|
|
|
Exploring freshwater fish habitats in the rainforest of Peru Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com November 27, 2005 This fall the editor of mongabay.com, a leading environmental science and tropical freshwater fish information site, traveled to the Peruvian Amazon and examined habitats for freshwater fish. As a result of this effort, two new "biotope" descriptions have been posted on the site. The descriptions include underwater photographs for those interested in replicating the natural conditions of these habitats. What is a biotope aquarium? A biotope aquarium is an aquarium that is modeled after a natural habitat. The fish, plants, water chemistry, light conditions, and tank furnishings are similar to those that can be found in a specific natural setting. Biotope aquariums are generally popular among "purist" fish enthusiasts interested in the ecology of the fish they keep. The biotopes
Amazon oxbow lake biotope Virtually all lakes in this part of the Amazon are oxbow lakes. An oxbow lake is a crescent-shaped lake formed when a river changes course. In lowland Amazonia where soft alluvial soils dominate, meandering rivers gradually shift due to erosion and sediment deposition. Oxbow lakes typically form when loops in the river become so extreme that the main channel erodes a new straighter route, leaving the river bend apart from the river. As time passes, the oxbow lake becomes increasingly distant from the main channel. Water conditions change as the water stagnates. Oxbow lakes are an important source of aquarium fish throughout the Amazon. Some of the best known tropical freshwater fish -- including discus, hatchetfish, and tetras -- are found in such lakes. The new biotope profile looks specifically at two oxbow lakes found along the Madre de Dios and Tambopata rivers in the Madre de Dios river system upstream of Puerto Maldonado. Amazon oxbow lake biotope profile Amazon stream biotope
Small rainforest streams are common in this part of Peru. They generally arise from springs and range in width from a few inches to 10-14 feet and have a length that rarely exceed 3 miles (5 km). Because these streams usually run under the protective cover of the forest canopy they are generally cooler than rivers and oxbow lakes. The new biotope profile examines a rainforest stream flowing into the Madre de Dios River. Present in the stream were cichlids, tetras and Corydoras catfish. Amazon stream biotope profile A broader look at aquarium fisheries in southeastern Peru The rio Madre de Dios probably has more than 600 species, many of which have yet to be described, according to work by Michael Goulding, an expert in Amazonian fish, and other researchers in their book Amazon Headwaters - Rivers, Wildlife, and Conservation in Southeastern Peru. Despite this diversity, the ornamental fish industry -- worth nearly $1 billion in wholesale value worldwide -- only arrived in the region in 2002. Already the market looks promising with the region's moderate high water season being seen as a distinct advantage over to other parts of the Amazon where aquarium trade fisheries shut down for months during the rainy season. Further, the high number of endemic species make the rio Madre de Dios system attractive for the commercial aquarium fish trade. Executed properly, the aquarium fisheries trade offers opportunities for conservation and development. Project Amazonas and Project Piaba, in Iquitos, Peru and Brazil, respectively, have worked with local fisherman to encourage the sustainable harvest of aquarium fish while promoting environmental education in local communities and ecotourism. Freshwater habitats globally threatened
News index | RSS | Add to MyYahoo! Advertisements: Organic Apparel from Patagonia | Insect-repelling clothing |
MONGABAY.COM
T-SHIRTS 
CALENDARS 
CANVAS BAGS 
|
Aerial photo of oxbow lakes and a river in the Peruvian Amazon.
Underwater photo of Bladderwort, an aquatic plant, in the oxbow lake.
Industrial gold mining operation that has turned the Rio Huaypetue into a large pit of mud, sand, and chemicals. Runnoff from the mine flows down a much-diminished version of the Rio Huaypetue and eventually into the Amazon River.
|
|
