Effect of El Rey National Park and a flood on fish populations targeted by fishing on a subAndean River in northwest Argentina

Faced with the global crisis of loss of biodiversity and deterioration of ecosystems, protected natural areas have a preponderant role as a management tool. However, most of these are based on terrestrial criteria, while freshwater organisms are the most threatened and vulnerable in terms of their conservation. This paper analyzes the protective effect of El Rey National Park and a summer flood on conspicuous fish (dorado [Salminus brasiliensis], sábalo [Prochilodus lineatus] and boga [Megaleporinus spp.]) in the Popayán River, Bermejo River basin. Abundance and size estimates were made through visual censuses before and after the flood event, as well as within and on the limits of the protected area in the context of fishing pressure from poachers. We found no significant effect of the flood on the species under study, but a significant effect of the protected area: inside it, all three species were found to be very abundant, with the dorado reaching much larger sizes. The results shows that the protected area plays an essential role in supporting the studied species, especially in the case of the dorado.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Irigoyen, Alejo J., Trobbiani, Gastón, De Wysiecki, Agustín M., Aguilera, Gastón, Terán, Guillermo, Bugeau, Baltazar H., Casalinuovo, Miguel, Alonso, Felipe
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	spa
Published:	Asociación Argentina de Ecología 2023
Online Access:	https://ojs.ecologiaaustral.com.ar/index.php/Ecologia_Austral/article/view/2168
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