Understanding the Ecosystem Carrying Capacity for Romanichthys valsanicola, a Critically Endangered Freshwater Fish Endemic to Romania, with Considerations upon Trophic Offer and Behavioral Density

The most recent assessment (2008) of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classified Romanichthys valsanicola as critically endangered (CR). In December 2022, an expert team from the National Institute for Research and Development in Environmental Protection Bucharest investigated the presence of the species in historical locations and in other potential sites. The authors correlated public data to the actual habitat area to calculate the potential species density in relation to the specific territorial behavior. The ecological carrying capacity was represented by the consensus between the behavioral density limitations and the trophic limitations of the actual species potential habitat. Both trophic availability and populational density present encouragingly high values for the sculpin perch in the Valsan River, indicating that the natural habitat could host a considerably higher number of individuals.

Automated summary

In December 2022, experts from the National Institute for Research and Development in Environmental Protection Bucharest conducted a study on the critically endangered Romanichthys valsanicola. By analyzing public data and habitat area, they found that the natural habitat has the potential to support a higher number of individuals. The study also highlighted the importance of considering behavioral density limitations and trophic availability in assessing ecological carrying capacity.