Amazon protected areas and its ability to protect stream-dwelling fish fauna. (March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Frederico, Renata Guimarães; Zuanon, Jansen; De Marco, Paulo
• Is Part Of: Biological conservation. Volume 219(2018)
• Page Start: 12
• Page End: 19
• Publication Date: 2018-03
• Subjects: Gap analysis -- Species distribution models -- Spatial prioritization -- Freshwater ecosystems; Conservation of natural resources -- Periodicals; Nature conservation -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 333.9516
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2017.12.032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0006-3207

Abstract

Abstract: Large protected areas have been created in Brazilian Amazon intending to safeguard as much of its biodiversity as possible. Despite these intentions, such megareserves were created predominantly focusing on terrestrial organisms and ecosystems. Here, we assessed the ability of the current Brazilian Amazon protected areas network to efficiently safeguard its stream-dwelling fish fauna. Ecological niche models were built for 138 stream fish species using MaxEnt software. We performed a gap analysis and spatial prioritization under three different Amazon protected areas scenarios: (1) strictly protected areas (SPAs) only; (2) SPA plus sustainable use areas (SPA + SUA); and (3) SPA + SUA plus indigenous territories (SPA + SUA + IT). The species were classified according to their distribution range size and required representation targets. Widespread species usually had lower area under the curve (AUC) and true skill statistics (TSS) values, which would be expected for large and heterogeneous areas such as the Amazon. Only partial gap species were found, with 20% to 90% of required representation targets included in PAs, which was not enough for a complete protection. Most of the officially protected areas in the Brazilian Amazon do not correspond to areas with high direct conservation values for stream fishes, once the priority areas for these species conservation were outside the PAs, leaving a high portion of the regional vertebrate fauna inadequately protected. We conclude that fishes and other freshwater organisms and habitats should be explicitly included during systematic conservation planning in order to thoroughly protect the Brazilian Amazon biodiversity. Highlights: The Amazon protected areas have been historically planned targeting almost exclusively terrestrial organisms and ecosystems. The stream-dwelling fish species have incidental protection. The protection conferred to the Amazon stream dwelling ichthyofaunal fails in adequacy. The stakeholders should consider freshwater ecosystems in the Systematic Conservation Planning in the Brazilian Amazon.