Changes of fish growth in German rivers

2019, Journals

Teubner, Diana; Klein, Roland; Paulus, Martin; Wesch, Charlotte
Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health 11 (October 2019), 59-64

Abstract

Long-term monitoring data of the German Environmental Specimen Bank show that bream in German rivers grow much better now than 20–27 years ago. Based on measured values, the increment of bream with a defined age is 72–423% for weight and 15–62% for length. This article provides a review on potential drivers of fish growth in German rivers. Based on the outcomes of this review, we hypothesise decreased fish density caused by re-oligotrophication supported by improved chemical water quality and neobiota as the process behind this issue. However, only long-term monitoring studies make it possible to determine such changes in wildlife populations.

doi: 10.1016/j.coesh.2019.06.004 

Size evolution of bream from 1995 compared to 2018
Graphical abstract: Size evolution of bream from 1995 compared to 2018