna of high mountain lakes, following reduction or removal of pressure from non-native fish.