Chile

Ecological effects of invasive trout

Most freshwater fish in Chile are at risk or else insufficiently known. While researchers point to contributing factors such as degrading habitat and invasive trout, they lack systematic information on why species are endangered. The country also lacks a geographical inventory of fish biodiversity. This project began to fill these two knowledge gaps.

In what Cristian Correa-Guzman calls the broadest-ever study of freshwater fish in Chile, the researchers surveyed 25 Patagonian lakes ranging from those with high levels of trout to those undisturbed by this invasive species. The research provided important baseline information on biodiversity, uncovering strong impacts of trout across ecological scales in Patagonian lakes. “My motivation is to promote appropriate conservation,” said Mr. Correa-Guzman.

Second, to stimulate broader perspectives, the researchers progressed towards the development of the first Chilean freshwater fish geographical database. It highlights 77 references, more than 600 sampling sites along the country and more than 60 native and introduced species detected in the wild. This resource will help identify knowledge gaps, temporal and geographical patterns, and stimulate more research and conservation.

The collaborators contend their innovative and multidisciplinary research (including an unprecedented sampling effort in lakes of the Aysen region) will become a landmark in the understanding of Patagonian freshwater fish and the ecological impacts of exotic trout in lake ecosystems.