A review on introduced Cichla spp. and emerging concerns

Abstract

Peacock bass (Cichla spp.) originates from the Neotropical environments of Brazil and Venezuela but, through trade and smuggling for aquarium keeping, sport fishing and aquaculture, it is now an emerging concern. Yet, less is known for Cichla spp. distribution and its ability to invade new environments. Aimed to communicate on Cichla spp. ecology, biology and introduction schemes from Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar and also National Centre for Biotechnology Information, this review also contains management strategies for invading fish species. While Cichla spp. can displace native fish populations, this concern is explained using ecological functions, physiological demands, direct and secondary invasion, disease tolerance and parasite spillover. Briefly, Cichla spp. has rapid embryogenesis (72 h) and matures in short periods (11-12 months), giving it an advantage to colonize new environments. With a large appetite, this true piscivore gains territorial control over water bodies by making it their feeding and nursery grounds. Perceived as an emerging concern after becoming introduced, seal-off or sport fishing were used to manage Cichla spp. but, this practice is not sustainable for the entire ecosystem. Hence, we recommend bottom-up management that involves community participation because they interact with the fish and have knowledge about their environment.

Multiple Introduction and High Genetic Diversity: Drivers for Successful Establishment of Invasive Peacock Bass (Cichla spp.) in Peninsular Malaysia

“…specimens captured during their experiment were C. kelberi with 92 % similarity index (using COI). Though the latter authors concluded the argument as less conclusive due to the small sample size obtained in their study [41]. In fact, the number of Cichla spp.…”

“…in Tasik Telabak through mitochondrial DNA (COI) barcoding marked the specimens as C. ocellaris with 99.72 % similarity index [6]. At the same lake also, Sastraprawira et al [41], claimed that Cichla spp. specimens captured during their experiment were C. kelberi with 92 % similarity index (using COI).…”

Estrutura Populacional de Espécies do Gênero Cichla (Osteichthyes: Cichliformes) Introduzidas em Diferentes Regiões Brasileiras – uma Revisão Bibliográfica

“…O interesse econômico pelo aspecto ornamental, a criação de reservatórios, e o fomento da pesca esportiva e da aquicultura extensiva e semiextensiva culminaram na ampla introdução de espécies de tucunarés, a partir da década de 1960, em diversas regiões do Brasil (Gubiani et al, 2018;Doria et al, 2021) e do mundo (Sastraprawira et al, 2020). No entanto, a introdução de espécies não nativas pode resultar em consequências ecológicas severas, evaluating the structure of tucunaré populations themselves.…”

From Descriptive to Accurate Horseshoe Crab Size Variations in Wild Populations

“…Hence, energy allocation is a metabolic strategy adopted by aquatic organisms, mainly fish, to survive under harsh conditions in polluted environments or during food scarcity. Energy compensation was theorized as practical for cryptic species until its grow-out (or filial) occupies the predator categories in food chains [Sastraprawira et al 2020]. Yet, in some cases, energy-storing or energy conservativeness results in slower growth rates in juvenile fish, which then becomes detrimental to the persistence of the entire population [Post and Parkinson 2001].…”