Acessibilidade / Reportar erro

Ornamental aquaculture as a pathway for the introduction of non-native fish in coastal drainage of northeastern Brazil

Aquicultura ornamental como caminho para a introdução de peixes não nativos na drenagem costeira do nordeste do Brasil

Abstract:

Aim

We present the first record of the introduction of three non-native ornamental fish species, resulting from ornamental aquaculture escapes on the Northeast Mata Atlântica hydrographic ecoregion, with information on the reproductive activity.

Methods

The specimens were collected bimonthly between 2018 and 2019 using seine and sieve nets, and analyzed for determination of reproductive phases.

Results

A total of 830 specimens were collected, corresponding to the species Hyphessobrycon eques (N= 311), Poecilia reticulata (N= 500), and Xiphophorus maculatus (N= 19). We used 250 specimens for reproductive analysis. Hyphessobrycon eques and P. reticulata were reproductively active throughout the sampling period. Among the species, the smallest reproductive female measured 22.26 mm (H. eques), 12.53 mm (P. reticulata), and 17.58 mm (X. maculatus). The smallest males measured 20.64 mm (H. eques), 10.71 mm (P. reticulata), and 17.17 mm (X. maculatus).

Conclusions

The presence of reproductive specimens of H. eques and P. reticulata throughout the year supports the hypothesis of their establishment. We hypothesize that the introduction of X. maculatus is a recent event.

Keywords:
accidental escapes; exotic species; invasiveness; dispersion; plasticity

Resumo:

Objetivo

Apresentamos o primeiro registro da introdução de três espécies de peixes ornamentais não nativas, decorrente de escapes de aquicultura ornamental para a ecorregião hidrográfica Mata Atlântica Nordeste, com informações sobre a atividade reprodutiva.

Métodos

Os exemplares foram coletados bimestralmente entre 2018 e 2019 usando redes de arrasto e peneira, e analisados para determinação das fases reprodutivas.

Resultados

Um total de 830 espécimes foram coletados, correspondentes às espécies Hyphessobrycon eques (N= 311), Poecilia reticulata (N= 500) e Xiphophorus maculatus (N= 19). Foram utilizados 250 exemplares para análise reprodutiva. Hyphessobrycon eques e P. reticulata estiveram em atividade reprodutiva durante todo o período amostral. Entre as espécies, as menores fêmeas reprodutivas mediram 22.26 mm (H. eques), 12.53 mm (P. reticulata), e 17.58 mm (X. maculatus). Os menores machos reprodutivos mediram 20.64 mm (H. eques), 10.71 mm (P. reticulata), e 17.17 mm (X. maculatus).

Conclusões

A presença de espécimes reprodutivos de H. eques e P. reticulata durante todo o ano suporta a hipótese de que estão estabelecidas. Hipotetizamos que a introdução de X. maculatus é um evento recente.

Palavras-chave:
escapes acidentais; espécies exóticas; invasividade; dispersão; plasticidade

Biological invasions are increasingly considered a biodiversity threat (Magalhães et al., 2021Magalhães, A.L.B., Azevedo-Santos, V.M., & Pelicice, F.M., 2021. Caught in the act: Youtube™ reveals invisible fish invasion pathways in Brazil. J. Appl. Ichthyology 37(1), 125-128. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jai.14159.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jai.14159...
). In the past, these events occurred slowly, but currently, they appear at higher frequency and intensity, due to multiple human actions that can collaborate (Lockwood et al., 2019Lockwood, J.L., Welbourne, D.J., Romagosa, C.M., Cassey, P., Mandrak, N.E., Strecker, A., Leung, B., Stringham, O.C., Udell, B., Episcopio-Sturgeon, D.J., Tlusty, M.F., Sinclair, J., Springborn, M.R., Pienaar, E.F., Rhyne, A.L., & Keller, R., 2019. When pets become pests: the role of the exotic pet trade in producing invasive vertebrate animals. Front. Ecol. Environ. 17(6), 323-330. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/fee.2059.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/fee.2059...
). The rising global ornamental fish trade is one of the main routes of introduction (Magalhães et al., 2021Magalhães, A.L.B., Azevedo-Santos, V.M., & Pelicice, F.M., 2021. Caught in the act: Youtube™ reveals invisible fish invasion pathways in Brazil. J. Appl. Ichthyology 37(1), 125-128. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jai.14159.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jai.14159...
). The high demand for novelties in this market has a negative effect, as it increases the possibility of new introductions (Olden et al., 2021Olden, J.D., Whattam, E., & Wood, S.A., 2021. Online auction marketplaces as a global pathway for aquatic invasive species. Hydrobiologia 848(9), 1967-1979. PMid:32958963. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-020-04407-7.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-020-044...
).

One of the main pathways related to fish introduction is escape from ornamental aquaculture ponds, which can occur due to missteps during the filtering, harvesting, and cleaning processes (Ortega et al., 2015Ortega, J.C.G., Júlio Junior, H.F., Gomes, L.C., & Agostinho, A.A., 2015. Fish farming as the main driver of fish introductions in Neotropical reservoirs. Hydrobiologia 746(1), 147-158. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-014-2025-z.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-014-202...
). The introduction of ornamental fish as means of biological control is an old practice that is still widespread (Bajer et al., 2019Bajer, P.G., Ghosal, R., Maselko, M., Smanski, M.J., Lechelt, J.D., Hansen, G., & Kornis, M.S., 2019. Biological control of invasive fish and aquatic invertebrates: a brief review with case studies. Manag. Biol. Invasions 10(2), 227-254. http://dx.doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2019.10.2.02.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2019.10.2....
), as well as aquarium dumping (Magalhães et al., 2020bMagalhães, A.L.B., Lima-Junior, D.P., Brito, M.F.G., Vitule, J.R.S., Azevedo-Santos, V.M., Pelicice, F.M., & Orsi, M.L., 2020b. Peixe ilegal ainda à venda no Brasil: o exemplo do “carismático” não-nativo paulistinha transgênico (Danio rerio) e os riscos de sua provável introdução. Bol. Soc. Bras. Ictiologia 132, 39-52. Retrieved in 2022, May 25, from https://www.sbi.bio.br/images/sbi/boletim-docs/2020/junho_132.pdf
https://www.sbi.bio.br/images/sbi/boleti...
). Unfortunately, many of these introductions are silent and difficult to record. Recently, the use of social media has become an important source for tracking these introductions (Magalhães et al., 2021Magalhães, A.L.B., Azevedo-Santos, V.M., & Pelicice, F.M., 2021. Caught in the act: Youtube™ reveals invisible fish invasion pathways in Brazil. J. Appl. Ichthyology 37(1), 125-128. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jai.14159.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jai.14159...
; Tutman et al., 2021Tutman, P., Dragičević, B., Dulčić, J., Bukvić, V., Bekh, V., & Glamuzina, B., 2021. Records of invasive european catfish Silurus glanis (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Neretva River Delta (Croatia): social media as information source. Ribarstvo 79(1), 47-53. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/cjf-2021-0005.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/cjf-2021-0005...
).

Although introducing non-native species is common in Brazilian river basins (Garcia et al., 2018Garcia, D.A.Z., Magalhães, A.L.B., Vitule, J.R.S., Casimiro, A.C.R., Lima-Junior, D.P., Cunico, A.M., Brito, M.F.G., Petrere-Junior, M., Agostinho, Â.A., & Orsi, M.L., 2018. The same old mistakes in aquaculture: the newly-available striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus is on its way to putting Brazilian freshwater ecosystems at risk. Biodivers. Conserv. 27(13), 3545-3558. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10531-018-1603-1.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10531-018-160...
), studies involving non-native fish in streams are still restricted to a few basins (Magalhães et al., 2019Magalhães, A.L.B., Brito, M.F.G.D., & Sarrouh, B., 2019. An inconvenient routine: introduction, establishment and spread of new non-native fishes in the Paraíba do Sul River basin, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Neotropical Biol. Conserv. 14(3), 329-338. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.14.e38058.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.14...
, 2020bMagalhães, A.L.B., Lima-Junior, D.P., Brito, M.F.G., Vitule, J.R.S., Azevedo-Santos, V.M., Pelicice, F.M., & Orsi, M.L., 2020b. Peixe ilegal ainda à venda no Brasil: o exemplo do “carismático” não-nativo paulistinha transgênico (Danio rerio) e os riscos de sua provável introdução. Bol. Soc. Bras. Ictiologia 132, 39-52. Retrieved in 2022, May 25, from https://www.sbi.bio.br/images/sbi/boletim-docs/2020/junho_132.pdf
https://www.sbi.bio.br/images/sbi/boleti...
; Garcia et al., 2021Garcia, D.A.Z., Pelicice, F.M., Brito, M.F.G., Orsi, M.L., & Magalhães, A.L.B., 2021. Peixes não-nativos em riachos no Brasil: estado da arte, lacunas de conhecimento e perspectivas. Oecol. Aust. 25(2), 587. http://dx.doi.org/10.4257/oeco.2021.2502.21.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4257/oeco.2021.2502...
). According to Bueno et al. (2021)Bueno, M.L., Magalhães, A.L.B., Andrade Neto, F.R., Alves, C.B.M., Rosa, D.D.M., Junqueira, N.T., Pessali, T.C., Pompeu, P.S., & Zenni, R.D., 2021. Alien fish fauna of southeastern Brazil: species status, introduction pathways, distribution and impacts. Biol. Invasions 23(10), 3021-3034. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-02564-x.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-025...
, the southeast region gathers the highest number of introduced non-native ornamental fish, mainly in the upper Paraná and Paraíba do Sul river basins. Many introductions in these basins are probably consequences of the expansion of the aquarium trade (Magalhães et al., 2019Magalhães, A.L.B., Brito, M.F.G.D., & Sarrouh, B., 2019. An inconvenient routine: introduction, establishment and spread of new non-native fishes in the Paraíba do Sul River basin, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Neotropical Biol. Conserv. 14(3), 329-338. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.14.e38058.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.14...
).

Northeast Brazil has approximately 30 introduced fish species (Instituto Hórus, 2021Instituto Hórus de Desenvolvimento e Conservação Ambiental - Instituto Hórus, 2021. Base de dados sobre espécies exóticas invasoras em I3N-Brasil [online]. Retrieved in 2021, December 15, from http://www.institutohorus.org.br.
http://www.institutohorus.org.br...
), of which the fish stock for food production is the primary driver (Brito et al., 2020Brito, M.F.G., Daga, V.S., & Vitule, J.R., 2020. Fisheries and biotic homogenization of freshwater fish in the Brazilian semiarid region. Hydrobiologia 847(18), 3877-3895. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-020-04236-8.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-020-042...
). In addition, recent findings have shown increased number of ornamental fish introduced through deliberate releases (Ramos et al., 2020Ramos, T.P.A., Rocha, Y.G.P.C., Costa, S.Y.L., & Barbosa, J.E.L., 2020. First record of non-native platyfish, Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther, 1866) (Cyprinodontiformes, Poeciliidae), in the Jaguaribe River basin, northeastern Brazil. J. Species List Distrib. 16(5), 1159-1164.) and for biological control (Instituto Hórus, 2021Instituto Hórus de Desenvolvimento e Conservação Ambiental - Instituto Hórus, 2021. Base de dados sobre espécies exóticas invasoras em I3N-Brasil [online]. Retrieved in 2021, December 15, from http://www.institutohorus.org.br.
http://www.institutohorus.org.br...
). Herein, we present the first record for three ornamental fish Hyphessobrycon eques (Steindachner, 1882), Poecilia reticulata Peters, 1859 and Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther, 1866) by escapes of ornamental aquaculture tanks in the Northeast Mata Atlântica Freshwater Ecoregion - NMAFE (Abell et al., 2008Abell, R., Thieme, M.L., Revenga, C., Bryer, M., Kottelat, M., Bogutskaya, N., Coad, B., Mandrak, N., Balderas, S.C., Bussing, W., Stiassny, M.L.J., Skelton, P., Allen, G.R., Unmack, P., Naseka, A., Ng, R., Sindorf, N., Robertson, J., Armijo, E., Higgins, J.V., Heibel, T.J., Wikramanayake, E., Olson, D., López, H.L., Reis, R.E., Lundberg, J.G., Sabaj Pérez, M.H., & Petry, P., 2008. Freshwater ecoregions of the world: a new map of biogeographic units for freshwater biodiversity conservation. Bioscience 58(5), 403-414. http://dx.doi.org/10.1641/B580507.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1641/B580507...
), with information on their reproductive activity.

Sampling expeditions were carried out bi-monthly from March/2018 to January/2019 in a stretch of Tabocas stream (11°2'16.77”S, 37°22'0.05”W), Piauí river basin, Sergipe State. The sampling area was in the vicinity of man-made ornamental aquaculture ponds. The substrate of the Tabocas stream was composed of a bed of trunks and leaf litter in the backwaters, sandy bottom in the rapids, and sandy/muddy bottom in the lentic stretch. The average depth reached 1 m and the width ranged about 4 m. Seine (10 m long, 5 mm mesh) and sieve (60 cm x 40 cm, 5 mm mesh) nets were used along a 50 m sampling stretch. The fish were anesthetized with eugenol (100mg/L) (Sladky et al., 2001Sladky, K.K., Swanson, C.R., Stoskopf, M.K., Loomis, M.R., & Lewbart, G.A., 2001. Comparative efficacy of tricaine methanesulfonate and clove oil for use as anesthetics in red pacu (Piaractus brachypomus). Am. J. Vet. Res. 62(3), 337-342. PMid:11277197. http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2001.62.337.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2001.62.3...
), preserved in a 10% formalin solution, and stored in 70% ethanol (Uieda & Castro, 1999Uieda, V.S., & Castro, R.M.C., 1999. Coleta e fixação de peixes de riachos. In: Caramaschi, E.P., Mazzoni, R. & Peres-Neto, P.R., eds. Ecologia de peixes de riachos. Rio de Janeiro: PPGE-UFRJ, 1-22, Série Oecologia Brasiliensis, vol. 6. http://dx.doi.org/10.4257/oeco.1999.0601.01.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4257/oeco.1999.0601...
). Vouchers were deposited in the Coleção de Ictiologia da Universidade Federal de Sergipe (CIUFS) under catalog numbers CIUFS 2704 (H. eques, Figure 1A), CIUFS 2705 (P. reticulata, Figure 1B), and CIUFS 2706 (X. maculatus, Figure 1C).

Figure 1
Non-native ornamental fish species sampled in the Tabocas stream: Hyphessobrycon eques (A), Poecilia reticulata (B) and Xiphophorus maculatus (C). Scale bar = 1 cm.

Specimens were identified, with standard length (SL, 0.01 mm) and body mass (BM, 0.01 g) recorded with a digital caliper and semi-analytical precision scale, respectively. The reproductive analysis consisted of a maximum of 20 specimens per species for each sampling event. Ovaries and testes of H. eques were macroscopically determined by reproductive phase through morphological characteristics following Brown-Peterson et al. (2011)Brown-Peterson, N.J., Wyanski, D.M., Saborido-Rey, F., Macewicz, B.J., & Lowerre-Barbieri, S.K., 2011. A standardized terminology for describing reproductive development in fishes. Mar. Coast. Fish. 3(1), 52-70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19425120.2011.555724.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19425120.2011....
: (1) Immature; (2) Developing; (3) Spawning Capable; (4) Regressing; (5) Regenerating. Magalhães & Jacobi (2017)Magalhães, A.L.B., & Jacobi, C.M., 2017. Colorful invasion in permissive Neotropical ecosystems: establishment of ornamental non-native poeciliids of the genera Poecilia/Xiphophorus (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) and management alternatives. Neotrop. Ichthyol. 15(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-20160094.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-2016...
protocol was applied for the Poeciliidae (P. reticulata and X. maculatus) and adapted for classifying adult females according to Winemiller (1993)Winemiller, K.O., 1993. Seasonality of reproduction by livebearing fishes in tropical rainforest streams. Oecologia 95(2), 266-276. PMid:28312951. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00323499.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00323499...
and Haynes (1995)Haynes, J.L., 1995. Standardized classification of poeciliid development for life-history studies. Copeia 1(1), 147-154. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1446809.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1446809...
: Nonpregnant (NP); Yolk eggs (YE); Embryos with eyes (EE); and Mature embryos (ME). Reproductive phases for males were determined as Immature (IM) or Spawning Capable (SC), according to the presence of the gonopodium (Gómez-Márquez et al., 2016Gómez-Márquez, J.L., Peña-Mendoza, B., & Guzmán-Santiago, J.L., 2016. Reproductive biology of Poecilia sphenops Valenciennes, 1846 (Cyprinidontiformes: Poeciliidae) at the Emiliano Zapata reservoir in Morelos, Mexico. Neotrop. Ichthyol. 14(2), e140127. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-20140127.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-2014...
). Chi-square distribution (χ2) for the sex ratio and Sturges' rule (Sturges, 1926Sturges, H.A., 1926. The choice of a class interval. J. Am. Stat. Assoc. 21(153), 65-66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01621459.1926.10502161.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01621459.1926....
) were analyzed per sampling event to obtain the size class intervals of H. eques and P. reticulata.

Sampling efforts resulted in a total of 830 specimens collected, corresponding to the species H. eques (N= 311) (Figure 2A), P. reticulata (N= 500) (Figure 2E), and X. maculatus (N= 19). Unfortunately, X. maculatus was only recorded during the last sampling event in January/2019. From this total, 250 specimens were used for reproductive analysis.

Figure 2
Distribution of specimens throughout the sampling period (A - Hyphessobrycon eques, E - Poecilia reticulata); Reproductive phases of H. eques (B - Females, C - Males) and P. reticulata (F - Females, G - Males); Class sizes (D - H. eques, H - P. reticulata), including smallest reproductive males (♂) and females (♀).

Males were more frequent than females in H. eques (68:52; χ2= 2.13, p> 0.05) and X. maculatus (7:3; χ2= 1.6, p> 0.05), while for P. reticulata females (43:77; χ2= 9.63, p< 0.05) were more frequent. We registered H. eques and P. reticulata females in reproductive activity during the study period (Figure 2B, 2F), recoding all gonadal/embryonic development stages. The same reproductive tendency was observed for males throughout the year for both species (Figure 2C, 2G). Ten X. maculatus specimens were analyzed, in which both females and males were reproductively active. The smallest reproductive female of H. eques measured 22.26 mm, with the smallest pregnant females measuring 12.53 mm for P. reticulata and 17.58 mm for X. maculatus. The smallest reproductive males measured 20.64 mm for H. eques, 10.71 mm for P. reticulata, and 17.17 mm for X. maculatus.

Size class distribution revealed nine classes for H. eques with intervals of 1.69 mm (Figure 2D) ranging from 12.71-29.73 mm, while for P. reticulata were observed 10 classes with intervals of 1.25 mm (Figure 2H) varying from 10.65-19.24 mm. Given the lower number of specimens of X. maculatus, available information on the analyzed sample provided SL ranges from 17.17-24.44 mm. Juveniles of H. eques were more prevalent when compared to P. reticulata, whereas the latter presented a greater number of adults.

Determining the minimum reproductive size of an invasive species can help understand the evolution of establishment in new habitats. This can provide management strategies to control the invasive species and minimize the impact on native biota and local ecosystems. The sexual precocity of invasive fish relative to native fish can generate a competitive advantage over native species by reproducing more quickly and occupying ecological niches that previously belonged to native species. This can reduce species diversity and disturb the ecological balance in aquatic ecosystems (Winemiller & Rose, 1992Winemiller, K.O., & Rose, K.A., 1992. Patterns of life-history diversification in North American fishes: implications for population regulation. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 49(10), 2196-2218. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f92-242.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f92-242...
; Pikitch et al., 2004Pikitch, E.K., Santora, C., Babcock, E.A., Bakun, A., Bonfil, R., Conover, D.O., Dayton, P., Doukakis, P., Fluharty, D., Heneman, B., Houde, E.D., Link, J., Livingston, P.A., Mangel, M., McAllister, M.K., Pope, J., & Sainsbury, K.J., 2004. Ecosystem-based fishery management. Science 305(5682), 346-347. PMid:15256658. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1098222.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.109822...
).

The presence of the three nonnative species registered herein relates to the accidental escapes from man-made ornamental aquaculture ponds on the Tabocas stream. Escapes may be derived from the inefficiency of screens (e.g., mesh size larger than fish), lack of maintenance (e.g., holes), or during routine protocols in which the tanks are drained for cleaning and the effluent is discarded directly into the nearest water body without treatment or biosecurity measures. Another possibility can be related to the overflow of the tanks during intense rainfall in a short period, a common occurrence in the study area. Moreover, advances implementing new ornamental aquaculture grounds in the region call for attention (Santos et al., 2019Santos, L.M., Herculano, A., Ramos, L.L., Souza, N.M., Alves, R.J.P.D.R., & Nascimento, R.D.S., 2019. Mapeamento de uso e ocupação das terras do alto curso do rio pagão a partir do método de segmentação-Umbaúba. In: Anais do XIX Simpósio Brasileiro de Sensoriamento Remoto. Santos: INPE, pp. 2976- 2979. ), possibly boosting new introductions.

Hyphessobrycon eques showed a reproductive pattern [Opportunistic, sensu Winemiller (1989)Winemiller, K.O., 1989. Patterns of variation in life history among South American fishes in seasonal environments. Oecologia 81(2), 225-241. PMid:28312542. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00379810.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00379810...
] similar to their native range, with continuous reproduction and fractionated-type spawning (Santana et al., 2019Santana, C.A., Tondato, K.K., & Súarez, Y.R., 2019. Reproductive biology of Hyphessobrycon eques (Characiformes: Characidae) in Southern Pantanal, Brazil. Braz. J. Biol. 79(1), 70-79. PMid:29538483. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.176273.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.1762...
). However, the reproductive plasticity verified in H. eques allows its reproduction to occur seasonally in places outside its native distribution (Gonçalves et al., 2013Gonçalves, C.D.S., Souza, U.P., Ferreira, F.C., Peressin, A., & Braga, F.M.D.S., 2013. Life-history strategies associated to reproduction of three Hyphessobrycon species (Characidae) in lentic environments of upper Paraná River basin. Acta Limnol. Bras. 25(4), 398-405. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S2179-975X2013000400005.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S2179-975X2013...
). This certifies the high invasiveness, which can adapt its reproductive responses to local requirements, and adjust its diet (Carvalho & Del-Claro, 2004Carvalho, L.N., & Del-Claro, K., 2004. Effects of predation pressure on the feeding behaviour of the serpa tetra Hyphessobrycon eques (Ostariophysi, Characidae). Acta Ethol. 7(2), 89-93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10211-004-0093-1.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10211-004-009...
) to the availability of resources in new areas.

Likewise, P. reticulata has high plasticity to the establishment in lotic and lentic environments due to particular survival strategies, such as living in hypoxic waters, extreme variations in tolerance in water temperatures, pH, salinity, and aquatic pollution (Carvalho et al., 2019Carvalho, D.R., Flecker, A.S., Alves, C.B.M., Sparks, J.P., & Pompeu, P.S., 2019. Trophic responses to aquatic pollution of native and exotic livebearer fishes. Sci. Total Environ. 681, 503-515. PMid:31128341. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.092.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.20...
). In addition, viviparity and generalist diet contributed to the success of colonization and the high adaptability of this species in diverse environments (Rosenthal et al., 2021Rosenthal, W.C., McIntyre, P.B., Lisi, P.J., Prather Junior, R.B., Moody, K.N., Blum, M.J., Hogan, J.D., & Schoville, S.D., 2021. Invasion and rapid adaptation of guppies (Poecilia reticulata) across the Hawaiian Archipelago. Evol. Appl. 14(7), 1747-1761. PMid:34295361. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/eva.13236.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/eva.13236...
). Such strategies represent the evolutionary success of fundamental importance for establishment and dispersion.

The presence of reproductive specimens throughout the year and specimens in different size classes for both H. eques and P. reticulata supports the hypothesis that they are established in the Tabocas stream in NMAFE. This assumption can be supported by the evidence that analyzed specimens of P. reticulata showed regression in their wild pattern of coloration and reduction of the caudal fin in males, suggesting that the introduction took place in past generations. Our findings indicate that the X. maculatus population is in the introduction phase and is likely a recent event because of the few specimens captured during the last sampling expedition.

The establishment of these species in the Piauí river basin is alarming since, once established, they can disperse and colonize new areas. In addition, the Poeciliidae have a high degree of euryhalinity and can survive under mesohaline conditions for extended periods (Pol & Kujawa, 2011Pol, P., & Kujawa, R., 2011. Rearing of Black Molly Poecilia hybrids (Valenciennes, 1846) in water of different salinity. Pol. J. Nat. Sci. 26(4), 333-344.), using the brackish waters of estuaries as dispersal vectors to other environments (Nekrasova et al., 2021Nekrasova, O., Tytar, V., Pupins, M., Čeirāns, A., Marushchak, O., & Skute, A.A., 2021. GIS modeling study of the distribution of viviparous invasive alien fish species in eastern europe in terms of global climate change, as exemplified by Poecilia reticulata Peters, 1859 and Gambusia holbrooki Girarg, 1859. Diversity (Basel) 13(8), 385. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d13080385.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d13080385...
). In addition to the dispersal potential, the presence of phylogenetically close native fish in the Tabocas stream, such as congeners Hyphessobrycon parvellus Ellis, 1911 and Poecilia hollandi (Henn, 1916) may result in competition for resources and the possibility of hybridization. Studies have shown that genetically and morphologically close species can hybridize, overlap niches, compete for resources with native species, and even lead these populations to decline (Magalhães & Jacobi, 2017Magalhães, A.L.B., & Jacobi, C.M., 2017. Colorful invasion in permissive Neotropical ecosystems: establishment of ornamental non-native poeciliids of the genera Poecilia/Xiphophorus (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) and management alternatives. Neotrop. Ichthyol. 15(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-20160094.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-2016...
; Freitas-Souza et al., 2022Freitas-Souza, D., Nobile, A.B., Prado, F.D., Serrano, É.A., Lima, F.P., Porto-Foresti, F., & Oliveira, C., 2022. Genetic markers indicate that hybrids of Pseudoplatystoma (Siluriformes, Pimelodidae) are reproducing in natural environments in southeastern Brazil. Biol. Invasions 24(4), 1049-1058. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-02701-6.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-027...
).

Due to the presence and establishment of at least two species in the Tabocas stream, as well as the risk of dispersion and adverse ecological impacts, it is recommended that, to avoid new introductions, awareness-raising actions be carried out through widely accessible media to disseminate environmental legislation, ensuring control and enforcement actions. According to Casimiro et al. (2018)Casimiro, A.C.R., Garcia, D.A.Z., Vidotto-Magnoni, A.P., Britton, J.R., Agostinho, Â.A., Almeida, F.S.D., & Orsi, M.L., 2018. Escapes of non-native fish from flooded aquaculture facilities: the case of Paranapanema River, southern Brazil. Zoologia (Curitiba) 35, 1-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zoologia.35.e14638.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zoologia.35.e1...
, Magalhães et al. (2020aMagalhães, A.L., Daga, V.S., Bezerra, L.A., Vitule, J.R., Jacobi, C.M., & Silva, L.G., 2020a. All the colors of the world: biotic homogenization-differentiation dynamics of freshwater fish communities on demand of the Brazilian aquarium trade. Hydrobiologia 847(18), 3897-3915. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-020-04307-w.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-020-043...
, 2021Magalhães, A.L.B., Azevedo-Santos, V.M., & Pelicice, F.M., 2021. Caught in the act: Youtube™ reveals invisible fish invasion pathways in Brazil. J. Appl. Ichthyology 37(1), 125-128. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jai.14159.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jai.14159...
), and Garcia et al. (2021)Garcia, D.A.Z., Pelicice, F.M., Brito, M.F.G., Orsi, M.L., & Magalhães, A.L.B., 2021. Peixes não-nativos em riachos no Brasil: estado da arte, lacunas de conhecimento e perspectivas. Oecol. Aust. 25(2), 587. http://dx.doi.org/10.4257/oeco.2021.2502.21.
http://dx.doi.org/10.4257/oeco.2021.2502...
, solutions may include: (i) Environmental education about the risks of biological invasions for students, aquarium shop owners, aquarists, fishermen, fish farmers, and decision-makers; (ii) Practical application of the precautionary principle or the 'polluter-pays' principle to minimize the risk of fish escapes; (iii) Increasing the height of fish farm tanks and ponds to prevent fish escapes during stream floods; (iv) Installation of containment structures such as nylon screens that prevent non-native species from escaping into the natural environment; (v) The strict control of tank fishing; (vi) Quarantine of new broodstock and frequent sanitary control of the fish stock.

Implementing these measures makes it possible to reduce the number of introductions, as well as the negative impacts that invasive species can bring to the native species. It is important to highlight that prevention is the best approach to address the problem of invasive species, with public awareness and education being essential measures to prevent new introductions in the aquatic environment.

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to Laboratório de Ictiologia (UFS) crew help during sampling and laboratory analysis. Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBIO) for collection permission (SISBIO 20104-1). We are grateful to Universidade Federal de Sergipe for sampling logistics. Authors are thankful to Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES (JSVL) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq (MFGB #306851/2018-0 and # 312779/2021-6) for the research grants. We also thank the anonymous referees for constructive comments on earlier version of the manuscript.

  • Cite as: Luduvice, J.S.V. and Brito, M.F.G. Ornamental aquaculture as a pathway for the introduction of non-native fish in coastal drainage of northeastern Brazil. Acta Limnologica Brasiliensia, 2023, vol. 35, e9.

References

  • Abell, R., Thieme, M.L., Revenga, C., Bryer, M., Kottelat, M., Bogutskaya, N., Coad, B., Mandrak, N., Balderas, S.C., Bussing, W., Stiassny, M.L.J., Skelton, P., Allen, G.R., Unmack, P., Naseka, A., Ng, R., Sindorf, N., Robertson, J., Armijo, E., Higgins, J.V., Heibel, T.J., Wikramanayake, E., Olson, D., López, H.L., Reis, R.E., Lundberg, J.G., Sabaj Pérez, M.H., & Petry, P., 2008. Freshwater ecoregions of the world: a new map of biogeographic units for freshwater biodiversity conservation. Bioscience 58(5), 403-414. http://dx.doi.org/10.1641/B580507
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1641/B580507
  • Bajer, P.G., Ghosal, R., Maselko, M., Smanski, M.J., Lechelt, J.D., Hansen, G., & Kornis, M.S., 2019. Biological control of invasive fish and aquatic invertebrates: a brief review with case studies. Manag. Biol. Invasions 10(2), 227-254. http://dx.doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2019.10.2.02
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2019.10.2.02
  • Brito, M.F.G., Daga, V.S., & Vitule, J.R., 2020. Fisheries and biotic homogenization of freshwater fish in the Brazilian semiarid region. Hydrobiologia 847(18), 3877-3895. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-020-04236-8
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-020-04236-8
  • Brown-Peterson, N.J., Wyanski, D.M., Saborido-Rey, F., Macewicz, B.J., & Lowerre-Barbieri, S.K., 2011. A standardized terminology for describing reproductive development in fishes. Mar. Coast. Fish. 3(1), 52-70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19425120.2011.555724
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19425120.2011.555724
  • Bueno, M.L., Magalhães, A.L.B., Andrade Neto, F.R., Alves, C.B.M., Rosa, D.D.M., Junqueira, N.T., Pessali, T.C., Pompeu, P.S., & Zenni, R.D., 2021. Alien fish fauna of southeastern Brazil: species status, introduction pathways, distribution and impacts. Biol. Invasions 23(10), 3021-3034. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-02564-x
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-02564-x
  • Carvalho, D.R., Flecker, A.S., Alves, C.B.M., Sparks, J.P., & Pompeu, P.S., 2019. Trophic responses to aquatic pollution of native and exotic livebearer fishes. Sci. Total Environ. 681, 503-515. PMid:31128341. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.092
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.092
  • Carvalho, L.N., & Del-Claro, K., 2004. Effects of predation pressure on the feeding behaviour of the serpa tetra Hyphessobrycon eques (Ostariophysi, Characidae). Acta Ethol. 7(2), 89-93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10211-004-0093-1
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10211-004-0093-1
  • Casimiro, A.C.R., Garcia, D.A.Z., Vidotto-Magnoni, A.P., Britton, J.R., Agostinho, Â.A., Almeida, F.S.D., & Orsi, M.L., 2018. Escapes of non-native fish from flooded aquaculture facilities: the case of Paranapanema River, southern Brazil. Zoologia (Curitiba) 35, 1-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zoologia.35.e14638
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/zoologia.35.e14638
  • Freitas-Souza, D., Nobile, A.B., Prado, F.D., Serrano, É.A., Lima, F.P., Porto-Foresti, F., & Oliveira, C., 2022. Genetic markers indicate that hybrids of Pseudoplatystoma (Siluriformes, Pimelodidae) are reproducing in natural environments in southeastern Brazil. Biol. Invasions 24(4), 1049-1058. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-02701-6
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10530-021-02701-6
  • Garcia, D.A.Z., Magalhães, A.L.B., Vitule, J.R.S., Casimiro, A.C.R., Lima-Junior, D.P., Cunico, A.M., Brito, M.F.G., Petrere-Junior, M., Agostinho, Â.A., & Orsi, M.L., 2018. The same old mistakes in aquaculture: the newly-available striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus is on its way to putting Brazilian freshwater ecosystems at risk. Biodivers. Conserv. 27(13), 3545-3558. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10531-018-1603-1
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10531-018-1603-1
  • Garcia, D.A.Z., Pelicice, F.M., Brito, M.F.G., Orsi, M.L., & Magalhães, A.L.B., 2021. Peixes não-nativos em riachos no Brasil: estado da arte, lacunas de conhecimento e perspectivas. Oecol. Aust. 25(2), 587. http://dx.doi.org/10.4257/oeco.2021.2502.21
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.4257/oeco.2021.2502.21
  • Gómez-Márquez, J.L., Peña-Mendoza, B., & Guzmán-Santiago, J.L., 2016. Reproductive biology of Poecilia sphenops Valenciennes, 1846 (Cyprinidontiformes: Poeciliidae) at the Emiliano Zapata reservoir in Morelos, Mexico. Neotrop. Ichthyol. 14(2), e140127. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-20140127
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-20140127
  • Gonçalves, C.D.S., Souza, U.P., Ferreira, F.C., Peressin, A., & Braga, F.M.D.S., 2013. Life-history strategies associated to reproduction of three Hyphessobrycon species (Characidae) in lentic environments of upper Paraná River basin. Acta Limnol. Bras. 25(4), 398-405. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S2179-975X2013000400005
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S2179-975X2013000400005
  • Haynes, J.L., 1995. Standardized classification of poeciliid development for life-history studies. Copeia 1(1), 147-154. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1446809
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/1446809
  • Instituto Hórus de Desenvolvimento e Conservação Ambiental - Instituto Hórus, 2021. Base de dados sobre espécies exóticas invasoras em I3N-Brasil [online]. Retrieved in 2021, December 15, from http://www.institutohorus.org.br
    » http://www.institutohorus.org.br
  • Lockwood, J.L., Welbourne, D.J., Romagosa, C.M., Cassey, P., Mandrak, N.E., Strecker, A., Leung, B., Stringham, O.C., Udell, B., Episcopio-Sturgeon, D.J., Tlusty, M.F., Sinclair, J., Springborn, M.R., Pienaar, E.F., Rhyne, A.L., & Keller, R., 2019. When pets become pests: the role of the exotic pet trade in producing invasive vertebrate animals. Front. Ecol. Environ. 17(6), 323-330. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/fee.2059
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/fee.2059
  • Magalhães, A.L., Daga, V.S., Bezerra, L.A., Vitule, J.R., Jacobi, C.M., & Silva, L.G., 2020a. All the colors of the world: biotic homogenization-differentiation dynamics of freshwater fish communities on demand of the Brazilian aquarium trade. Hydrobiologia 847(18), 3897-3915. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-020-04307-w
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-020-04307-w
  • Magalhães, A.L.B., & Jacobi, C.M., 2017. Colorful invasion in permissive Neotropical ecosystems: establishment of ornamental non-native poeciliids of the genera Poecilia/Xiphophorus (Cyprinodontiformes: Poeciliidae) and management alternatives. Neotrop. Ichthyol. 15(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-20160094
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-20160094
  • Magalhães, A.L.B., Azevedo-Santos, V.M., & Pelicice, F.M., 2021. Caught in the act: Youtube™ reveals invisible fish invasion pathways in Brazil. J. Appl. Ichthyology 37(1), 125-128. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jai.14159
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jai.14159
  • Magalhães, A.L.B., Brito, M.F.G.D., & Sarrouh, B., 2019. An inconvenient routine: introduction, establishment and spread of new non-native fishes in the Paraíba do Sul River basin, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Neotropical Biol. Conserv. 14(3), 329-338. http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.14.e38058
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.14.e38058
  • Magalhães, A.L.B., Lima-Junior, D.P., Brito, M.F.G., Vitule, J.R.S., Azevedo-Santos, V.M., Pelicice, F.M., & Orsi, M.L., 2020b. Peixe ilegal ainda à venda no Brasil: o exemplo do “carismático” não-nativo paulistinha transgênico (Danio rerio) e os riscos de sua provável introdução. Bol. Soc. Bras. Ictiologia 132, 39-52. Retrieved in 2022, May 25, from https://www.sbi.bio.br/images/sbi/boletim-docs/2020/junho_132.pdf
    » https://www.sbi.bio.br/images/sbi/boletim-docs/2020/junho_132.pdf
  • Nekrasova, O., Tytar, V., Pupins, M., Čeirāns, A., Marushchak, O., & Skute, A.A., 2021. GIS modeling study of the distribution of viviparous invasive alien fish species in eastern europe in terms of global climate change, as exemplified by Poecilia reticulata Peters, 1859 and Gambusia holbrooki Girarg, 1859. Diversity (Basel) 13(8), 385. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d13080385
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/d13080385
  • Olden, J.D., Whattam, E., & Wood, S.A., 2021. Online auction marketplaces as a global pathway for aquatic invasive species. Hydrobiologia 848(9), 1967-1979. PMid:32958963. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-020-04407-7
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-020-04407-7
  • Ortega, J.C.G., Júlio Junior, H.F., Gomes, L.C., & Agostinho, A.A., 2015. Fish farming as the main driver of fish introductions in Neotropical reservoirs. Hydrobiologia 746(1), 147-158. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-014-2025-z
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10750-014-2025-z
  • Pikitch, E.K., Santora, C., Babcock, E.A., Bakun, A., Bonfil, R., Conover, D.O., Dayton, P., Doukakis, P., Fluharty, D., Heneman, B., Houde, E.D., Link, J., Livingston, P.A., Mangel, M., McAllister, M.K., Pope, J., & Sainsbury, K.J., 2004. Ecosystem-based fishery management. Science 305(5682), 346-347. PMid:15256658. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1098222
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1098222
  • Pol, P., & Kujawa, R., 2011. Rearing of Black Molly Poecilia hybrids (Valenciennes, 1846) in water of different salinity. Pol. J. Nat. Sci. 26(4), 333-344.
  • Ramos, T.P.A., Rocha, Y.G.P.C., Costa, S.Y.L., & Barbosa, J.E.L., 2020. First record of non-native platyfish, Xiphophorus maculatus (Günther, 1866) (Cyprinodontiformes, Poeciliidae), in the Jaguaribe River basin, northeastern Brazil. J. Species List Distrib. 16(5), 1159-1164.
  • Rosenthal, W.C., McIntyre, P.B., Lisi, P.J., Prather Junior, R.B., Moody, K.N., Blum, M.J., Hogan, J.D., & Schoville, S.D., 2021. Invasion and rapid adaptation of guppies (Poecilia reticulata) across the Hawaiian Archipelago. Evol. Appl. 14(7), 1747-1761. PMid:34295361. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/eva.13236
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/eva.13236
  • Santana, C.A., Tondato, K.K., & Súarez, Y.R., 2019. Reproductive biology of Hyphessobrycon eques (Characiformes: Characidae) in Southern Pantanal, Brazil. Braz. J. Biol. 79(1), 70-79. PMid:29538483. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.176273
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.176273
  • Santos, L.M., Herculano, A., Ramos, L.L., Souza, N.M., Alves, R.J.P.D.R., & Nascimento, R.D.S., 2019. Mapeamento de uso e ocupação das terras do alto curso do rio pagão a partir do método de segmentação-Umbaúba. In: Anais do XIX Simpósio Brasileiro de Sensoriamento Remoto. Santos: INPE, pp. 2976- 2979.
  • Sladky, K.K., Swanson, C.R., Stoskopf, M.K., Loomis, M.R., & Lewbart, G.A., 2001. Comparative efficacy of tricaine methanesulfonate and clove oil for use as anesthetics in red pacu (Piaractus brachypomus). Am. J. Vet. Res. 62(3), 337-342. PMid:11277197. http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2001.62.337
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.2001.62.337
  • Sturges, H.A., 1926. The choice of a class interval. J. Am. Stat. Assoc. 21(153), 65-66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01621459.1926.10502161
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01621459.1926.10502161
  • Tutman, P., Dragičević, B., Dulčić, J., Bukvić, V., Bekh, V., & Glamuzina, B., 2021. Records of invasive european catfish Silurus glanis (Linnaeus, 1758) in the Neretva River Delta (Croatia): social media as information source. Ribarstvo 79(1), 47-53. http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/cjf-2021-0005
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.2478/cjf-2021-0005
  • Uieda, V.S., & Castro, R.M.C., 1999. Coleta e fixação de peixes de riachos. In: Caramaschi, E.P., Mazzoni, R. & Peres-Neto, P.R., eds. Ecologia de peixes de riachos. Rio de Janeiro: PPGE-UFRJ, 1-22, Série Oecologia Brasiliensis, vol. 6. http://dx.doi.org/10.4257/oeco.1999.0601.01
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.4257/oeco.1999.0601.01
  • Winemiller, K.O., & Rose, K.A., 1992. Patterns of life-history diversification in North American fishes: implications for population regulation. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 49(10), 2196-2218. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f92-242
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/f92-242
  • Winemiller, K.O., 1989. Patterns of variation in life history among South American fishes in seasonal environments. Oecologia 81(2), 225-241. PMid:28312542. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00379810
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00379810
  • Winemiller, K.O., 1993. Seasonality of reproduction by livebearing fishes in tropical rainforest streams. Oecologia 95(2), 266-276. PMid:28312951. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00323499
    » http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00323499

Edited by

Associate Editor: Ronaldo Angelini.

Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    15 May 2023
  • Date of issue
    2023

History

  • Received
    10 June 2022
  • Accepted
    10 Apr 2023
Associação Brasileira de Limnologia Av. 24 A, 1515, 13506-900 Rio Claro-SP/Brasil, Tel.:(55 19)3526 4227 - Rio Claro - SP - Brazil
E-mail: actalimno@gmail.com