A global-scale screening of non-native aquatic organisms to identify potentially invasive species under current and future climate conditions.

The threat posed by invasive non-native species worldwide requires a global approach to identify which introduced species are likely to pose an elevated risk of impact to native species and ecosystems. To inform policy, stakeholders and management decisions on global threats to aquatic ecosystems, 195 assessors representing 120 risk assessment areas across all six inhabited continents screened 819 non-native species from 15 groups of aquatic organisms (freshwater, brackish, marine plants and animals) using the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit. This multi-lingual decision-support tool for the risk screening of aquatic organisms provides assessors with risk scores for a species under current and future climate change conditions that, following a statistically based calibration, permits the accurate classification of species into high-, medium- and low-risk categories under current and predicted climate conditions. The 1730 screenings undertaken encompassed wide geographical areas (regions, political entities, parts thereof, water bodies, river basins, lake drainage basins, and marine regions), which permitted thresholds to be identified for almost all aquatic organismal groups screened as well as for tropical, temperate and continental climate classes, and for tropical and temperate marine ecoregions. In total, 33 species were identified as posing a 'very high risk' of being or becoming invasive, and the scores of several of these species under current climate increased under future climate conditions, primarily due to their wide thermal tolerances. The risk thresholds determined for taxonomic groups and climate zones provide a basis against which area-specific or climate-based calibrated thresholds may be interpreted. In turn, the risk rankings help decision-makers identify which species require an immediate 'rapid' management action (e.g. eradication, control) to avoid or mitigate adverse impacts, which require a full risk assessment, and which are to be restricted or banned with regard to importation and/or sale as ornamental or aquarium/fishery enhancement.

Fish fauna in low-order streams of the Piquiri River, Upper Paraná River basin, Brazil / Fauna de peixes em riachos de pequena ordem do rio Piquiri, bacia do alto rio Paraná, Brasil

Abstract The South America ichthyofauna encompasses the highest diversity of the world, however is highly threatened by anthropogenic actions. The fish fauna of nine low-order streams, tributaries of the Piquiri River and impacted by aquaculture, agriculture and urbanization were sampled in the present study. Samplings were done quarterly from December 2017 to September 2018 at three sites in each stream, using a portable electric fishing device in 50-meter segments. A total of 14,507 individuals were collected, belonging to six orders, 20 families, 46 genera, and 70 species. The highest richness and abundance were found for the orders Characiformes and Siluriformes. In this study, nine species that had not been recorded were found, totaling 163 for the basin. In addition, 14 non-native species were captured. The presented list of species contributes to the existing database of ichthyofauna distribution in Neotropical streams, denoting that it is underestimated in the region, mainly in low-order tributaries. The present study reinforces the importance of inventories and monitoring in environments with high biodiversity and sensitive to anthropogenic actions.

Resumo A ictiofauna sul-americana abrange a maior diversidade do planeta, no entanto, encontra-se altamente ameaçada pela ação antrópica. Nesse estudo, a fauna de peixes de nove riachos de pequena ordem foi amostrada. Esses riachos são afluentes do Rio Piquiri e afetados pela atividade aquícola, agrícola e urbanização. As coletas foram realizadas trimestralmente de dezembro/2017 a setembro/2018 em três pontos amostrais de cada riacho, utilizando-se equipamento portátil de pesca elétrica em segmentos delimitados de 50 metros. Foram coletados 14.507 indivíduos, pertencentes a seis ordens, 20 famílias, 46 gêneros e 70 espécies. Os maiores valores de riqueza e de abundância foram obtidos nas ordens Characiformes e Siluriformes. Neste estudo, foram encontradas nove espécies ainda não registradas, totalizando 163 para a bacia. Além disso, 14 espécies não-nativas foram capturadas. Ressalta-se que a lista de espécies apresentada contribui com o banco de dados existente sobre os padrões de distribuição da ictiofauna em riachos Neotropicais e demonstra como a mesma ainda pode ser subestimada na região, principalmente em tributários de pequena ordem. Esse estudo reforça a importância de inventários e do monitoramento em ambientes altamente diversos e sensíveis à ação antrópica.