Aquaculture expansion in Brazilian freshwaters against the Aichi Biodiversity Targets

Lima-Júnior, Dilermando P.; Magalhães, André Lincoln Barroso; Pelicice, Fernando Mayer; Vitule, Jean Ricardo Simões; Azevedo‐Santos, Valter M.; Órsi, Mário Luís; Simberloff, Daniel; Agostinho, Ângelo Antônio

doi:10.1007/s13280-017-1001-z

Cited by 41 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…This study showed that guppies are widespread in Brazil, mostly in the southeastern and northeastern regions. The use of this species for mosquito control and the relaxation of environmental laws has certainly contributed to its widespread introduction, even though the effectiveness of mosquito control is questionable (Azevedo‐Santos et al ., , ; El‐Sabaawi et al ., ), and Brazilian federal policies are contrary to international sustainable practices (Lima‐Junior et al ., ; Padial et al ., ; Pelicice et al ., ). In countries with megadiverse biotas, it is essential to take precautions to prevent new invasions and loss of native fish species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical distribution and current drivers of guppy occurrence in Brazil

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Faria

Guarido

et al. 2020

Journal of Fish Biology

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Humans introduce non‐native species by means such as the deliberate release of fish into fresh waters and through commercial trade. The guppy Poecilia reticulata Peters, 1859, is commonly kept in aquaria and controls disease vectors, and now it occurs in many areas outside its natural distribution. Its initial habitat in Brazil was identified, and a study was performed to determine whether the density of guppies can be explained by the density of human population, per‐capita gross domestic product, level of human impact on the areas where guppies have been found and fish‐sampling effort. A total of 1402 guppy records were found; the southeastern region had the oldest records; and the southeastern, northeastern and central‐western regions had the maximum records. Low tolerance to the colder climate may be the reason for the lack of guppy records in the southernmost states. It was also observed that the occurrence of this fish is positively, yet weakly, related to the density of human population, indicating that improved regulations regarding its use in controlling disease vectors, the aquarium trade and education of aquarium hobbyists could help prevent the spread of this species and its potential impacts in Brazil.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Historical distribution and current drivers of guppy occurrence in Brazil

Dias

Faria

Guarido

et al. 2020

Journal of Fish Biology

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“…Recent evaluations revealed that we should be concerned with the introduction of a “few widespread” species (Toussaint, Beauchard, et al., ), either unintentionally, because it culminates in biological invasions and biotic homogenization (Mazor et al., ; Pool & Olden, ; Toussaint, Charpin, et al., ). An outstanding example is the widespread occurrence of non‐native cichlid (Lima Junior et al., 2018) and cyprinid (Magalhães & Jacobi, ; Rodrigues‐Filho et al., ) fish in natural and artificial environments of South America and worldwide.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In fashioning romantic scenarios about South America (e.g., Valladão et al., ), Brazil points to the establishment of aquaculture as a central commodity (Lima Junior et al., ; Pelicice et al., ). The exploitation “below acceptable levels” defended by some authors (e.g., Saint‐Paul, ) generated a coordinated market that promoted the exponential multiplication of net cages in fresh waters, despite opposing scientific evidence, such as discussed by other authors (e.g., Alves, Vieira, Magalhães, & Brito, ; Lima Junior et al., ; Pelicice et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Now, it is broadly applied to maximize the profits of fish farms (Hashimoto, Senhorini, Foresti, & Porto‐Foresti, ; Valladão et al., ; Vitule, Freire, & Simberloff, ). By observing the success of non‐native fish in net cages, decision‐makers encouraged new introductions (Lima Junior et al., ), and fish farmers answered with novel and dangerous non‐native species (Garcia et al., ), including hybrids (Saint‐Paul, ). In fresh waters of Brazil and Chile, even non‐natives traditionally raised in net cages (Petrere, ) missed ground for hybrids (Valladão et al., ; Watanabe et al., ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A network meta‐analysis of threats to South American fish biodiversity

et al. 2019

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While environmental alterations have made Homo sapiens the hyperkeystone species of the globe, biotic homogenization initiated a new era, the “Homogenocene.” Still, some terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in South America are considered pristine and wild, which can lead to a general faith that economic progress is consistent with conservation strategies, even without scientific support. We compiled anthropogenic threats to fish biodiversity in a hierarchical meta‐analysis, along with an evidence synthesis of threats related to biological invasions, based on peer‐reviewed research with the aim to represent the actual conservation status of the South American ichthyofauna. We highlighted human‐related threats and synergistic effects of biological invasions, climate change, environmental alterations (e.g., pollution, aquaculture and damming) and fisheries. Considering measures that reinforce novel alien fish (e.g., artificial hybrids or genetically modified) introductions, it became clear why an eventual increase in local or regional species richness is not always beneficial to aquaculture, biodiversity, human well‐being or nature. In fact, citizens in all societal roles, including scientists, should revise their concepts about threats to fish biodiversity. Environmental policies require more than taxonomic diagnostics to achieve conservation goals under an incompatible scenario of a multiplying number of fish species and biotic homogenization. We advocate for countries in South America using science‐based strategies useful to maintain their social and economic growth along with their “remaining nature.” We live a crucial moment when the government overlooks threats to biodiversity and uses agribusiness as the most acceptable manner of fuelling the economy.

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“…7. This is of concern since tilapiine cichlids, for example, members of the genera Coptodon, Oreochromis, and Tilapia, are the most widespread group of non-native fishes worldwide (Canonico et al 2005, Cassemiro et al 2018, presently cultured in most reservoirs of South America (Lima Junior et al 2018). Arrows and engines (in blue and black) indicate the intensity of processes and effects size.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Benthification, biotic homogenization behind the trophic downgrading in altered ecosystems

et al. 2019

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Several dozen fish species have been introduced into Neotropical waters, causing significant biotic changes that include deterministic predation interactions with ecosystem effects. In general, reservoirs are preferred over lakes as places for stocking policies, due to their artificial aspect, consequently promoting fish introductions. In a meta-analytic approach, we compared the biomass of plankton-feeding (and top predators) with bottom-feeding fish species between reservoirs and lakes, considering the influence of invaders and trophic levels. Among the 26 ecosystems (12 reservoirs and 14 lakes), there is a dominance of non-native bottom-feeding species in artificial environments. We revealed a mechanism behind this dominance in a study case, a tendency for trophic downgrading and biotic homogenization based on interactions between an expatriate invasive centrarchid (sunfish family) predator from North America (the largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides) and two omnivorous cichlids from Africa in novel environmental contexts in Brazil (the benthification process). Both juvenile and adult largemouth bass are keystone predators in aquatic food webs in both their native and introduced ranges. The omnivore-detritivore tilapiines Oreochromis spp. and the phytophagous-omnivorous Coptodon spp. are species that exhibits strong generalist tendencies. Such species feed on the omnivore and detritivore compartments, enhancing detritus cycling among a large variety of d 13 C sources. Since their consumption is disproportionate, facilitation of other species occurs with multiplicative effects in the environment. Interactions between invasive species, that is, when an invasive predator (bird, fish, or invertebrate) eats an invasive prey (mainly fish and invertebrates), can serve to highlight biotic homogenization on fresh waters.

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Aquaculture expansion in Brazilian freshwaters against the Aichi Biodiversity Targets

Cited by 41 publications

References 72 publications

Historical distribution and current drivers of guppy occurrence in Brazil

Historical distribution and current drivers of guppy occurrence in Brazil

A network meta‐analysis of threats to South American fish biodiversity

Benthification, biotic homogenization behind the trophic downgrading in altered ecosystems

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