Short-term Impacts of Fish Removal from Small Amazonian Forest Streams

Abstract

Collecting freshwater zoological material for research purposes is common and necessary, but its impact on biological communities is often overlooked. We tested the impacts of a conventional ichthyological collection in small forest streams and showed that fish assemblages recover after a few months. We highlight ecological traits and habitat characteristics that might exacerbate the impacts of repeated removal of fish in long-term investigations, and advocate for the use of a capture-release approach whenever possible.