Where we work....

Madagascar

The forgotten fauna - impacts of land cover change on Madagascar’s endemic freshwater fishes.

Madagascar is known for high faunal endemism including iconic lemurs and chameleons. It also possesses unique freshwater biodiversity, which has been historically overlooked. Counter to traditional interpretations that described Madagascar’s fish diversity as impoverished, endemic fishes are widely distributed across the country, found in over 60% of inland waters. Of the currently 94 described freshwater species, half were described since 1990, doubling the known fish diversity. Madagascar’s freshwater ichthyofauna is under great threat due to the deliberate introduction of exotic species (e.g. Oreochromis niloticus and Tilapia rendalli), increased population and agriculture, and deforestation. Listen to our podcast with the Indian Ocean World Center discussing the decline of ichthyofauna in Madagascar.

Costa Rica

Mangroves are critically important ecosystems, yet they are disappearing at a fast rate due to human alteration of the landscape including their replacement with agriculture, and aquaculture. Urbanization, and a general over-exploitation also threaten the last remaining stands. Read about how we used specialized aerial imagery from Mission Airborne Carbon-13 (MAC-13) to map the species composition and extent of the Térraba-Sierpe mangroves on the Osa peninsula of Costa Rica.

Tanzania

Land cover and climate change impacts on specialized endemic Tanzanian cichlids.

Relatively little is known about the endemic African fishes outside of the Great Lakes (primarily Lakes Victoria, Tanganyika and Malawi). In Tanzania, there is a fundamental gap in knowledge of the vulnerability of endemic fishes to land use/land cover change, climate change and socio-economic factors that threaten their habitats. In the creeks that flow in to lake Natron, thermal-alkaline-salt tolerant cichlids (Alcolapia spp) can be found. We analyzed satellite image sequences (1984–2015) to quantify land cover change around three freshwater ecosystems with endemic cichlids in Tanzania, including the Lake Natron springs. We also examined population growth, agricultural expansion, and climate change as stressors that impact the habitats. Follow the link below to read the full publication and view videos of these uniques fish in their natural habitats

Pantanal, Brazil

The Serra de Bodoquena region contains the headwaters of rivers flowing to the Pantanal. The clear rivers offer unique opportunities to study fish communities - and map the substrate structures of habitats.

West Papua

We are actively working on a high resolution remote sensing baseline of land cover for the conservation of rainbowfish (Melanotaenia spp.) from the Bird’s Head Peninsula, Western New Guinea.

Mato Grosso, Brazil

Impacts of the Sinop dam, on the Teles Pires River, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Hydroelectric dams are a major threat to Amazonian biodiversity. Small run-of-the-rivers dams like those that make up the Teles Pires dam complex not only change the aquatic habitats of the main river, but they also affect smaller tributaries that host unique ichthyofauna. Our study of the Sinop dam examines the extent of land cover inundated by its reservoir, and subsequent methane emissions from satellites. We also generated 3D reconstructions of two important endemic fish habitats from unmanned aerial vehicle photographs and illustrate immersive visualization options for the results. Follow the links below to read our publication and test out the 3D model of Ilha do Lair.

For a virtual reality experience follow the link to view the model:  https://skfb.ly/onEEp 

Xingu River, Brazil

The Xingu river has been focal point of our research for several years. The Xingu is the 4th largest tributary of the Amazon and is a river with extraordinary aquatic biodiversity and high rates of endemism. It is home to an estimated 600 species of fish (10% of them endemic). We have followed the dramatic changes in forest cover over the last 40 years in the river basin with the rise in industrial agriculture, cattle ranching, illegal (and legal) mining and new hydropower projects such as the Belo Monte dam. Follow the links below to read about the changes to the aquatic and terrestrial habitats within its basin.

Different from our conventional remote sensing studies, through a mixed-methods approach we compiled the most comprehensive chronicle about the natural history and fate of the Xingu's iconic aquarium fish, the zebra pleco: Conservation and trade of the endangered Hypancistrus zebra (Siluriformes, Loricariidae), one of the most trafficked Brazilian fish

Among the Xingu’s endemic ornamental fishes, Hypancistrus zebra is the most iconic. The small zebra pleco is also one of the most trafficked freshwater fish in the world, despite the fact that the catfish endemic to Brazil is on CITES Appendix III and is banned from capture and export in Brazil. This popular aquarium fish is also raised by commercial breeders and hobby aquarists all over the world. In this paper we examine public opinion, and those of the stakeholders (fishermen, smugglers, law enforcement and aquarium hobbyists) and look at the smuggling route from the Xingu for this unique freshwater fish.