Aquatic invasive species distribution within Wallace region: a preliminary review

Abstract

The introduction of many aquatic species into new habitats have been recorded to be invasive and later threatened the native species present in that habitat. The unique biogeography of the Wallace region, particularly Sulawesi Island characterized by having high endemic fauna. Several lakes in Sulawesi have experienced the population reduction of endemic species due to introduced species that become invasive. This paper intended to review the aquatic invasive species and their distribution in the Wallace region. The literature review revealed the number of invasive species introduced in the Wallace region varies from 1 species to 12 species, the highest found in Lake Tondano. This preliminary review record that Malili lakes are most researched, both for endemic species and invasive species, based on the number of publications found through an internet search, with publications on endemic species, are more than invasive species. Among 13 lakes in Sulawesi, 4 lakes, namely Lake Moat, Sidendreng, Wawanloa, and Masapi, have no record on aquatic invasive species. A similar situation also happens in Maluku. The information on the mode and reason for fish introduction into Appo Swamp in West Sulawesi and watershed in Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, is still lacking. All in all, the conclusive cause and effect of introduced species that become invasive on the endemic species in the region is need to be prove or unproven based on scientific data. At this time, the literature review has not been able to find documentation on marine invasive species in the Wallace region. As for invasive species management, prevention is better than eradication.