Plants and animals

The habitats created by the Danube and its tributaries host a unique mix of species. But many habitats are degraded by man-made changes to the river profile and width, water depth and flow velocity following the construction of dams, weirs and canals. Many migratory fish including sturgeon species and the Danube Salmon are endangered or close to extinction by being disconnected from their spawning grounds and habitats or by being over-exploited.

The habitats created by the Danube and its tributaries host a unique mix of species, with about 2,000 vascular plants and more than 5,000 animal species, including over 40 mammals, about 180 breeding birds, obout 100 fish species, a dozen reptiles as well as amphibians.

Did you know?

The Danube River Basin is home for more than 100 different species of fish – including five sturgeon species – and it is home to rare birds like the white pelican, white-tailed eagle or black stork.

The remaining large floodplain forests and the Danube Delta are the last refuges in continental Europe for the white-tailed eagle and the white pelicans. Despite being driven almost to extinction beavers have been successfully reintroduced in the upper and middle Danube.

Changes to the river profile and width, water depth and flow velocity following the construction of dams, dikes, weirs and canals massively disturb the aquatic environment by disconnecting animals from their spawning grounds or otherwise degrading their habitat. Migratory species such as the sturgeons cannot reach their spawning grounds and their habitats in the middle and upper Danube River Basin, due to river continuity and habitat interruption. In a stretch of the River Inn (Germany), for instance, the professional fisheries collapsed after the construction of impoundments at Jettenbach (1921). Today only 2 fish species are able to maintain their stocks by natural reproduction (over 30 fish species before 1921). 

Most migratory fish including sturgeons and the Danube Salmon are endangered or close to extinction in the Danube Basin due to habitat loss, habitat degradation and over-exploitation.

River and habitat continuity interruption, as well as the effect on water quality are currently investigated in the frame of the development of the Danube River Basin Management Plan (according to the WFD). A final version of this Plan will be available by end 2009. However, preliminary findings can already be found in the draft Danube River Baisn Management Plan.

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