Bleak (Alburnus alburnus) fish species and information / pictures of Bleak - Alburnus alburnus

Bleak (Alburnus alburnus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Alburnus alburnus

Common Name
Bleak

Biology
Inhabits open waters of lakes and medium to large rivers. Forms large aggregations in backwaters and other still waters during winter. Adults occur in shoals near the surface. Larvae live in littoral zone of rivers and lakes while juveniles leave shores and occupy a pelagic habitat, feeding on plankton, drifting insects or invertebrates fallen on the water surface (Ref. 59043). Feeds mainly on plankton, including crustaceans (Ref. 30578) and insects (Ref. 9696). Spawns in shallow riffles or along stony shores of lakes, occasionally above submerged vegetation (Ref. 59043). Excellent as bait for carnivorous fishes. May be captured using the smallest hook and a fly as bait. Its flesh is tasty (Ref. 30578). Of little interest to commercial or sport fisheries in its native range because of its small size (Ref. 1739). Scales were previously utilized in making Essence d"Orient, a coating for artificial pearls

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Carps (Cypriniformes)

Family

Minnows or carps (Cyprinidae)

Distribution

Region

Europe and Asia

Distribution

Europe and Asia: most of Europe north of Caucasus, Pyrénées and Alps, eastward to Ural and Emba. Naturally absent from Iberian Peninsula, Adriatic and Aegean basins (except Maritza drainage), Italy, Ireland, Great Britain (except southeast), Norway and Scandinavia north of 67°N, Caspian basin south of Volga. In Anatolia, Marmara basin. Locally introduced in Spain, Portugal and Italy. At least one country reports adverse ecological impact after introduction.

Range

68°N - 35°N, 6°W - 60°E

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

10 °C

Water Temperature To

20 °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Freshwater; brackish; ; pH range: 7.0 - ? ; dH range: 10 - ? benthopelagic; potamodromous (Ref. 51243); depth range 1 - ? m

Trophic Level

3.01 s.e. 0.18 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

25.0 cm

Common Length

15.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: minor commercial; aquaculture: commercial; bait: usually

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (40 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (tm=2-3; K=0.19; tmax=7; Fec=1,500)

Threat To Humans

Unknown

IUCN Red List Status

Least Concern (LC)