M, Nobin Raja and NA, Aravind and Gudasalamani, Ravikanth (2023) Opening the floodgates for invasion—modelling the distribution dynamics of invasive alien fishes in India. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 195 (12). ISSN 0167-6369
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Abstract
Invasive alien species have become the second major threat to biodiversity affecting all three major ecosystems (terrestrial, marine, and freshwater). Increasing drivers such as habitat destruction, expanding horticulture and aquaculture industries, and global pet and food trade have created pathways for exotic species to be introduced leading to severe impacts on recipient ecosystems. Although relatively less studied than terrestrial ecosystems, freshwater ecosystems are highly susceptible to biological invasions. In India, there has been a noticeable increase in the introduction of alien fish species in freshwater environments. In the current study, we aimed to understand how climate change can affect the dynamics of the biological invasion of invasive alien fishes in India. We also evaluated the river-linking project’s impact on the homogenization of biota in Indian freshwater bodies. We used species occurrence records with selected environmental variables to assess vulnerable locations for current and future biological invasion using species distribution models. Our study has identified and mapped the vulnerable regions to invasion in India. Our research indicates that the interlinking of rivers connects susceptible regions housing endangered fish species with invasive hotspots. Invasive alien fishes from the source basin may invade vulnerable basins and compete with the native species. Based on the results, we discuss some of the key areas for the management of these invasive alien species in the freshwater ecosystems.
Item Type: | Article |
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Additional Information: | Copyright of this article belongs to The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023 |
Uncontrolled Keywords: | Biological invasion · River-linking · Invasive alien fishes · Niche modelling · Freshwater ecosystems · Management |
Subjects: | A ATREE Publications > G Journal Papers |
Divisions: | Academy for Conservation Science and Sustainable Studies > PhD Students Publications |
Depositing User: | ATREE Bangalore |
Date Deposited: | 13 Jun 2024 10:48 |
Last Modified: | 13 Jun 2024 10:48 |
URI: | http://archives.atree.org/id/eprint/40 |