Los famosos bosques de Iquitos, su fauna agotada por la caza, respiran un silencio perturbador. Pero al otro lado del Amazonas, a sólo 60 km de la ciudad, los bosques vibran con vida. Aquí, donde el Yavarí Mirín y otros seis ríos nacen en... more
Los famosos bosques de Iquitos, su fauna agotada por la caza, respiran un silencio perturbador. Pero al otro lado del Amazonas, a sólo 60 km de la ciudad, los bosques vibran con vida. Aquí, donde el Yavarí Mirín y otros seis ríos nacen en las colinas del Arco de Iquitos, jaguares, tapires y manadas de huanganas prosperan en un paraíso de un millón de hectáreas, donde la población humana es casi cero. En ningún lugar
del trópico existe un área natural tan grande e intacta tan cerca de un centro urbano.
La geografía explica esta incongruencia. El altoYavarí Mirín se encuentra a sólo 100 km de la ciudad de Iquitos en línea recta, pero para vender su cosecha en el mercado, un pescador tendría que recorrer más de 600 km de ríos, bordear las fronteras con Colombia y Brasil, y remar corriente arriba a través del río Amazonas.
Durante los sobrevuelos por encima del mosaico de bosques, vimos incontables bandadas de guacamayos. En tierra, los inventarios en el valle del Yavarí Mirín han documentado la existencia de poblaciones saludables de mamíferos que se encuentran amenazados a través de la Amazonía, incluyendo 13 especies de primates y las especies de caza que sustentan la población rural de Loreto. Para los organismos nunca antes estudiados en detalle en el valle del Yavarí—plantas, peces, anfibios y reptiles, aves y murciélagos—nuestro inventario ofreció un primer vistazo de la exuberancia natural a cuatro grados de la línea ecuatorial.
Un centro importante durante el auge del caucho, hoy la zona se encuentra prácticamente despoblada; el único testimonio de su historia siendo los árboles antiguos marcados por caucheros. Pero ahora que los bosques del Yavarí han recuperado su esplendor, el hombre ha vuelto a interesarse en ellos. Se contemplan concesiones forestales en el bajo Yavarí Mirín y el bajo Yavarí sigue atrayendo a inmigrantes.
Afortunadamente, existe una alternativa para asegurar la conservación
de los bosques de la zona. Si se lograra extender al valle del Yavarí Mirín el éxito de los pueblos ribereños que ya manejan la Reserva Comunal Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo— combinando el manejo local con la investigación para beneficiar las comunidades naturales y humanas—se protegería intacta un área de sumo valor no solo para Loreto, pero para el Perú y la Amazonía.
del trópico existe un área natural tan grande e intacta tan cerca de un centro urbano.
La geografía explica esta incongruencia. El altoYavarí Mirín se encuentra a sólo 100 km de la ciudad de Iquitos en línea recta, pero para vender su cosecha en el mercado, un pescador tendría que recorrer más de 600 km de ríos, bordear las fronteras con Colombia y Brasil, y remar corriente arriba a través del río Amazonas.
Durante los sobrevuelos por encima del mosaico de bosques, vimos incontables bandadas de guacamayos. En tierra, los inventarios en el valle del Yavarí Mirín han documentado la existencia de poblaciones saludables de mamíferos que se encuentran amenazados a través de la Amazonía, incluyendo 13 especies de primates y las especies de caza que sustentan la población rural de Loreto. Para los organismos nunca antes estudiados en detalle en el valle del Yavarí—plantas, peces, anfibios y reptiles, aves y murciélagos—nuestro inventario ofreció un primer vistazo de la exuberancia natural a cuatro grados de la línea ecuatorial.
Un centro importante durante el auge del caucho, hoy la zona se encuentra prácticamente despoblada; el único testimonio de su historia siendo los árboles antiguos marcados por caucheros. Pero ahora que los bosques del Yavarí han recuperado su esplendor, el hombre ha vuelto a interesarse en ellos. Se contemplan concesiones forestales en el bajo Yavarí Mirín y el bajo Yavarí sigue atrayendo a inmigrantes.
Afortunadamente, existe una alternativa para asegurar la conservación
de los bosques de la zona. Si se lograra extender al valle del Yavarí Mirín el éxito de los pueblos ribereños que ya manejan la Reserva Comunal Tamshiyacu-Tahuayo— combinando el manejo local con la investigación para beneficiar las comunidades naturales y humanas—se protegería intacta un área de sumo valor no solo para Loreto, pero para el Perú y la Amazonía.
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The spectacular terrain of the northern Cordillera Azul mountain range— 2.5 million hectares between the Huallaga and Ucayali rivers in central Peru—is the last large, intact expanse of lower-montane forest remaining in Peru. The rugged... more
The spectacular terrain of the northern Cordillera Azul mountain range—
2.5 million hectares between the Huallaga and Ucayali rivers in central
Peru—is the last large, intact expanse of lower-montane forest remaining
in Peru. The rugged Cordillera is an isolated outlier east of the main range of the Andes. Hills and lowlands of the Río Huallaga valley surround the Cordillera to the west, while extensive lowlands of the Río Ucayali unfold to the east. The promise of high richness and uniqueness of species in the Cordillera, combined with the vastness and intact nature of the region, led to the inclusion of the northern Cordillera Azul within the 38 areas of priority for conservation in Peru (Rodríguez 1996, Red Ambiental Peruana 1999).
At present, virtually no one lives within the northern Cordillera. The eastern face of the Cordillera is a sheer rock wall, with adjacent hills that
are largely intact and show only a light human “footprint” in narrow strips
along the rivers draining into the lowlands. To the west, the coca fields of
the Huallaga valley approach but do not penetrate the Cordillera; these
fields are now being abandoned and are reverting to forest. To the north,
colonists push into valleys of small tributaries of the Río Huallaga, but
only up to the edge of the Cordillera.
Change, however, approaches swiftly. The most immediate threat
comes from a large expanse of logging concessions (984,000 hectares)
adjacent to the eastern edge of the Cordillera. New roads, built to extract
timber from these concessions, will attract human colonization that
leads to damage far beyond the direct impact of selective logging, unless comprehensive measures for conservation are in place.
To ensure effective protection of the extraordinary biological richness
of the Cordillera, the Red Ambiental Peruana—a Peruvian coalition from
the private sector—in coordination with the Peruvian authorities responsible for the transfer of lands to private concessions, recommended in 1999 the establishment of a new National Park within the northern Cordillera Azul.
The goal of the current rapid biological inventory was to obtain the biological information needed to empower and sustain these regional conservation efforts, and to do so quickly, before habitat fragmentation and degradation forever transform the landscape.
2.5 million hectares between the Huallaga and Ucayali rivers in central
Peru—is the last large, intact expanse of lower-montane forest remaining
in Peru. The rugged Cordillera is an isolated outlier east of the main range of the Andes. Hills and lowlands of the Río Huallaga valley surround the Cordillera to the west, while extensive lowlands of the Río Ucayali unfold to the east. The promise of high richness and uniqueness of species in the Cordillera, combined with the vastness and intact nature of the region, led to the inclusion of the northern Cordillera Azul within the 38 areas of priority for conservation in Peru (Rodríguez 1996, Red Ambiental Peruana 1999).
At present, virtually no one lives within the northern Cordillera. The eastern face of the Cordillera is a sheer rock wall, with adjacent hills that
are largely intact and show only a light human “footprint” in narrow strips
along the rivers draining into the lowlands. To the west, the coca fields of
the Huallaga valley approach but do not penetrate the Cordillera; these
fields are now being abandoned and are reverting to forest. To the north,
colonists push into valleys of small tributaries of the Río Huallaga, but
only up to the edge of the Cordillera.
Change, however, approaches swiftly. The most immediate threat
comes from a large expanse of logging concessions (984,000 hectares)
adjacent to the eastern edge of the Cordillera. New roads, built to extract
timber from these concessions, will attract human colonization that
leads to damage far beyond the direct impact of selective logging, unless comprehensive measures for conservation are in place.
To ensure effective protection of the extraordinary biological richness
of the Cordillera, the Red Ambiental Peruana—a Peruvian coalition from
the private sector—in coordination with the Peruvian authorities responsible for the transfer of lands to private concessions, recommended in 1999 the establishment of a new National Park within the northern Cordillera Azul.
The goal of the current rapid biological inventory was to obtain the biological information needed to empower and sustain these regional conservation efforts, and to do so quickly, before habitat fragmentation and degradation forever transform the landscape.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
<i>Hemigrammus changae</i>, new species (Figs. 1–3) <i>Hemigrammus</i> cf. <i>lunatus</i> (not Durbin): Mirande, 2018: 9 (phylogenetic relationships; based on a specimen from lot MUSM 3927).... more
<i>Hemigrammus changae</i>, new species (Figs. 1–3) <i>Hemigrammus</i> cf. <i>lunatus</i> (not Durbin): Mirande, 2018: 9 (phylogenetic relationships; based on a specimen from lot MUSM 3927). <b>Holotype:</b> MUSM 663836, 29.9 mm SL, Peru, Departamento Madre de Dios, Puerto Maldonado, Aguajal Cicra, Aguajal Pozo Minero, 12 o 33'48"S 70 o 07'03"W, 9 Dec 2003, M.H. Hidalgo. <b>Paratypes: All from Peru. Departamento Madre de Dios:</b> MUSM 21644, 34, 1 c&amp;s, 22.3–28.7 mm SL; CAS 246141, 10, 23.1 – 27.6 mm SL; FMNH 138666, 10, 24.1 – 27.8 mm SL; MCZ 173322, 8, 24.1 – 27.1 mm SL; ZUEC 17027, 10, 23.5 – 26.7 mm SL; same data as holotype. MUSM 3927, 151, 3 c&amp;s, 16.0–24.0 mm SL; ZUEC 17029, 7, 3 c&amp;s, 19.1–22.3 mm SL, Zona Reservada Tambopata Candamo, La Colpa, cocha tributary of río Tambopata, ca. 12°55'S 69°15'W, 22 Aug 1992, F. Chang &amp; J. Icochea. MUSM 5600, 14, 21.0– 26.4 mm SL, Zona Reservada Tambopata Candamo, Las Piedras, quebrada 2 km from lago Sandoval, ca. 12°36'S 69°03'W, 23 Jan 1990, H. Ortega, F. Chang &amp; F. Rodriguez. MUSM 8563, 9, 19.5 – 23.8 mm SL, Puerto Maldonado, La Cachuela, 12°34'45"S 69°11'13"W, 12 March 1995, H. Ortega. MUSM 21701, 18, 10.8 – 26.3 mm SL, Puerto Maldonado, Aguajal Satélite, Aguajal Aguas Negras, 12°39'26"S 69°26'29"W, 22 Jan 2004, M.H. Hidalgo. MUSM 21823, 58, 10.2 – 27.9 mm SL, Puerto Maldonado, Aguajal Aguas Negras, Aguajal Pozo Minero, 12 o 38'10"S 69 o 25'36"W, 21 Jan 2004, M.H. Hidalgo. INPA 57938, 10, 4 c&amp;s, 23.6–28.0 mm SL; MUSM 21992, 126, 10.5 – 29.3 mm SL; MUSM 22018, 83, 12.2 – 30.4 mm SL, Puerto Maldonado, Aguajal Este, lower río Madre de Dios, San Francisco, 12 o 28'11"S 68 o 56'04"W, 20–21 Feb 2004, M.H. Hidalgo. MUSM 22055, 27, 16.0– 30.3 mm SL; MUSM 22068, 149, 10.6 – 29.6 mm SL; ZUEC 17028, 4, 19.1 – 29.7 mm SL, Puerto Maldonado, Puerto Pardo, Aguajal Tripa, lower río Madre de Dios, 12°29'34''S 68°57'31''W, 22–23 Feb 2004, M.H. Hidalgo. MUSM 22135, 40, 9.8 – 27.3 mm SL, Puerto Maldonado, San Francisco, Aguajal Trigoso, lower río Madre de Dios, 12 [...]
Fig. 2. Corydoras ortegai, MUSM 28000, holotype, 32.7 mm SL: Peru, Depto. Loreto, Quebrada Coronel Díaz, tributary of río Yaguas. Caudal fin reconstructed after MUSM 27154, 27.7 mm SL.
Fig. 3. Dorsal (left) and ventral (right) views of head and pectoral fins of Corydoras ortegai, MUSM 28000, holotype, 32.7 mm SL: Peru, Depto. Loreto, Quebrada Coronel Díaz, tributary of río Yaguas.
Fig. 4. Northern South America, showing the distribution of Corydoras ortegai (dot), C. panda (diamond), C. reynoldsi (square), C. tukano (triangles), and C. weitzmani (cross). Distribution of C. weitzmani is depicted with its center at... more
Fig. 4. Northern South America, showing the distribution of Corydoras ortegai (dot), C. panda (diamond), C. reynoldsi (square), C. tukano (triangles), and C. weitzmani (cross). Distribution of C. weitzmani is depicted with its center at Puerto Maldonado, capital of the Departamento Madre de Dios in Peru, since precise localities for the species are not known (see text). Segmented line: Purus structural arch.
Fig. 1. Corydoras ortegai, MUSM 28000, holotype, 32.7 mm SL: Peru, Depto. Loreto, Quebrada Coronel Díaz, tributary of río Yaguas.
FIGURE 4. Map of South America showing the distribution of Hemigrammus lunatus: white circles represent localities added in this study, black circles represent localities examined by Ota et al. (2014)
FIGURE 3. Map of central-western South America showing the distribution of Hemigrammus changae: red star represents type locality, red circles represent the paratypes localities, yellow circles represent the non-types localities, and... more
FIGURE 3. Map of central-western South America showing the distribution of Hemigrammus changae: red star represents type locality, red circles represent the paratypes localities, yellow circles represent the non-types localities, and black circles represent the supplementary material localities.
FIGURE 2. Medial view of right side of upper and lower jaws of Hemigrammus changae, INPA 57938, paratype, 25.4 mm SL. Scale bar = 0.5 mm.
FIGURE 1. Hemigrammus changae. (A), MUSM 663836, 29.9 mm SL, holotype; (B) CAS 246141, 27.2 mm SL, paratype; and (C) MUSM 22055, 28.1 mm SL, paratype: all from Peru, Madre de Dios, río Madre de Dios basin.
We described herein a new Hemigrammus from the río Madre de Dios and rio Mamoré basins in southeastern Peru and Bolivia. The new species possess a color pattern similar to those belonging to the Hemigrammus lunatus species-group, i.e., a... more
We described herein a new Hemigrammus from the río Madre de Dios and rio Mamoré basins in southeastern Peru and Bolivia. The new species possess a color pattern similar to those belonging to the Hemigrammus lunatus species-group, i.e., a broad longitudinal dark stripe across the eye and a conspicuous, narrow dark stripe along the anal-fin basis. It can be easily diagnosed from the species belonging to this group by presenting the combination of the following characters: an oval, horizontally elongated humeral blotch, 6-7 upper branch and 10-12 lower branch gill-rakers, up to five cusps on broader maxillary teeth, and by lacking a midlateral dark stripe. Comments on its putative relationships are provided. Additionally, we updated the geographical distribution of Hemigrammus lunatus and H. machadoi based on an exhaustive survey of material deposited in collections. [Species Zoobank registration: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A2ED5D61-8434-4A0F-BC5B-B496FB3DC191]
Research Interests:
We studied Orestias cf. agassizii (Peces, Cyprinodontidae) in the area of influence of the PERU LNG pipeline. The study was conducted in water systems within the Mantaro and Apurímac River Basins, at sites located between 3,800 and 4,400... more
We studied Orestias cf. agassizii (Peces, Cyprinodontidae) in the area of influence of the PERU LNG pipeline. The study was conducted in water systems within the Mantaro and Apurímac River Basins, at sites located between 3,800 and 4,400 m in the high plateau and watershed divide of Vischongo– Huamanga, in the high puna of Apacheta and Huaytará– Rumichaca. We gathered basic data to determine the possible effects of the construction and operation of the pipeline on Orestias species. Specifically, we determine the distribution and abundance of O. cf. agassizii in the study area, the demography and population structure (by size and sex), the biotic and abiotic parameters that determine their presence, and the potential impacts that the pipeline may cause to its populations. Our results indicate that although O. cf. agassizii seems to prefer lentic systems elsewhere, in our study it was very abundant in the Leche Leche River. Their presence seems to be related to the dry season, when th...
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Research Interests:
The Amazon basin has been subjected to extreme climatic events and according to climate change projections this hydrosystem could face changes in the natural dynamic of flood cycles that support the feeding and reproduction of many fish... more
The Amazon basin has been subjected to extreme climatic events and according to climate change projections this hydrosystem could face changes in the natural dynamic of flood cycles that support the feeding and reproduction of many fish species, threatening aquatic biodiversity. Protected areas (PAs) are the main tools used to safeguard the biodiversity in the long term; however, they are fixed areas that could be subject to climate change, questioning their future efficiency in protecting biodiversity. The Amazon basin currently benefits from a relatively high level of protection as 52% of its catchment area is under the form of true PAs or indigenous lands. However, the capacity of these PAs to protect freshwater biodiversity remains unclear as they have generally been assessed with little regard to freshwater ecosystems and their hydrological connectivity. Here, the aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of PAs in representing the Amazon fish fauna under current and future climatic conditions. A macroecological approach was used to estimate the minimum size of the geographical range needed by each species to achieve long-term persistence, by a combined function of range size and body size, two ecological traits known to influence species extinction risk. In future the Amazon basin could risk losing 2% of its freshwater fish fauna owing to unsuitable climatic conditions, with a further 34% adversely affected. The present Amazon network of PAs will cover the minimum required range for species persistence for more than 60% of the freshwater fish species analysed under the future climate scenario. However, more than 25% of the future susceptible species are currently concentrated in large tributaries and in the central-lower Amazon floodplain where few PAs occur, highlighting the lack of appropriate conservation actions for these specific water bodies.
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Upstream range shifts of freshwater fishes have been documented in recent years due to ongoing climate change. River fragmentation by dams, presenting physical barriers, can limit the climatically induced spatial redistribution of fishes.... more
Upstream range shifts of freshwater fishes have been documented in recent years due to ongoing climate change. River fragmentation by dams, presenting physical barriers, can limit the climatically induced spatial redistribution of fishes. Andean freshwater ecosystems in the Neotropical region are expected to be highly affected by these future disturbances. However, proper evaluations are still missing. Combining species distribution models and functional traits of Andean Amazon fishes, coupled with dam locations and climatic projections (2070s), we (a) evaluated the potential impacts of future climate on species ranges, (b) investigated the combined impact of river fragmentation and climate change and (c) tested the relationships between these impacts and species functional traits. Results show that climate change will induce range contraction for most of the Andean Amazon fish species, particularly those inhabiting highlands. Dams are not predicted to greatly limit future range shifts for most species (i.e., the Barrier effect). However, some of these barriers should prevent upstream shifts for a considerable number of species, reducing future potential diversity in some basins. River fragmentation is predicted to act
Research Interests:
Conserving freshwater habitats and their biodiversity in the Amazon Basin is a growing challenge in the face of rapid anthropogenic changes. We used the most comprehensive fish-occurrence database available (2355 valid species; 21,248... more
Conserving freshwater habitats and their biodiversity in the Amazon Basin is a growing challenge in the face of rapid anthropogenic changes. We used the most comprehensive fish-occurrence database available (2355 valid species; 21,248 sampling points) and 3 ecological criteria (irreplaceability, representativeness, and vulnerability) to identify biodiversity hotspots based on 6 conservation templates (3 proactive, 1 reactive, 1 representative, and 1 balanced) to provide a set of alternative planning solutions for freshwater fish protection in the Amazon Basin. We identified empirically for each template the 17% of sub-basins that should be conserved and performed a prioritization analysis by identifying current and future (2050) threats (i.e., degree of deforestation and habitat fragmentation by dams). Two of our 3 proactive templates had around 65% of their surface covered by protected areas; high levels of irreplaceability (60% of endemics) and representativeness (71% of the Amazonian fish fauna); and low current and future vulnerability. These 2 templates, then, seemed more robust for conservation prioritization. The future of the selected sub-basins in these 2 proactive templates is not immediately threatened by human activities, and these sub-basins host the largest part of Amazonian biodiversity. They could easily be conserved if no additional threats occur between now and 2050.
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The Amazon Basin is an unquestionable biodiversity hotspot, containing the highest freshwater biodiversity on earth and facing off a recent increase in anthropogenic threats. The current knowledge on the spatial distribution of the... more
The Amazon Basin is an unquestionable biodiversity hotspot, containing the highest freshwater biodiversity on earth and facing off a recent increase in anthropogenic threats. The current knowledge on the spatial distribution of the freshwater fish species is greatly deficient in this basin, preventing a comprehensive understanding of this hyper-diverse ecosystem as a whole. Filling this gap was the priority of a transnational collaborative project, i.e. the AmazonFish project - https://www.amazon-fish.com/. Relying on the outputs of this project, we provide the most complete fish species distribution records covering the whole Amazon drainage. The database, including 2,406 validated freshwater native fish species, 232,936 georeferenced records, results from an extensive survey of species distribution including 590 different sources (e.g. published articles, grey literature, online biodiversity databases and scientific collections from museums and universities worldwide) and field expeditions conducted during the project. This database, delivered at both georeferenced localities (21,500 localities) and sub-drainages grains (144 units), represents a highly valuable source of information for further studies on freshwater fish biodiversity, biogeography and conservation. Measurement(s)Diversity • Fish • spatial patternTechnology Type(s)digital curationFactor Type(s)geographic locationSample Characteristic - OrganismfishSample Characteristic - Environmentdrainage basinSample Characteristic - LocationAmazon BasinOpen in a separate window Machine-accessible metadata file describing the reported data: 10.6084/m9.figshare.11920800
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Andes-to-Amazon river connectivity controls numerous natural and human systems in the greater Amazon. However, it is being rapidly altered by a wave of new hydropower development, the impacts of which have been previously underestimated.... more
Andes-to-Amazon river connectivity controls numerous natural and human systems in the greater Amazon. However, it is being rapidly altered by a wave of new hydropower development, the impacts of which have been previously underestimated. We document 142 dams existing or under construction and 160 proposed dams for rivers draining the Andean headwaters of the Amazon. Existing dams have fragmented the tributary networks of six of eight major Andean Amazon river basins. Proposed dams could result in significant losses in river connectivity in river mainstems of five of eight major systems-the Napo, Marañón, Ucayali, Beni, and Mamoré. With a newly reported 671 freshwater fish species inhabiting the Andean headwaters of the Amazon (>500 m), dams threaten previously unrecognized biodiversity, particularly among endemic and migratory species. Because Andean rivers contribute most of the sediment in the mainstem Amazon, losses in river connectivity translate to drastic alteration of river channel and floodplain geomorphology and associated ecosystem services.
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Assessing the effectiveness of protected areas for sustaining species and identifying priority sites for their conservation is vital for decision making, particularly for freshwater fishes in South America, the global centre of freshwater... more
Assessing the effectiveness of protected areas for sustaining species and identifying priority sites for their conservation is vital for decision making, particularly for freshwater fishes in South America, the global centre of freshwater fish diversity. Several conservation planning studies have used threatened freshwater fishes or species that are vulnerable to climate change as conservation targets, but none has included both in priority-setting analysis. The objectives of this study were to identify gaps in the coverage of the existing protected areas in representing the endemic freshwater fishes of the Tropical Andes region, and to identify conservation priority areas that adequately cover threatened species and species vulnerable to climate change. Data on 648 freshwater fishes from the Tropical Andes were used to identify gaps in the protected area coverage, and to identify conservation priority sites under three scenarios: (i) prioritize threatened species; (ii) prioritize species that are vulnerable to climate change; and (iii) prioritize both threatened species and species vulnerable to climate change. A total of 571 species (88% of all species) were not covered by any protected areas; most of them are restricted to ≤10 catchments. To represent both threatened species and species vulnerable to climate change in the third scenario, 635 catchments were identified as priority areas, representing 26.5% of the study area. The number of irreplaceable catchments for this scenario is 475, corresponding to 22.5% of the total area. The results of this study could be crucial for designing strategies for the effective protection of native fish populations in the Tropical Andes, and for planning proactive climate adaptation. It is hoped that the identification of priority areas, particularly irreplaceable catchments, will help to guide conservation and management decisions in the Andean region.
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We described herein a new Hemigrammus from the río Madre de Dios and rio Mamoré basins in southeastern Peru and Bolivia. The new species possess a color pattern similar to those belonging to the Hemigrammus lunatus species-group, i.e., a... more
We described herein a new Hemigrammus from the río Madre de Dios and rio Mamoré basins in southeastern Peru and Bolivia. The new species possess a color pattern similar to those belonging to the Hemigrammus lunatus species-group, i.e., a broad longitudinal dark stripe across the eye and a conspicuous, narrow dark stripe along the anal-fin basis. It can be easily diagnosed from the species belonging to this group by presenting the combination of the following characters: an oval, horizontally elongated humeral blotch, 6-7 upper branch and 10-12 lower branch gill-rakers, up to five cusps on broader maxillary teeth, and by lacking a midlateral dark stripe. Comments on its putative relationships are provided. Additionally, we updated the geographical distribution of Hemigrammus lunatus and H. machadoi based on an exhaustive survey of material deposited in collections. [Species Zoobank registration: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:A2ED5D61-8434-4A0F-BC5B-B496FB3DC191]
Research Interests:
Using the most comprehensive fish occurrence database, we evaluated the importance of ecological and historical drivers in diversity patterns of subdrainage basins across the Amazon system. Linear models reveal the influence of climatic... more
Using the most comprehensive fish occurrence database, we evaluated the importance of ecological and historical drivers in diversity patterns of subdrainage basins across the Amazon system. Linear models reveal the influence of climatic conditions, habitat size and sub-basin isolation on species diversity. Unexpectedly, the species richness model also highlighted a negative upriver-downriver gradient, contrary to predictions of increasing richness at more downriver locations along fluvial gradients. This reverse gradient may be linked to the history of the Amazon drainage network, which, after isolation as western and eastern basins throughout the Miocene, only began flowing eastward 1-9 million years (Ma) ago. Our results suggest that the main center of fish diversity was located westward, with fish dispersal progressing eastward after the basins were united and the Amazon River assumed its modern course toward the Atlantic. This dispersal process seems not yet achieved, suggesting a recent formation of the current Amazon system.
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the amazon Basin is an unquestionable biodiversity hotspot, containing the highest freshwater biodiversity on earth and facing off a recent increase in anthropogenic threats. The current knowledge on the spatial distribution of the... more
the amazon Basin is an unquestionable biodiversity hotspot, containing the highest freshwater biodiversity on earth and facing off a recent increase in anthropogenic threats. The current knowledge on the spatial distribution of the freshwater fish species is greatly deficient in this basin, preventing a comprehensive understanding of this hyper-diverse ecosystem as a whole. Filling this gap was the priority of a transnational collaborative project, i.e. the AmazonFish project - https://www.amazon-fish.com/. Relying on the outputs of this project, we provide the most complete fish species distribution records covering the whole Amazon drainage. The database, including 2,406 validated freshwater native fish species, 232,936 georeferenced records, results from an extensive survey of species distribution including 590 different sources (e.g. published articles, grey literature, online biodiversity databases and scientific collections from museums and universities worldwide) and field expeditions conducted during the project. This database, delivered at both georeferenced localities (21,500 localities) and sub-drainages grains (144 units), represents a highly valuable source of information for further studies on freshwater fish biodiversity, biogeography and conservation.
Research Interests:
Abstract Upstream range shifts of freshwater fishes have been documented in recent years due to ongoing climate change. River fragmentation by dams, presenting physical barriers, can limit the climatically induced spatial redistribution... more
Abstract Upstream range shifts of freshwater fishes have been documented in recent years due to ongoing climate change. River fragmentation by dams, presenting physical barriers, can limit the climatically induced spatial redistribution of fishes. Andean freshwater ecosystems in the Neotropical region are expected to be highly af- fected by these future disturbances. However, proper evaluations are still missing. Combining species distribution models and functional traits of Andean Amazon fishes, coupled with dam locations and climatic projections (2070s), we (a) evaluated the potential impacts of future climate on species ranges, (b) investigated the com- bined impact of river fragmentation and climate change and (c) tested the relation- ships between these impacts and species functional traits. Results show that climate change will induce range contraction for most of the Andean Amazon fish species, particularly those inhabiting highlands. Dams are not predicted to greatly limit future range shifts for most species (i.e., the Barrier effect).
Research Interests:
Conserving freshwater habitats and their biodiversity in the Amazon Basin is a growing challenge in the face of rapid anthropogenic changes. We used the most comprehensive fish-occurrence database available (2355 valid species; 21,248... more
Conserving freshwater habitats and their biodiversity in the Amazon Basin is a growing challenge in the face of rapid anthropogenic changes. We used the most comprehensive fish-occurrence database available (2355 valid species; 21,248 sampling points) and 3 ecological criteria (irreplaceability, representativeness, and vulnerability) to identify biodiversity hotspots based on 6 conservation templates (3 proactive, 1 reactive, 1 representative, and 1 balanced) to provide a set of alternative planning solutions for freshwater fish protection in the Amazon Basin. We identified empirically for each template the 17% of sub-basins that should be conserved and performed a prioritization analysis by identifying current and future (2050) threats (i.e., degree of deforestation and habitat fragmentation by dams). Two of our 3 proactive templates had around 65% of their surface covered by protected areas; high levels of irreplaceability (60% of endemics) and representativeness (71% of the Amazonian fish fauna); and low current and future vulnerability. These 2 templates, then, seemed more robust for conservation prioritization. The future of the selected sub-basins in these 2 proactive templates is not immediately threatened by human activities, and these sub-basins host the largest part of Amazonian biodiversity. They could easily be conserved if no additional threats occur between now and 2050.
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Meeting international commitments to protect 17% of terrestrial ecosystems worldwide will require >3 million square kilometers of new protected areas and strategies to create those areas in a way that respects local communities and land... more
Meeting international commitments to protect 17% of terrestrial ecosystems worldwide will require >3 million square kilometers of new protected areas and strategies to create those areas in a way that respects local communities and land use. In 2000-2016, biological and social scientists worked to increase the protected proportion of Peru's largest department via 14 interdisciplinary inventories covering >9 million hectares of this megadiverse corner of the Amazon basin. In each landscape, the strategy was the same: convene diverse partners, identify biological and sociocultural assets, document residents' use of natural resources, and tailor the findings to the needs of decision-makers. Nine of the 14 landscapes have since been protected (5.7 million hectares of new protected areas), contributing to a quadrupling of conservation coverage in Loreto (from 6 to 23%). We outline the methods and enabling conditions most crucial for successfully applying similar campaigns elsewhere on Earth.
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The Amazon basin has been subjected to extreme climatic events and according to climate change projections this hydrosystem could face changes in the natural dynamic of flood cycles that support the feeding and reproduction of many fish... more
The Amazon basin has been subjected to extreme climatic events and according to climate change projections this hydrosystem could face changes in the natural dynamic of flood cycles that support the feeding and reproduction of many fish species, threatening aquatic biodiversity.
Protected areas (PAs) are the main tools used to safeguard the biodiversity in the long term; however, they are fixed areas that could be subject to climate change, questioning their future efficiency in protecting biodiversity.
The Amazon basin currently benefits from a relatively high level of protection as 52% of its catchment area is under the form of true PAs or indigenous lands. However, the capacity of these PAs to protect freshwater biodiversity remains unclear as they have generally been assessed with little regard to freshwater ecosystems and their hydrological connectivity. Here, the aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of PAs in representing the Amazon fish fauna under current and future climatic conditions.
A macroecological approach was used to estimate the minimum size of the geographical range needed by each species to achieve long-term persistence, by a combined function of range size and body size, two ecological traits known to influence species extinction risk.
In future the Amazon basin could risk losing 2% of its freshwater fish fauna owing to unsuitable climatic conditions, with a further 34% adversely affected. The present Amazon network of PAs will cover the minimum required range for species persistence for more than 60% of the freshwater fish species analysed under the future climate scenario. However, more than 25% of the future susceptible species are currently concentrated in large tributaries and in the central-lower Amazon floodplain where few PAs occur, highlighting the lack of appropriate conservation actions for these specific water bodies.
Protected areas (PAs) are the main tools used to safeguard the biodiversity in the long term; however, they are fixed areas that could be subject to climate change, questioning their future efficiency in protecting biodiversity.
The Amazon basin currently benefits from a relatively high level of protection as 52% of its catchment area is under the form of true PAs or indigenous lands. However, the capacity of these PAs to protect freshwater biodiversity remains unclear as they have generally been assessed with little regard to freshwater ecosystems and their hydrological connectivity. Here, the aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of PAs in representing the Amazon fish fauna under current and future climatic conditions.
A macroecological approach was used to estimate the minimum size of the geographical range needed by each species to achieve long-term persistence, by a combined function of range size and body size, two ecological traits known to influence species extinction risk.
In future the Amazon basin could risk losing 2% of its freshwater fish fauna owing to unsuitable climatic conditions, with a further 34% adversely affected. The present Amazon network of PAs will cover the minimum required range for species persistence for more than 60% of the freshwater fish species analysed under the future climate scenario. However, more than 25% of the future susceptible species are currently concentrated in large tributaries and in the central-lower Amazon floodplain where few PAs occur, highlighting the lack of appropriate conservation actions for these specific water bodies.
Research Interests:
Peruvian freshwater fishes and their habitats were investigated by the Natural History Museum of San Marcos University (MHNSM) as part of a long-term project. Fishes were inventoried by sampling in main drainage basins, including coastal... more
Peruvian freshwater fishes and their habitats were investigated by the Natural History Museum of San Marcos University (MHNSM) as part of a long-term project. Fishes were inventoried by sampling in main drainage basins, including coastal rivers, highland rivers, and Peru’s Amazonian waters. To date, the MHNSM fish collection has approximately 300,000 specimens comprising 1000 valid species in 168 families and 8 orders. The greatest diversity lies within the Ostariophysi (80% of all species) with the dominant orders being Characiformes and Siluriformes. Characidae is the most diverse family with 22.5% ofall species. Protected areas (i.e. Parks, Reserved Zones or National Reserves) have been sampled intensively providing a reasonable estimates oftheir fish diversity. However, our knowledge is still poor for less accessible areas. More fieldwork is needed in all ofthe large river basins before we can have a fuller understanding of total fish diversity. As an example ofongoing efforts, we discuss specific fish inventories in both Peruvian coastal rivers and highlands and in river systems shared with neighboring countries. In addition to Peruvian fish diversity; we discuss the state ofaquatic resources and habitats in Peru’s principal river basins, andcurrent problems facing such aquatic systems (e.g. inlandfisheries andextractive activities such as deforestation and gold mining). Near large cities, such as Iquitos and Pucallpa, fishing effort has increased considerably in the last decade, whereas catch per unit effort appears to have decreased considerably indicating that over-fishing has become locally problematic. An overview is presented of main conservation problems, including exotic species that confront aquatic ecosystems in Peru. Finally, an environmental education program is recommended to inform the general public about the value of freshwater fishes and aquatic ecosystems and the main problems such resources are facing.
Research Interests: Environmental Education, Conservation, Exotic Species, Plant Biology, Natural History, and 20 morePeru, Biodiversity, Mining, Fish Culture, Aquatic Ecosystem, Large River Ecology, Nature Reserves, Deforestation, Species Diversity, Freshwater Fish, Habitats, Introduced species, River Basin, Gold mining, Aquatic Habitat Model, Protected Area, Amazon basin, Catch per unit effort, Fishing Effort, and Aquatic habitat
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... MZUSP 96388, 6, 69.3231.7 mm SL, Brazil, Pará State, Tapajós River drainage, Jamanxim River near town of Mil, 7°43′51″S, 55°16′36″W, 23 October 2007 ... caudal fin uniformly opaque, banded, or spotted), and by reaching a maximum... more
... MZUSP 96388, 6, 69.3231.7 mm SL, Brazil, Pará State, Tapajós River drainage, Jamanxim River near town of Mil, 7°43′51″S, 55°16′36″W, 23 October 2007 ... caudal fin uniformly opaque, banded, or spotted), and by reaching a maximum adult size of at least 345 mm SL (vs ...