Vladykov’s lamprey

© Perica Mustafić

Vladykov’s Lamprey is also known as the Danubian brook lamprey; this non-predatory freshwater lamprey has a wide distribution; however, like all brook lampreys they are very sensitive to pollution, migration barriers, hydrological disturbance and gravel extraction (Ćaleta et al. 2015; Maitland et al. 2015). Freshwater lampreys require riffle-like habitats for spawning, similar to salmonids, yet their larval stages require fine sand or clay to burrow into. These requirements, including clean, cold and well-oxygenated water (Kottelat & Freyhof 2007) make them sensitive to anthropogenic pressures. Even small-scale dams may impede migrations or movements from one habitat to another.

At least one-third to one-half of their global distribution area is directly threatened by the construction of at least 50 hydropower facilities. Within the depicted distribution, Vladykov’s lamprey occur in a patchwork of fragmented habitats.

  • IUCN-Redlist Least Concern
  • EUR-HAB-DIR III
  • Bern Convention III
  • Hydropower Sensitivity High
  • Balkan Dam Threat * High

* The assessment of Balkan Dam Threat is based on the loss of habitat that would occur if all or most of the planned hydropower schemes in the distribution range of the species were to be built. For more precise specification see Fish Study, page 8.

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