Samothraki: Marine Fishes

Mid-August 2013

RAPID FISHWATCHING SURVEY

In between "upland wetland-stream work" on Samothraki I managed to get 7 rapid snorkeling dives.
These I call "Rapid Fishwatching Surveys- RFS"; an easy look-see technique to record the fish community (i.e. species richness, relative abundance (guesstimated per spp. per dive), and record of larger or interesting individuals (specimens larger than 15 cm noted). Of course this can be combined with photography. Three of us did quick snorkels but only I recorded fish on a wrist-pad underwater. The other two colleagues mainly spearfished (N. Skoulikidis =NS and D.Zogaris= DSZ, my teenage son) . The results of my RFS are not that spectacular but they are worth mentioning, especially since so little knowledge of inshore shallow coastal fishes exists for Samothraki. 

RESULTS

Fig. 1. Google Map of sites snorkeled. 

Seven sites were visited (mapped above). Here some locality and habitat details are given; the sampling effort (i.e. CPUE) estimation is probably best assumed relative to the time spent in water but local conditions and personal interested affected this. Observations - and length of stay in water- are all relating to my time and personal documentations. Observations by NS and DSZ are given in parentheses. [In brackets the date of survey at each site is given]. I may publish a species list elsewhere, species identifications of all photographed fishes are not yet verified.

These are the sites and scenes I saw:

1. Agia Paraskevi (NE side). Small reef-islets just offshore tiny church beyond typical cobble beach.  

c. 60 mins. very clear (visibility 15 + m.); beautiful seascapes, mixed bottom; checked quite well, Perfect quite snorkeling mid-day conditions.[14.08.2013] 

-20 Fish taxa observed. 

-Largish mugilids (i.e. grey-mullets) and large numbers of Salpa (Salema Breams). 

(NS spotted a Dusky Grouper nearby; but I saw not a single specimen)

2. Yiali (SE side). Shallow swim near steep-dropping cobble-boulder beach. Quite clear. Very deep water offshore.

 c. 40 mins. Swim at sunset. Clear waters rather monotonous boulder-dominated environment. [13.08.2013]

- 18 Fish taxa observed.

- Lots of spearfishing takes place here (4 individuals were spearfishing at this far-off place). 

(DSZ saw a huge Moray Eel; None of us saw any groupers or any large pelagics. Ok, I expected sharks here!!).

3. Agios Petros (E side) near Kipi. VERY strong west-east current very turbid situation; visibility 8 to 10 m at best.

c. 60 mins. Snorkeling near spear-fisher this time (DSZ), poor visibility and high waves impeded careful observation. [14.08.2013]

-15 Fish taxa observed.

- Lots of bigger-sized fishes here; dusk dive proved quite rich.

4. Agistro (NE side). Near Agistro River Mouth there is a Cape with varied bottom (close to small building labelled "Samothraki Diving Center" - which was closed). Extremely strong west-east current making observations and swimming difficult. Varied rocky but shallow. [15.08.2013]

c. 20 mins. Not adequately sampled - incomplete survey. Turbid: less than 8 m. visibility - strong current impeded observations. 

- 11 Fish taxa observed.
- More than four spearfishers working the area.

(D.S. Zogaris saw a school of fantastic large billfish type fish that remain unidentified - seven largish specimens he says.Other fishermen gave us a huge Mugil cephalus they had hit; they had also speared a huge octopus - maybe 3 kg).

5.Aegaion Hotel Beach (N side; just west of Therma Harbour). Typical cobble boulder bottom with some posidonia beds and sandy flats offshore. 

c.30 mins. Late sunset snorkel, very rapid and recreational view not all habitats checked. [18.08.2013]. 

- 11 Fish taxa observed.
- Lots of Salema Breams.

6.Pacheia Ammos (SW side of Island). Varied seascapes. First went to the west (large house-sized boulders) then the sandy area and to the east (cliffs).

c. 90 mins. Late afternoon snorkel. Wide range of habitats checked; spectacular area. [19.08.2013]

- 29 Fish Taxa observed.

- Only place several species seen on island including Thalasoma pavo. 

- Fantastic but really small Stingray Dasyatis pastinaca. 

7. Pygos Gateluzi East (N Side). About 2 km east of Palaiopolis archeological site.

c. 15 mins. Midday break, not surveyed just checked; but placid conditions. [20.08.2013]

-17 Fish Taxa observed

- Typical same stuff seen along most beaches of north coast. 

DISCUSSION

-It is interesting for me that several spp. of fish common in the south are missing (e.g. parrotfish, cardinalfish, groupers). Other species are present but extremely scarce and seemingly localized (Serranus cabrilla, Thalassoma pavo). Of course I compare this to experiance in the Centeral Western Aegean.

-Generally waters were clear and at two of the seven locations as clear as the clearest in the Central or Southern Aegean.

-Waters were generally warm (not like Samos or Lesvos - the Eastern central Aegean up-welling area).

-There is no doubt in my mind that these areas are over-fished and especially by spearfishers. Species such as Grouper and the large labrid wrasse (Labrus spp.) are very very rare now. I saw only three specimens of Labrus sp (one my son shot!). I saw no Groupers at all.

-Despite the above comments in many places Sparids, Mugillids and Salema Bream were in much larger numbers and generally larger than those seen in Central West Aegean waters (i.e. Eubean Gulf/ Southern Euboea). 

- The local igneous rock geology makes the underwater scenes different from a limestone/marble or metamorphic rock dominated seascape. Rocks are rounder here. The characteristic round boulder-cobble beaches of the north coast are iconic of Samothraki, but very boring. Few bays, out-lying reefs, islets exist to make the forays exciting on the north and north-east coast. 

- This first survey trial is a very crude subjective quick-glimpse and cannot given much scientific understanding. More work, either casual snorkeling of this type (RFS) or more structured observation is necessary and could be very interesting for education and monitoring.

PHOTOS

Northern Aegean Light! 15 m + visibility at Agia Paraskevi.

I got good videos of these tiny Salema Breams. Agia Paraskevi 

Big Grey-mullets by-pass Dimitris - my spear-fishing teenager - at Agia Paraskevi.

Painted Comber Serranus scripta. Agia Paraskevi 

The Wrasse Symphodus mediterraneus. Agia Paraskevi 

View from chapel of Agia Paraskevi.

Coast towards Yiali from Kipi Beach - wilderness!

Ok, this is where I would expect a GWS to come into view (Yiali).

Yiali. I think this is over-fished; these breams should be bigger - too many spearfishers...

Agios Petros, close to Kipi - very strong current, rich habitat. DSZ is searching for groupers...nothing!

A "huge"wrasse, Lambrus merula. This genus has probably suffered gravely from spearfishing. DSZ shot this one - I cannot forgive him!

Aegaion Hotel Beach. After sunset.

Aegaion Hotel Beach. After sunset (small Salema Breams).

Pacheia Ammos: The most beautiful beachscape and seascape on the island: threatened by beach-side developments...

 Striped Red Mullet, Mallus surmellatus - most people don't now they come in different colours (Pacheia Ammos).

Red Mullet Mallus barbatus - note no stripes on dorsal; called "Koutsomoura" (snub-nose in Greek) at Pacheia Ammos.

 Brown Comber Serranus hepatus; only one spotted (Pacheia Ammos).

Small gravel goby called, Bucchich's Goby Gobius bucchichi  (Pacheia Ammos). 

The Common Seabream Pagrus pagrus (Listed as ''Endangered" in IUCN assessment). Only one spotted at Pacheia Ammos.

The only elasmobranch seen: The Stingray Dasyatis pastinaca at Pacheia Ammos (3 m. depth).

Common Octopus at Pacheia Ammos (defensive posture on sand, perhaps mimicking a ray or something dangerous...).

The commonest flatfish in Greece in the shallows is the Wide-Eyed Flounder, Bothus podas (Pacheia Ammos).

Nearly 20 m. visibility at Pacheia Ammos.

Cliff habitats to the East of Pacheia Ammos.

 

Samothraki Inland Water Fishes

Mid August 2013

On Samothraki we researched waters. Invertebrates, water quality, riparian vegetation, wetlands, birds, marine life, conservation issues of all sorts, and fish.

One of our team's passions is studying fish in inland waters - any waters inland of the shoreline. Fishes are interesting because they require really special conditions and resources for survival in any inland waters; and conditions on small islands are usually difficult. On Mediterranean islands, stable inland water conditions are scarce. This includes coastal lagoons, stream mouths, and any isolated water behind the beach-fronts (all wetland types of course) and streams of course. On islands, stream freshwater fishes have a hard time surviving - they cannot live without freshwater, so even a single dessication event can render them extinct from an island. On the other hand, marine fishes that swim into inland waters and move upstream need barrier-free movement opportunities and these conditions are rare or often influenced by human water exploitation and various barriers (road-crossings, dams, weirs).

What we found in Samothraki

Working on seven of the most representative of the basins we electrofished and used seine fry nets to collect fishes. Of these only Agistro, Fonias, and the Agios Andreas Lagoon had fishes! (see map below). Although we sampled using the above equipment 10 sites (8 using electrofishing) only six sites had fish. I present initial findings here- some spp. are still not confirmed as to their exact identification.

We found the following taxa of fishes in Samothraki's inland waters:

-Three species of Mugillids (Grey-mullets): these marine fish breed in the sea but enter fresh and brackish waters to feed - they love to feed on algae and detritus so they probably contribute to the cleansing of eutrophic lower stream reaches.

-Two or three species of Blennies: in this case we caught wholly marine Blennies - species that enter fresh and brackish waters but probably reproduce in the sea only.

-Two species of Gobies: One unidentified species and one common marine sand goby have been collected.

-One species of Atherina (sand-smelt): Collected only at Fonias river mouth in large numbers; they commonly enter rivermouths and lagoons when there is an opening to the sea.

-One species of Eel (Anguilla anguilla): Collected only in two rivers, in fact the two which have a good connection to the sea and are mostly perennially flowing towards the sea (Fonias and Angistro). The eel is a globally endanged species, so this find lends special value to the inland waters of the island.

So the inland waters ichthyofauna of Samothraki have a total of at least 9 fish species. This is good, but still we have  mysteries and unanswered questions. I was searching for a 'Dwarf Goby' called Knipowitschia caucasica, collected by Bulgarian researchers and published in the '60s; it was found nowhere.

Also, we found no true primary freshwater fishes. And this is remarkable since so much freshwater produced on the island flows to the sea - and at Fonias river for example we could have had a population of say River Blennies and even true primary freshwater fish. Our team searched hard - at one instant I had a hallucination that I saw a River Blenny at Fonias- it was probably a tadpole.

Samothraki Island and the river basin areas where we actively searched for fish using specialized fishing equipment; we visually inspected many other waters and small wetlands also.

The Fonias where we caught a 70 cm Eel - at mid-stream about 3 kms from the sea.

Walking along the Upper Fonias (Karya) at about 750 m. asl. Very slippery! 

The local super-widespread Ranid frog. This species is especially abundant where no eels exist!  Tsivdogiannis river.

The Upper Gria Vathra river at 700 m. elevation. Deep granite pools, slippery!!

Electrofishing the lower Yiali River in SE Samothraki. No fish here.

Its not just fish we find in river corridors: Dr. Yannis Karaouzas holds a beautiful Dahl's Whip Snake (Platyceps najadum) we caught in the upper part of the Fonias. Generally snakes were scarce; I saw only two Grass Snakes and this species after 13 field days on the island.

Fonias River mouth - only it and Agistros where flowing with an open mouth to the sea.

Atherina boyeri schoals caught inside the river-mouth of Fonias. Should have kept them for dinner...

I suspect these tiny Grey-Mullet fry are Mugi cephalus - caught at Fonias River Mouth.

Another Grey-Mullet, should be Liza Ramada. Many in the Fonias for about a 1000 m. upstream from the river mouth. But a large individual like this is only downstream due to anthropogenic barriers to movement.

Another Grey-Mullet; this time the Boxlip Mullet Oedalechilus labeo identified by the golden stripes and the charactersitics of the mouth-parts (broad and tall lip) Agistro.

Boxlip Mullet Oedalechilus labeo closer look at head. 

Boxlip Mullet Oedalechilus labeo in the Fonias stream, c. 150 m from the rivermouth in freshwater; this is the first time we catch this marine fish in freshwater! 

Team leader, Dr. N.Skoulikids inspects Katsambas river mouth - low water this year.

An anonymous wetland between Fonias and Ag.Paraskevi chapel. Brackish conditions, no fishes apparent but Mauremys rivulata (Terrapins) found! (One of only three sites we saw them on the island).

 Dr Zbigniew Kaczkowski expertly handling an Eel at Agistro river mouth pool.

Really BIG Eel at Agistro pool. Here we found four eels in a stretch of 80 m along the stream!

We saw three eels of this size on the island (here at Agistros - mid-stream section). Rare sight indeed!

Underwater snap-shot of the really BIG Eel at Agistros Stream.

Underwater snap-shot of a really small Eel (18 cm) hiding in sand in the lower Fonias river.

Agios Andreas Lagoon near Kamariotissa - great place for birding and fishing...

 Dr Zbigniew Kaczkowski with fry-net at Agios Andreas Lagoon near Kamariotissa.

'Mystery' Goby caught at both Agios Andreas Lagoon (here) and at Agistros river mouth. All were small - but abundant in Agios Andreas Lagoon. 

'Mystery' Goby (unidentified yet). It has a "salt-and-pepper" markings pattern and biggish head similar to a Gobio cobitis but we need to re-look at it carefully. The other fish is a Rusty Blenny (Parablennius sanguinolentus), both  at Agistros River Mouth. This particular Blenny species feeds on algae and is quite frequently seen at small-stream river mouths. 

Sand Goby, Pomatoschistus cf. marmoratus was common in Ag. Andreas lagoon.

Green Goby, Zosterissesor ophiocephalus was common in Ag. Andreas lagoon.

Peacock Blenny, Salaria pavo was common in Ag. Andreas lagoon.

Road-barrier to fish movements at Agistro. However some young eels do pass upstream. 

River crab (Potamon sp.) at Fonias river (Underwater shot after he bit me on the finger really hard). 

Terrapin (Mauremys rivulata) - like fish, this species also requires water! Rare on Samothraki (this one at the Anonymous wetland, mentioned above).

Ms. Anastasia Lambou taking notes at the nearly totally-dried-out Vdelolimni Lagoon. 

Researchers Mrs. Vlami and Ms. Lambou at the Vdelolimni Lagoon.

Dr. Skoulikidis carrying the electrofisher and nets through the dry alluvial fan below Yiali canyon.

The expedition team; local friend Mr. Yorgos Delos (at L.) took us by boat to the isolated river-mouth beach of Yiali.  

(Note: for further information please read: http://zogaris.blogspot.gr/2013/08/samothraki-island-natural-history.html)