Length-weight relationships native fish of Southern Altiplano: Lauca National Park, Chile

Dos generos de peces, Orestias (Cyprinodontidae) y Trichomycterus (Trichomicteridae), habitan en el Parque Nacional Lauca, Reserva de la Biosfera de la UNESCO, ubicado en la sierra de los Andes en el norte de Chile. El presente estudio analizo la relacion longitud-peso para cuatro especies nativas de Orestias (O. Parinacotensis, O. Laucaensis, O. Chungarensis y O. Piacotensis) y dos especies nativas de Tricomycterius (T. Chungaraensis y T. laucaensis), obtenido en siete localidades diferentes. Nuestros resultados mostraron que el crecimiento valores de los coeficientes B para Orestias vario de 2,89 (O. Parinacotensis) a traves de 4,04 (O. P iacotensis) y Trichomycterus entre 2.53 (T. Laucaensis en Parinacota humedales) a traves de 3,63 (T. laucaensis en Caquena rio). Todas las relaciones talla-peso fueron significativas (p <0,01), con r (2) superior a 0,82. O. laucaensis, O. piacotensis y T. chungaraensis mostro un crecimiento alometrico positivo (b > 3). Sin embargo, dos especies O. parinacotensis y T. laucaensis mostro un crecimiento alometrico negativo (b <3). Solo O. chungarensis mostro un crecimiento isometrico con b = 3. La intensa actividad antropica, la introduccion de peces exoticos y el cambio climatico presentan riesgos importantes para una comunidad unica de peces endemicos de los altos Andes. Two genera of fish, Orestias (Cyprinodontidae) and Trichomycterus (Trichomicteridae), inhabit in the Lauca National Park, UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, located at the Andes highlands in northern Chile. The present study analyzed the length-weight relationship for four native species of Orestias (O. parinacotensis, O. laucaensis, O. chungarensis and O. piacotensis) and two native species of Tricomycterius (T. chungaraensis and T. laucaensis), obtained at seven different localities. Our results showed that the growth coefficient values b for Orestias ranged from 2.89 (O. parinacotensis) through 4.04 (O. piacotensis) and Trichomycterus between 2.53 (T. laucaensis in Parinacota wetland) through 3.14 (T. laucaensis in Caquena River). All length-weight relationships were significant (p < 0.01), with r (2) higher than 0.82. O. laucaensis, O. piacotensis and T. chungaraensis showed positive allometric growth (b > 3). However, two species O. parinacotensis and T. laucaensis showed negative allometric growth (b < 3). Only O. chungarensis showed isometric growth with b = 3. Intense anthropic activity, exotic fish introduction, and climate change present important risks for a unique endemic fish community of the high Andes.

Automated summary

The study analyzed the length-weight relationship of native fish species in the Lauca National Park, located in the Andes highlands of northern Chile. The findings revealed significant variations in growth patterns among different species, highlighting the importance of understanding the unique fish community and potential risks from anthropic activity, exotic species introduction, and climate change in the high Andes.