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Fish diversity of post-conflict Colombian Andes-Amazon streams as a reference for conservation before increased land use
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  • Juan David Bogotá Gregory,
  • David Jenkins,
  • Astrid Acosta-Santos,
  • Edwin Agudelo
Juan David Bogotá Gregory
Instituto Amazonico de Investigaciones Cientificas SINCHI

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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David Jenkins
University of Central Florida College of Sciences
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Astrid Acosta-Santos
Instituto Amazonico de Investigaciones Cientificas SINCHI
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Edwin Agudelo
Instituto Amazonico de Investigaciones Cientificas SINCHI
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Abstract

Reference conditions are difficult to find in the Anthropocene but essential for effective conservation of biodiversity. Aquatic ecosystems in the Andes-Amazon transition zone of Colombia are now at high risk due to expanded human activities after peace agreements in 2016 ended armed conflict. Expanding human land use may reduce fish diversity across the altitudinal gradient but especially in premontane streams (i.e., <500 m a.s.l.) because lands are more amenable to human use than at greater altitudes. We evaluated natural fish diversity in twelve sites over eight years bracketing the end of armed conflict. Strong differences in community structure (measured as species richness, total abundance, and effective species number, and multivariate analyses) occurred as a function of altitude, as measured by. Our results provide a baseline to identify short-term and long-term changes due to impending human land use at a critical moment for the conservation of tropical fish diversity.
Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
25 Jan 20241st Revision Received
30 Jan 2024Submission Checks Completed
30 Jan 2024Assigned to Editor
30 Jan 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
03 Feb 2024Editorial Decision: Accept