Building knowledge to save species: 20 years of ichthyological studies in the Tocantins-Araguaia River basin

Authors

  • Carine Cavalcante Chamon Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Laboratório de Ictiologia Sistemática https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1122-6788
  • Jane Piton Serra Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Sul de Minas Gerais
  • Priscila Camelier Universidade Federal da Bahia, Instituto de Biologia, Laboratório de Sistemática e Biogeografia Animal, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Evolução https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1228-0076
  • Angela Maria Zanata Universidade Federal da Bahia, Instituto de Biologia, Laboratório de Ictiologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Evolução https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6500-8562
  • Ilana Fichberg Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Departamento de Ecologia e Biologia Evolutiva
  • Manoela Maria Ferreira Marinho Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia

Abstract

Abstract: The Tocantins-Araguaia River basin is the largest basin located entirely in the Brazilian territory. The high degree of endemism of its ichthyofauna has been revealed in several studies, with the upper Tocantins River having the largest absolute number of endemic taxa within the Amazon basin. Here we provide an accurate review of the ichthyofauna of the Tocantins-Araguaia River basin, based on collections made between 2000-2020, including an extensive list of valid fish species occurring in the basin and a discussion of the major threats to its ichthyofauna. Ichthyofauna diversity was further refined based on web searches. Protected Areas and hydropower plants were mapped using shape files or coordinates from the responsible government agencies. 751 species of fishes are currently known from the Tocantins-Araguaia River basin. A considerable increase in fish diversity knowledge occurred in the last 20 years, in parallel with significant anthropic alterations in the basin and its surroundings. Dams constructed along the basin are ranked as the major threats to ichthyofauna. Although the drainage-basin holds several conservation units and indigenous lands, they have not been sufficient to guarantee the preservation of fish species. Our compilation emphasizes that the upper Tocantins River must be considered as a priority area to preserve fish species. Some mitigation actions that may achieve satisfactory results concerning ichthyofauna conservation are proposed.

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Published

2022-01-01

How to Cite

Chamon, C. C., Serra, J. P., Camelier, P., Zanata, A. M., Fichberg, I., & Marinho, M. M. F. (2022). Building knowledge to save species: 20 years of ichthyological studies in the Tocantins-Araguaia River basin. Biota Neotropica, 22(2). Retrieved from //www.biotaneotropica.org.br/BN/article/view/1902

Issue

Section

Thematic Reviews

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