Journal
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
Volume 15, Issue 10, Pages 2157-2163Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s10530-013-0443-x
Keywords
Fish farms; Propagule pressure; Non-native species; Biotic homogenization; Ichthyofauna
Categories
Funding
- Graduate Program in Ecology, Conservation and Management of Wildlife (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais)
- US Fish and Wildlife Service
- Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq)
Ask authors/readers for more resources
We provide evidence of reproductive activities of nine Asian freshwater fish species belonging to three families in Atlantic Forest creeks located in the Paraiba do Sul River basin, southeastern Brazil, an area rich in endemic and endangered fish fauna. These non-native fishes were introduced into the natural systems by both accidental and intentional releases from ornamental fish farms in the region. Adults of all species were found reproducing during virtually all year round and showed fractionated spawning. Imature individuals (young-of-the-year and juveniles) were also frequent in the five sites. Most of the total sex ratios were close to 1:1. The frequent releases, warm water temperature, marginal vegetation providing food, protection and spawning sites, and the low richness of native fishes in these creeks can facilitate the establishment process of all species. The creeks can also act as dispersing agents of non-native fishes after flash floods, leading to biotic homogenization or differentiation in the local fish community, competition with native fishes, and parasite dissemination. Given the flourishing aquaculture activity in the area, it is expected that these and other non-native species cause extensive modifications in the regional ichthyofauna.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available