The objetive of this study was to investigate the relationships between fish condition and environmental variables in populations of Sclater’s barbel (Barbus sclateri) from semi-arid reservoirs in the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. These artificial ecosystems are characterised by waters of greater salinity. Weight-length relationship was used to test differences in fish condition between 6 populations of Sclater’s barbell from reservoirs with different environmental parameters. Significant differences in fish condition among populations studied (ANCOVA, p < 0.05) were found. The condition of Sclater’s barbel was dependent on ecological variables related mainly to water quality and, consequently, with the substrate and management of the basin. Water conductivity was the variable which affected in the most significant way the fish condition. In conclusion, salinization and high water conductivity of reservoirs could have a negative effect on fish condition. These effects should be considered when such populations are subjected to sports fishing regulations, recovery programmes or any other management programme. | El objetivo del presente trabajo fue analizar la relación entre la condición de los individuos y las variables ambientales en poblaciones de Barbus sclateri de embalses localizados en una zona semiárida del sureste de la Península Ibérica. Estos ecosistemas artificiales están caracterizados por una alta salinidad de sus aguas. Las relaciones Peso-Longitud de los individuos fueron utilizadas para la determinación de diferencias en la condición entre 6 poblaciones de Barbus sclateri de embalses con diferentes parámetros ambientales. Fueron obtenidas diferencias significativas en la condición entre las poblaciones estudiadas (ANCOVA, p

The processes of microplastic fiber pollution in groundwater are unknown. The recent research on this contaminant threat is generally focused on surface waters (mainly oceans and rivers), while aquifer contamination is only marginally mentioned as an issue needing further investigation. Synthetic microfibers can be introduced into soils in different ways (e.g. wastewater treatment plants or greywater discharge, septic tank outflows, direct injection of contaminated water in cases of managed aquifer recharge, losing streams, etc.), and can thus reach aquifer systems due to leaching or infiltration in soil pores. Microfibers can then adsorb persistent bioaccumulative and toxic chemicals, which include persistent organic pollutants and metals, and become a carrier of harmful substances in the aquifer system, hence contributing to the overall contamination in both urban and rural areas. For this reason, it is of paramount importance, not only to assess the occurrence and fate of microplastic fibers in groundwater, but also to study the role of microplastics as carriers of contaminants within the aquifer and to advance standardization and organization of monitoring campaigns. Only by addressing these key challenges can hydrogeologists contribute to the state of the art on microplastic pollution and ensure that groundwater is not neglected in the environmental assessments tackling this contaminant of emerging concern.