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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Udaya Priyantha Kankanamge Epa
Format: Artículo científico
Language:en
Published: Universidad de Costa Rica 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=44946472017
https://www.redalyc.org/journal/449/44946472017/
https://www.redalyc.org/journal/449/44946472017/html/
https://www.redalyc.org/journal/449/44946472017/44946472017.epub
https://www.redalyc.org/journal/449/44946472017/movil
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Table of Contents:
  • Impact of fishing with Tephrosia candida (Fabaceae) on diversity and abundance of fish in the streams at the boundary of Sinharaja Man and Biosphere Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka Udaya Priyantha Kankanamge Epa Chamari Ruvandika Waniga Chinthamanie Mohott Biología Exotic plant fish poisoning Sinharaja forest Tephrosia candida Local communities in some Asian, African and American countries, use plant toxins in fish poisoning for fishing activities; however, the effects of this practice on the particular wild fish assemblages is unknown. This study was conducted with the aim to investigate the effects of fish poisoning using Tephrosia candida, on freshwater fish diversity and abundance in streams at the boundary of the World Natural Heritage site, Sinharaja Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka. A total of seven field trips were undertaken on a bimonthly basis, from May 2013 to June 2014. We surveyed five streams with similar environmental and climatological conditions at the boundary of Sinharaja forest. We selected three streams with active fish poisoning practices as treatments, and two streams with no fish poisoning as controls. Physico-chemical parameters and flow rate of water in selected streams were also measured at bimonthly intervals. Fish were sampled by electrofishing and nets in three randomly selected confined locations (6 x 2 m stretch) along every stream. Fish species were identified, their abundances were recorded, and Shannon-Weiner diversity index was calculated for each stream. Streams were clustered based on the Bray-Curtis similarity matrix for fish composition and abundance. Physico-chemical parameters of water were not significantly different among streams (P > 0.05). A total of 15 fish species belonging to four different orders Cypriniformes, Cyprinodontiformes, Perciformes and Siluriformes were collected; nine species (60 %) were endemic, and six (40 %) were native species. From these, 13 fish species were recorded in streams with no poisoning, while five species were recorded in streams where poisoning was practiced. Four endemic and one native fish species were locally extinct in streams where fish poisoning was active. Fish abundance was significantly higher in control streams (32-39/m 2 ) when compared to treatment streams (5-9/m 2 ) (P < 0.05). We concluded that fish poisoning with T. candida may have resulted in a significant reduction in species richness, total abundance and Shannon-Weiner diversity index of fish species in the studied streams at the boundary of Sinharaja forest. We recommend that this fishing practice should be strictly regulated, and to inform local com - munities about the legal status of fish poisoning, its consequences and the importance of fish diversity for local livelihoods and conservation purposes. 2016 artículo científico 0034-7744 https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=44946472017 https://www.redalyc.org/journal/449/44946472017/ https://www.redalyc.org/journal/449/44946472017/html/ https://www.redalyc.org/journal/449/44946472017/44946472017.epub https://www.redalyc.org/journal/449/44946472017/movil en http://www.redalyc.org/revista.oa?id=449 Revista de Biología Tropical application/pdf Universidad de Costa Rica Revista de Biología Tropical (Costa Rica) Num.3 Vol.64