A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
High prevalence of non-native fish species in a remote region of the Mamberamo River, Indonesia
Authors: Arif Wibowo, Dwi Atminarso, Lee Baumgartner, Anti Vasemägi
Publisher: CSIRO PUBLISHING
Publication year: 2020
Journal: Pacific conservation biology
Journal name in source: PACIFIC CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
Journal acronym: PAC CONSERV BIOL
Volume: 26
Issue: 3
First page : 293
Last page: 300
Number of pages: 8
ISSN: 1038-2097
eISSN: 2204-4604
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/PC19004(external)
Abstract
Indonesian freshwater fish diversity is threatened by human activities such as logging, land clearing, pollution and introduction of non-native species. The latter may pose serious threats to endemic freshwater fauna even in relatively pristine and isolated habitats. One such area, West Papua in the island of New Guinea, is one of the least studied regions in the world and a biodiversity hotspot. The Mamberamo River contains the highest proportion of non-native fish compared to other major river systems in New Guinea. To document this, we conducted a field study to validate and further temporally characterise the fish biodiversity to ascertain its current status. Since the last ichthyological survey 15 years ago, we detected two additional non-native species (Leptobarbus melanopterusandOreochromis niloticus) that have established in the river system. Moreover, our survey revealed that non-native fish are extremely common in the mid reaches of the Mamberamo River, comprising 74% of total catch, with non-nativeBarbonymus gonionotus(family Cyprinidae) now established as the dominant species. The biomass of non-nativeB. gonionotusnow exceeds that of all native fish combined in the main river channel. These results highlight the serious threat of invasive species in remote regions that support high levels of endemic biodiversity. Plans for containment, prevention through education programmes, and management are urgently required.
Indonesian freshwater fish diversity is threatened by human activities such as logging, land clearing, pollution and introduction of non-native species. The latter may pose serious threats to endemic freshwater fauna even in relatively pristine and isolated habitats. One such area, West Papua in the island of New Guinea, is one of the least studied regions in the world and a biodiversity hotspot. The Mamberamo River contains the highest proportion of non-native fish compared to other major river systems in New Guinea. To document this, we conducted a field study to validate and further temporally characterise the fish biodiversity to ascertain its current status. Since the last ichthyological survey 15 years ago, we detected two additional non-native species (Leptobarbus melanopterusandOreochromis niloticus) that have established in the river system. Moreover, our survey revealed that non-native fish are extremely common in the mid reaches of the Mamberamo River, comprising 74% of total catch, with non-nativeBarbonymus gonionotus(family Cyprinidae) now established as the dominant species. The biomass of non-nativeB. gonionotusnow exceeds that of all native fish combined in the main river channel. These results highlight the serious threat of invasive species in remote regions that support high levels of endemic biodiversity. Plans for containment, prevention through education programmes, and management are urgently required.
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