Conservation threats and future prospects for the freshwater fishes of Ecuador: A hotspot of Neotropical fish diversity

We are pleased to share with you this recent publication that explores the conservation status of freshwater fishes of Ecuador and its threats.

Although freshwater fish communities in Ecuador exhibit some of the highest levels of diversity and endemism in the Neotropics, aquatic ecosystems in the country are under serious threat and conditions are deteriorating. Because of these concerns, the goal of the project was to conduct an assessment of the conservation status of several species. 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.
This review suggest that 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 recommend to 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.

This work, in collaboration with several institutions and an interdisciplinary group of researchers, was co-authored by Daniel Escobar-Camacho, member of the Biosphere Institute-USFQ. This type of studies are valuable as a basis to act from different disciplines in favor of fish conservation in our country.