Conservation threats and future prospects for the freshwater fishes of Ecuador: A hotspot of Neotropical fish diversity |
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Authors: | Windsor E Aguirre Gabriela Alvarez-Mieles Fernando Anaguano-Yancha Ricardo Burgos Morán Roberto V Cucalón Daniel Escobar-Camacho Iván Jácome-Negrete Pedro Jiménez Prado Enrique Laaz Katherin Miranda-Troya Ronald Navarrete-Amaya Fredy Nugra Salazar Willan Revelo Juan F Rivadeneira Jonathan Valdiviezo Rivera Edwin Zárate Hugo |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Biological Sciences, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, USA;2. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad de Guayaquil, Guayaquil, Ecuador;3. Wildlife Conservation Society – Programa Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador;4. Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra, Universidad Estatal Amazónica, Puyo, Ecuador;5. Instituto BIOSFERA, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito, Ecuador;6. Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto de Estudios Amazónicos e Insulares, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador;7. Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador Sede Esmeraldas, Esmeraldas, Ecuador;8. Instituto Público de Investigación de Acuicultura y Pesca, Guayaquil, Ecuador;9. Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito, Ecuador;10. Urb. Paraíso del Río 1, Guayaquil, Ecuador;11. ONG Bosque Medicinal, ONG Forest.ink, Gualaquiza, Ecuador
Laboratorio de Limnología de la Universidad del Azuay, Cuenca, Ecuador;12. Unidad de Recursos Demersales Bentónicos de Agua Dulce y Embalses, Instituto Público de Investigación de Acuicultura y Pesca, Guayaquil, Ecuador;13. Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, Quito, Ecuador;14. Laboratorio de Limnología de la Universidad del Azuay, Cuenca, Ecuador |
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Abstract: | Freshwater fish communities in Ecuador exhibit some of the highest levels of diversity and endemism in the Neotropics. Unfortunately, aquatic ecosystems in the country are under serious threat and conditions are deteriorating. In 2018–19, the government of Ecuador sponsored a series of workshops to examine the conservation status of Ecuador's freshwater fishes. Concerns were identified for 35 species, most of which are native to the Amazon region, and overfishing of Amazonian pimelodid catfishes emerged as a major issue. However, much of the information needed to make decisions across fish groups and regions was not available, hindering the process and highlighting the need for a review of the conservation threats to Ecuador's freshwater fishes. Here, we review how the physical alteration of rivers, deforestation, wetland and floodplain degradation, agricultural and urban water pollution, mining, oil extraction, dams, overfishing, introduced species and climate change are affecting freshwater fishes in Ecuador. Although many of these factors affect fishes throughout the Neotropics, the lack of data on Ecuadorian fish communities is staggering and highlights the urgent need for more research. We also make recommendations, including the need for proper enforcement of existing environmental laws, restoration of degraded aquatic ecosystems, establishment of a national monitoring system for freshwater ecosystems, investment in research to fill gaps in knowledge, and encouragement of public engagement in citizen science and conservation efforts. Freshwater fishes are an important component of the cultural and biological legacy of the Ecuadorian people. Conserving them for future generations is critical. |
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Keywords: | biodiversity conservation Ecuador endemism freshwater fishes Neotropics |
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