Lake Loppio, in the heart of Trentino, has come into the spotlight not for its beauty. In fact, thousands of goldfish, the so-called golden crucian carp, have been spotted in the waters of the nature reserve – as reported on Facebook in the citizen group “Sei di Mori se…” – an invasive non-native species that represents a serious threat to the balance of the ecosystem. The complaint is in a post published on November 7 in the city group on Facebook “You are from Mori if…”.
These fish certainly did not arrive alone: according to experts, they were released by private citizens convinced they were making a kind or “poetic” gesture. In reality, they have unknowingly opened the doors to an invasion that risks compromising the biodiversity of one of the most precious environments in the area.
A silent but devastating threat
Golden crucian carp possess an extraordinary reproductive capacity, capable of transforming an isolated gesture into a massive colonization. These fish compete with native species for food and space and their omnivorous diet does not spare eggs, larvae and small invertebrates.
The ones paying the price are the lake’s historic inhabitants, such as the Italian tree frog, the yellow-bellied toad and the spotted newt. All species sensitive to environmental alterations, which find the lake an ideal habitat for breeding and taking refuge. In addition to competition for resources, goldfish can act as vectors of diseases and parasites not found in local wildlife. The spread of these pathogens puts the health of indigenous fish fauna at risk, reducing their genetic diversity and compromising the overall stability of the environment.
Help could come from the birds
We also remember that the introduction of alien species is prohibited by law, but despite this the phenomenon continues to repeat itself. In some cases, the crucian carp population also increases thanks to new births, favored by small pools of water left during dry periods.
Not everything, however, is lost. Some species of birds such as herons, coots and mallards are proving to be precious allies, feeding on goldfish and helping to limit their spread. Several citizens are also intervening, recovering some specimens to transfer them to private aquariums or lakes, in an attempt to ease the pressure on the ecosystem.
The story of Lake Loppio reminds us that, sometimes, an apparently harmless gesture can turn into an environmental disaster. And that nature, when altered, takes a long time to regain its fragile balance. All of this, unfortunately, at a huge price.
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