Use of Daphnia spinulata Birabén, 1917 (Crustacea, Cladocera) in the Aquarium Trade: A Potential Risk of a New Bioinvasion into Brazilian Continental Waters

Abstract

Aquatic ecosystems are especially vulnerable to species introductions, because of their high degree of connectivity, ease of propagule dispersal, and intensive use as a transport route for materials, which aids species dispersal by shipping. In addition to these facilitating characteristics, certain activities also represent a potential opportunity for bioinvasions, and among these is the aquarium trade. The aquarium trade is considered one of the economic activities most closely linked to the dispersal of exotic species worldwide. Associated with this activity are reported invasions of seaweeds, fish, invertebrates, parasites, and pathogens; and without special care, the expansion of this sector will result in the spread of even more pests. In addition to the spe-Biological invasions currently represent one of the greatest worldwide threats to ecosystems. According to the Global Invasive Species Program (GISP), the introduction of species is the second greatest cause of loss of biodiversity on the planet, exceeded only by habitat degradation (Wittenberg and Cock, 2001; Simberloff, 2003). A survey by the MMA (2006) reported the confirmed occurrence of 49 invasive exotic species that affect continental waters, including crustaceans (1), aquatic macrophytes (6), microorganisms (1), molluscs (4), and fishes (37). However, other invasions of zooplankton organisms can be added to this preliminary list (

An inconvenient routine: introduction, establishment and spread of new non-native fishes in the Paraíba do Sul River basin, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil

“…Juveniles: 1.0-1.5 cm total length for the small five species, ≤ 10.0 cm total length for Astronotus ocellatus. to Eskinazi-Sant' Anna et al (2010), the use of animals as live food in the aquarium trade constitutes an additional route for species introduction in Brazilian inland waters. The present study raised the number of non-native fish species to 67 (62 of which are ornamental) for the basin, and to 90 in the state of Minas Gerais.…”