Influence of environmental and biometric factors on the swimming capacity of the Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei Steindachner, 1864), an endemic potamodromous cyprinid of the Iberian Peninsula.

This paper analyzes the volitional swimming capacity of the Iberian barbel (Luciobarbus bocagei Steindachner, 1864) in an open flume during its migration period,in relation to environmental and biometric factors. Water temperature, flow velocity and fish length were the most important factors which affected the swimming speed of barbels and their fatigue time. Within the range of values studied, the Iberian barbel was able to maintain sprint swim speeds (> 15 BL/s) for 3-10 s, and 17-117 s in prolonged swim mode (7-15 BL/s). The results can be used as a tool for the management of barbel populations, mainly in the design of fishways