River Treasures — Freshwater Biodiversity in Italy Text and photos by Marco Colombo 57 X-RAY MAG : 94 : 2019 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO ecology Diver explores the rocky underwater landscape of a freshwater lake in Italy; Alpine newt (Ichtyosaura alpestris) in a freshwa- ter pond in Italy (previous page) When considering underwater Moreover, these often tur- the diversity of their inhabitants. photography, we usually think bid and turbulent freshwater I took underwater photographs bodies host a huge variety of while scuba diving, snorkelling about images of wonderful coral species, many of them as big or simply walking in the water, reefs, colourful fish, clear waters and colourful as their marine as sometimes the depths of and undersea landscapes. In fact, counterparts. For this reason, these freshwater areas were 70 percent of our planet is covered we should be protecting fresh- not very deep. The main chal- water environments, which lenge though was backscatter, by water on its surface, and, even are endangered by pollution, due to silty bottoms and strong though 97 percent of this is saltwa- poaching, water withdrawal, currents, often experienced ter, the remaining three percent is climate changes and many together with very low water freshwater in rivers, streams, lakes, other threats. temperatures. Italy is a very anthropised ponds, marshes and groundwater. country, which has thousands Diverse aquatic life This is a tiny percentage, but it is of kilometres of rivers, and lots From mountain peaks to caves, very important: Freshwater allows of big and small lakes. During every corner of Italy offers sur- my fieldwork, I decided to prises to the prepared natu- for life on land and is strictly con- explore these delicate environ- ralist and photographer. The nected with human survival. ments in order to shed light on important thing is to study the From mountains to caves, freshwater environments and creatures can be found in Italy’s ponds, lakes, rivers and streams. 58 X-RAY MAG : 94 : 2019 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO ecology Visit at DEMA SHOW BOOTH 1642 Diving, adventure and The trench (above) and trout (right) knowledge go hand-in- live in freshwater lakes and streams. hand. With access to NAUI’s extensive training offerings, behaviour of one’s photographic your dive instruction becomes subjects, in order to find them eas- a gateway to adventure and ily (more or less) and not disturb exceptional service for divers them while photographing them. from across the globe. Here are some of the species found: Trout. The brown trout (Salmo trutta) lives in many streams and rivers, preying upon invertebrates, fish and frogs. Sometimes, in very cold waters, it is possible to photo- graph it very closely, with a wide- DEMA Show | Orlando, Florida | November 13-16, 2019 | naui.org/events/dema-show-2019 angle lens, in order to capture its image within its beautiful environ- Don’t miss the opportunity to experience the latest @NAUIWorldwide ment. industry trends and to develop professional business [email protected] | +1 813.628.6284 relationships with NAUI Worldwide leaders in a Tench. The tench (Tinca tinca) is face-to-face setting. a beautiful and clever fish, which lives in lakes and ponds. Its body current, these fish feed upon fallen trees near the shore, where Gain access to exclusive NAUI seminars, workshops, has big rounded fins, giving the worms, snails and other inverte- it is possible to approach them if training and other services at DEMA Show. Join us as fish an elegant appearance. brates on the lake bottom. It is not one moves very slowly. we continue to be The Definition of Diving! THE DEFINITION OF DIVING Preferring turbid waters with slow uncommon to meet them under PRILFISH / FLICKR / CC BY 2.0 XRay_DEMA19v2_Full-Page 215X280mm.indd 1 8/12/19 8:58 AM 59 X-RAY MAG : 94 : 2019 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO ecology Italy Sea lampreys (Petromyzon marinus) travel from the sea to the rivers to spawn and build nests. Sea lamprey. Sea lampreys River crab. Usually, when peo- animals that are not strictly aquatic, (Petromyzon marinus) migrate from ple think of where crabs can be including birds (such as mallards like the sea to the rivers in order to found, they think of the beach, the Anas platyrhynchos), reptiles spawn and build nests for their eggs, but some species of crab can be and mammals. These animals live removing up to 10kg of pebbles with found in tropical jungles too! In near freshwater habitats in order to their sucker-like mouths. They are Italy, the river crab (Potamon flu- feed, drink and cool down during endangered in Italy by dam con- viatile) colonises little streams in the the heat of the summer, or find struction, while in North America, central and southern regions of vegetation in which to shelter and they are an invasive species, due to the Italian peninsula. Active during feed during the winter. environmental alteration of the flow the night and early morning hours, of rivers. these crabs can be found exiting Dice snake. Snakes are feared by the water and heading into the people but, in fact, the Italian spe- Crayfish. The white-clawed crayfish woodlands on rainy days, catch- cies of snakes are not dangerous. In (Austropo tamobius pallipes) often ing frogs, small snakes and insects particular, aquatic snakes are harm- thrive in very clear and protected as prey. Strangely, a population of less and just hunt fish, using their little streams on hills and in the moun- river crabs can be found living in the tongues to find them on the lake tains. A nocturnal species, they can centre of Rome! bottom. The dice snake (Natrix tes- be found in the open or along the sellata) shown (see photo on next steam bed during bad weather, look- Non-aquatic species page) has just caught a barbel fish ing for food (including invertebrates). Freshwater is also very important to and is trying to bring it out of the Crayfish live in clear streams in the hills and mountains (above); River crabs can be found in streams in the central and southern regions of Italy’s peninsula (top right). 60 X-RAY MAG : 94 : 2019 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO ecology Italy Dice snake, Natrix tessellata (above), with barbel fish in its jaws, which can open very wide to swallow prey; Mallard duck, Anas platyrhynchos (left); Apennine yellow-bellied toad, Bombina pachypus (top right), displays a bright yel- low belly to warn predators that it is poisonous. best way of which can be found on amphib- capturing the ian skin, killing and depleting entire light found in populations. these areas. This species Newts & salamanders. Italian moves along crested newts (Triturus carnifex) and the bottom alpine newts (Ichthyosaura alpestris) of river pools enter ponds in the spring, courting during the and laying eggs, and remain there summer, look- until autumn, when they exit to go water, where it will begin swallow- ing for little animals to eat. into hibernation. Salamanders, like ing the prey, thanks to its ability to the northern spectacled salaman- greatly widen its jaws. Toads. Not all the frog-like crea- der (Salamandrina perspicillata), tures are frogs. The Apennine yel- only enter streams to lay eggs, and Pond turtles. Pond turtles (Emys low-bellied toad (Bombina pachy- then go back to the forest, where orbicularis) are shy and difficult to pus) is a small toad, warning pos- they are active during heavy rains. photograph underwater. Luckily, sible predators of its toxicity with its they often live in beautiful settings, vivid yellow belly. It is endangered Olm. Another amphibian that lives where wide-angle shots are the by the spread of a fungal disease, in underground lakes and rivers in Pond turtle, Emys orbicularis (above), are shy creatures, which find small animals to eat at the bottom of rivers. 61 X-RAY MAG : 94 : 2019 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO ecology Italy The crested newt, Triturus carnifex (left), and the spectacled salamander, Salamandrina per- spicillata (top center), enter freshwater ponds to lay eggs in the spring; The 40cm long olm, Proteus anguinus (above) is blind, can self-amputate its own arms and fast for up to eight years—an adaptation gained by living in dark caves where prey is hard to come by; An inva- sive species, the coypu, Myocastor coypus (top right), is a large, herbivorous, semiaquatic rodent also known as the nutria; Rivers are delicate freshwater ecosystems that should be con- served, kept free of trash and not used as landfill (right). northeastern Italy, the 40cm-long olm Invasive species mental consequences of this invasive photographer and science writer who is Marine and, most importantly, Wildlife (Proteus anguinus) has extraordinary A very big problem for biodiversity world- species are unknown, but this jellyfish also a co-author of photographic and Photographer of the Year in which his features. It is sightless, white and elon- wide is the introduction of invasive species. originally comes from China; it was first species identification books. His images, work was chosen as category winner gated. It can practise autotomy (self- discovered in England, and is now wide- papers and articles have been published three times (2011, 2016, 2018). In addition, amputation of its own limbs), live up to Coypu. One example is the coypu spread worldwide. in several scientific and nature periodi- his work has been shown in exhibitions a century and fast for eight years (which (Myocastor coypus), which comes from cals.