Fernando Camargo Jerep

A globalização e as mudanças climáticas aceleram a introdução de espécies de peixes não nativas, representando uma ameaça à biodiversidade global. No entanto, o monitoramento dessas espécies permanece negligenciado em muitas regiões neotropicais, e estudos que empregam ferramentas para detectar e acompanhar invasões, especialmente em estágios iniciais, ainda são escassos. Na Bacia do Rio Iguaçu, no sul do Brasil, a introdução descontrolada de espécies não nativas tem representado um risco ao endemismo local. Diante da ameaça de impactos negativos à biodiversidade regional, este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o potencial invasivo e modelar cenários atuais e futuros (2040–2100) de invasão de cinco espécies não nativas na Bacia do Rio Iguaçu. O Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS-ISK) foi utilizado para determinar o potencial invasivo de cada uma das cinco espécies analisadas, e a modelagem de nicho ecológico foi aplicada para avaliar a adequabilidade ambiental atual e futura das espécies-alvo. As cinco espécies avaliadas apresentaram alto risco de invasão na região. A adequabilidade ambiental atual e futura variou entre as espécies, ao longo de diferentes trechos da bacia e entre os períodos futuros analisados, contudo, todas requerem monitoramento precoce e urgente, especialmente Cichla kelberi e Micropterus salmoides (registradas na bacia) e Plagioscion squamosissimus (não registrado), demonstrando alta probabilidade de invasão em breve, tornando necessárias ações de manejo direcionadas. Portanto, os tomadores de decisão devem implementar políticas públicas rigorosas para monitorar e conter a dispersão dessas espécies na Bacia do Rio Iguaçu e assegurar a preservação de sua biodiversidade ictiofaunística endêmica, antecipando um possível colapso ambiental e ameaça ao endemismo único do local.

We describe Serrapinnus mansoensis sp. nov., a new species of Cheirodontinae from a headwater stream of the rio Manso basin, upper rio Paraguai drainage, Mato Grosso, Brazil. The species is immediately distinguished from all congeners by the absence of any dark melanophore-based markings in live specimens, with both the midlateral stripe and caudal peduncle spot inconspicuously evidenced in alcohol preserved specimens by the presence of scarce and scattered melanophores. It further differs by having 7–9 cusps on premaxillary teeth (vs. 4–5 in S. microdon, and S. potiguar), 36–39 scales in the longitudinal series (vs. ≤35 in S. aster, S. calliurus, S. malabarbai, S. kriegi, S. micropterus, S. notomelas, and S. piaba), incomplete lateral line (vs. complete in S. heterodon), and 16–18 ventral procurrent caudal-fin rays (vs. 11–13 in S. zanatae). The discovery of this species in a small, clear-water headwater highlights the still underestimated diversity and endemism in the upper Paraguai basin and reinforces the conservation priority of these highland aquatic systems.

Brazil hosts the highest fish diversity globally, underscoring the critical role of Brazilian Scientific Fish Collections (BSFCs) in biodiversity research and conservation. Despite their importance, BSFCs face persistent challenges. This study introduces the CARDUME network, the first nationwide initiative to assess BSFCs and propose strategies to enhance their role in ichthyology. Data from 74 collections across 25 Brazilian federal units reveal that most are affiliated with public universities and house 8 502 992 catalogued specimens in 906 890 lots, including over 2600 primary types. Although digitization efforts are underway in 92% of BSFCs, only 37% currently share data online. Genetic resources are severely limited, with tissue samples available for just 3% of specimens. Significant funding disparities exist, with 70% of collections receiving less than USD170 annually. Gender inequality is also notable, with more male-curated than female-curated collections. Survey responses highlighted issues such as staff shortages, inadequate facilities, and limited resources for fieldwork and collection curation. CARDUME aims to address these gaps through ­collaboration, professional training, improvement of data quality, and increase of shared data, while also advocating for recognition by Brazilian institutions, funding agencies, and the government. O resumo em português está disponível no material suplementar.

A new species of Nannocharax is described from the Luongo and Kalungwishi Rivers, tributaries of the Luapula River in the northeastern region of Zambia. The new species differs from its congeners by a combination of characters, such as the body coloration pattern formed by a series of one-scale-wide vertical bars, a small caudal-peduncle spot surrounded by a light clear area at the base of the middle caudal-fin rays, and a low number of scales in the circumpeduncular series and lateral line series. The new species is also distinguished from other members of the Nannocharax multifasciatus species-group by genetic distances ranging from 10.3% to 11.6% with DNA barcoding. Likewise, distance and coalescent molecular species delimitation approaches recovered the new species as an independent operational taxonomic unit. Newly generated hypotheses of phylogenetic relationships based on maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference for the new taxon are provided.