Fishes at Risk: Unveiling the Hidden Diversity of a Vulnerable Lake in the Peruvian Amazon Region  <span class="so-article-trans-title" dir="auto"> Translated title: Peces en Peligro: Revelando la Diversidad Oculta de una Laguna Vulnerable en la Región Amazónica Peruana </span>

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Abstract

ABSTRACT The study focuses on the Huachana lake, a vulnerable ecosystem in the Peruvian Amazon region that receives wastewater from the city of Iquitos. Despite its significance in ichthyology and its role as a type locality for various species, water bodies near Iquitos face threats. While a portion of the ichthyological diversity in the Loreto region is known, the Huachana lake had never been subject to sampling, making this study the first to examine fish diversity in this aquatic environment. A total of 52 fish species from 5 orders, 20 families, and 39 genera were identified. The Characiformes present the greatest species richness (30 species), followed by Cichliformes (12 species). Cichlidae and Characidae are the families richest in species. No species are endangered according to the IUCN; the majority are considered of least concern. The study also identified ornamental and commercial species, providing crucial information about ichthyofauna in nearby urban areas and its potential long-term environmental impact. Preserving Huachana Lake and similar ecosystems in Loreto is crucial. We must monitor urbanization and pollution's potential effects while implementing strong conservation measures to protect the diverse ichthyofauna and the entire ecosystem. This study underscores the need for urgent proactive steps to safeguard the Amazon region's ecologically significant environments and its unique species.

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Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made

Roland Geyer, Jenna R Jambeck, Kara Lavender Law (2017)

We present the first ever global account of the production, use, and end-of-life fate of all plastics ever made by humankind.

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Fish biodiversity and conservation in South America.

R. Reis, J. Albert, F Di Dario … (2016)

The freshwater and marine fish faunas of South America are the most diverse on Earth, with current species richness estimates standing above 9100 species. In addition, over the last decade at least 100 species were described every year. There are currently about 5160 freshwater fish species, and the estimate for the freshwater fish fauna alone points to a final diversity between 8000 and 9000 species. South America also has c. 4000 species of marine fishes. The mega-diverse fish faunas of South America evolved over a period of >100 million years, with most lineages tracing origins to Gondwana and the adjacent Tethys Sea. This high diversity was in part maintained by escaping the mass extinctions and biotic turnovers associated with Cenozoic climate cooling, the formation of boreal and temperate zones at high latitudes and aridification in many places at equatorial latitudes. The fresh waters of the continent are divided into 13 basin complexes, large basins consolidated as a single unit plus historically connected adjacent coastal drainages, and smaller coastal basins grouped together on the basis of biogeographic criteria. Species diversity, endemism, noteworthy groups and state of knowledge of each basin complex are described. Marine habitats around South America, both coastal and oceanic, are also described in terms of fish diversity, endemism and state of knowledge. Because of extensive land use changes, hydroelectric damming, water divergence for irrigation, urbanization, sedimentation and overfishing 4-10% of all fish species in South America face some degree of extinction risk, mainly due to habitat loss and degradation. These figures suggest that the conservation status of South American freshwater fish faunas is better than in most other regions of the world, but the marine fishes are as threatened as elsewhere. Conserving the remarkable aquatic habitats and fishes of South America is a growing challenge in face of the rapid anthropogenic changes of the 21st century, and deserves attention from conservationists and policy makers.