Neotropical Ichthyology promotes the Special Issue (SI) “Human impacts
and the loss of Neotropical freshwater fish diversity” with the purpose of
publishing relevant scientific articles on the current biodiversity crisis and the
loss of Neotropical freshwater fishes in the Anthropocene. The SI is composed
of 22 publications, being two review articles and 20 original articles. A total
of 107 researchers contributed to these papers, involving 44 institutions
based in Brazil and six other countries. Published articles investigated main
anthropic activities and their impacts on fish diversity, with special focus on
river regulation, mining, land use changes, aquaculture, and fisheries. Studies
provided evidence about the loss of fish diversity in the Neotropics, including
fish kill events, demographic changes, contamination, changes in assemblage
structure, loss of taxonomic and functional diversity, besides the degradation
of ecosystem functions and services, and the lack of effective protection and
conservation. Studies were conducted in rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs
from different Neotropical systems. The studies published in this SI represent
a relevant sample of the current worrisome situation of freshwater fishes in
the Neotropical region and call for urgent revision in environmental policies,
management and conservation initiatives, and socioeconomic priorities.

https://www.ni.bio.br/v19n3/

Editorial: https://www.ni.bio.br/1982-0224-2021-0134/