Italy, Apulia, Nardò municipality, Province o Lecce
The aquarium is a replica of a section of the aquatic site. A portion of the vertical limestone wall as found in several areas of the pool is highlighted. These vertical cuts in the rock are particularly evident near the submerged channels connecting the pool to the sea.
The seabed consists of fine white sand as present in the natural site. Limestone rocks, driftwoods and roots of semi-aquatic plants are also part of the site’s submerged landscape. On these substrates are sessile invertebrates such as the hydrozoan Cordilophora caspia and numerous vagile invertebrates such as Gammarus aequicauda, small gastropod molluscs such as Theodoxus fluviatilis and decapod crustaceans of the genus Palaemonetes.
A population of Aphanius almiriensis lives among the fractures in the rocks and aquatic roots. This fish species is currently only reported in Italy at this site. Other euryhaline fish species such as Atherina boyeri and Liza ramada, on the other hand, occupy the open water of the lagoon and are more widely distributed across Mediterranean brackish and coastal environments. These species tend to tolerate a broader range of salinity and temperature fluctuations, giving them a competitive advantage in less stable habitats.
In contrast, Aphanius almiriensis exhibits a more specialized habitat preference, often associated with microhabitats that provide shelter from predators and stable environmental conditions. This ecological specialization may contribute to its limited distribution and heightened vulnerability to habitat alterations.
Conservation efforts for Aphanius almiriensis should therefore prioritize the protection of its specific habitat features, including submerged vegetation, rocky crevices, and the overall water quality of the lagoon system.
- GPS
- 40.2041855, 17.9258003
- Geographical region
- Southern Europe
- Drainage Basin
- Ionian coast of Puglia Region
- River catchment
- Water body type
- Pool
- Water body name
- Palude del Capitano
- Water body part
- Pool
- Water body course
- Water body: tributary of
- Channel
- Tributary name
Videos above and below water
