Invasion alert: new record of the exotic Gambusia holbrooki Girard, 1859 in the Puna Austral region, Northwestern of Argentina

By

Andreoli Bize, Julieta
Fernández, Luis

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2019-8-9

Original Publication

Neotropical Biology and Conservation

Volume

14

Series / Issue

Issue: 2

Pages

291--295

Subjects

Andes , Argentina , biological invasion , Cyprinodontiformes , elevacão , elevation , invasão biológica , Mosquitofish

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Brazil Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/neotropical.14.e36535

 

Abstract

We report the first record of Gambusia holbrooki Girard, 1859 at elevations above 1,615 m in the Puna Austral, Provincia Catamarca, Argentina. This fish was introduced by intentional release. The Puna is characterized by an endorheic system, where the exotic species would cause a negative impact on the aquatic fauna by predation of eggs and larvae of native fish. Unfortunately, Argentinian conservation policies are directed to protect exotic fish before endemic ichthyofauna.