Abstract
Biological invasions impact many communities and ecosystems around the world. Thus, the detection of harmful species is particularly important. In this study, the occurrence of Peacock bass Cichla kelberi in the Brazilian Pantanal was registered. The main stream of the Paraguay River, the Padre Inacio stream and their connected lakes were sampled, in the Pantanal, Upper Paraguay River basin. Six specimens were sampled including three females at beginning of maturation. The high level of turbidity of the main channel of the Paraguay River is possibly restricting the dispersal of C. kelberi to other regions of the Pantanal. But, due to the voracious piscivory of this species and the impact had in other Neotropical regions, this record highlights that the occurrence of C. kelberi can be a new threat to one of the bestconserved wetlands in the world.
Highlights
Species introductions have been considered a process of global change due to its geographical range (Ricciardi 2007), having many negative impacts in communities and ecosystems (Simberloff et al 2013)
The Paraguay River basin has an area of approximately 1.095.000 km2 (Assine and Silva 2009) and the Paraguay River is the main responsible by the drainage of the basin
No other specimens of C. kelberi or C. piquiti were caught in the marginal lakes or in the main channel of the Paraguay River (Figure 1B)
Summary
Species introductions have been considered a process of global change due to its geographical range (Ricciardi 2007), having many negative impacts in communities and ecosystems (Simberloff et al 2013). The decrease in the richness, abundance and species diversity of native fish (Latini and Petrere Jr. 2004; Pelicice and Agostinho 2009; Menezes et al 2012) and changes in the trophic web (Zaret and Paine 1973; Fugi et al 2008; Pinto-Coelho et al 2008) are some of the ecological impacts often associated with the introduction of the Cichla species
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