Freshwater Fishes of Central America: Distribution, Assessment, and Major Threats
Topiltzin Contreras-MacBeath,
Diego A. Ardón,
Yasmin Quintana,
Arturo Angulo,
Tim Lyons,
Claudia Lardizabal,
Caleb D. McMahan,
Diego J. Elías,
Wilfredo A. Matamoros,
José Enrique Barraza,
Rigoberto González,
César E. Fuentes-Montejo,
Jonathan W. Ambruster,
Juan Carlos Carrasco,
Marlem Brito Rodriguez
Affiliations
Topiltzin Contreras-MacBeath
Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Colonia Chamilpa, Cuernavaca 62219, MR, Mexico
Diego A. Ardón
Department of Biology, Evolutionary Ecology Laboratories, Provo, UT 84604, USA
Yasmin Quintana
Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
Arturo Angulo
Museo de Zoología, Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Ecología Tropical (CIBET), Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro de Montes de Oca 11501–2060, SJ, Costa Rica
Tim Lyons
New Mexico BioPark Society, 903 10th St SW, Albuquerque, NM 87112, USA
Claudia Lardizabal
Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales del Norte de Honduras, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Honduras, Tegucigalpa 11101, Honduras
Caleb D. McMahan
Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60605, USA
Diego J. Elías
Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60605, USA
Wilfredo A. Matamoros
Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas, Libramiento Norte Poniente 1150, Col. Lajas Maciel, Tuxtla Gutiérrez 29039, CS, Mexico
José Enrique Barraza
Instituto de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación Universidad Francisco Gavidia, San Salvador CP 1101, El Salvador
Rigoberto González
Colección de Peces Neotropicales del Instituto Smithsonian de Investigaciones Tropicales (STRI), Laboratorio de Naos, Panama 68419, Panama
César E. Fuentes-Montejo
Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 S. Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60605, USA
Jonathan W. Ambruster
Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, 101 Rouse Life Sciences Building, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
Juan Carlos Carrasco
Coastal & Marine Research, Ave. Oeste, Bloque M, N1, Residencial Jamil, Tela 31301, Honduras
Marlem Brito Rodriguez
Laboratorio Interinstitucional de Sistemas de Información Geográfica, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca 62219, MR, Mexico
Central America contains a rich diversity of freshwater habitats that support more than 600 species of freshwater fishes. However, despite several perceived threats to the integrity of the freshwater habitats throughout the region, a formal analysis of extinction risk for the region’s ichthyofauna is lacking. In this manuscript, we report an updated checklist of species and a novel comprehensive assessment of the conservation status of Central American freshwater fishes by applying the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria to species at the global level. We also analyze the distribution of freshwater fishes across Central America and generate baseline geospatial data that can be used in multi-species conservation planning processes, which is available through the Red List Website. Our results indicate that between 15 and 28% of freshwater fishes in the region are threatened with extinction, with considerable uncertainty resulting from elevated data deficiency. We identify major and widespread threats in the region, including pollution, agriculture, aquaculture, biological resource use, natural system modifications, invasive species, and land development. This analysis represents an important first step in formulating effective conservation planning and action initiatives for a taxonomic group that historically has received few protections and can be used to inform conservation priorities of freshwater ecosystems at both national and regional scales.