Fish biology, ecology, and behavior

Neotropical freshwater fish research examines the extraordinary diversity, distribution, and ecological roles of fishes across river systems like the Amazon, which harbors more freshwater fish species than any other basin on Earth. Scientists work to understand how geological history and river connectivity shaped this biodiversity over millions of years, while also tracking how modern pressures — particularly hydropower dam construction and habitat degradation — are disrupting fish assemblages and the fisheries that millions of people depend on. Open questions center on how fragmented rivers recover biological diversity, whether migratory and electrically sensitive species like weakly electric fishes can persist in altered landscapes, and what short-lived killifish models can reveal about aging and life-history trade-offs in variable tropical environments. Resolving these questions carries direct stakes for conservation policy across one of the most species-rich and rapidly changing regions on the planet.

Works

127,611

Total citations

593,284

Keywords

Freshwater EcoregionsFish BiodiversityAmazon River SystemHydropower DamsNeotropical Fish AssemblagesAging Research