Conserving Vulnerable Chacoan Killifish in a challenging context
Project overview
This research project addresses the critical need to conserve two Vulnerablekillifish species, Austrolebias vandenbergi and Titanolebias monstrosus, within the Western Chacoan region of Northwestern Argentina. This region faces escalating threats from extensive soybean cultivation, deforestation, soil degradation, habitat loss, and contamination, all exacerbated by ongoing climate change. Employing a comprehensive approach spanning ecology, ontogeny, and environmental biology, our study aims to elucidate these species’ life histories, trophic ecology, and ontogeny, facilitating a deeper understanding of their adaptive strategies.
Threats
Climate change
Disruption of water flow
Habitat loss & degradation
This knowledge is crucial for the development of effective conservation policies to mitigate the impacts of anthropic activities, climate change, and contamination on these species and their habitat. Within this context, fundamental biological insights into trophic ecology, ontogeny and anatomy are essential for comprehending how human activities may affect these populations. Moreover, this project will unveil the ontogeny of these killifishes, shedding light on their reproductive strategies, growth patterns, and life-cycle adaptations that are pivotal for their survival in dynamic and challenging environments.
Project objectives
- Determine the diet of Titanolebias monstrosus and Austrolebias vandenbergi in their natural environment throughout their lifespan, recording any changes in diet that may occur between the juvenile and adult stages.
- Characterize changes in body shape and feeding-associated traits (relative mouth opening size, relative eye size, relative gut size, etc.) between juveniles and adults of both species, establishing the existing divergences.
- Identify associations between the studied morphological traits and the trophic niche.
- Characterize the hydrological dynamics of temporary pools in the Chacoan region.
Project activities
- Take samples in study area using dataloggers and multiparameter probe.
- Conduct a sampling trip for the collection of adults and juveniles of both species.
- Carry out an analysis of the species’ stomach contents.
- Carry out an analysis of the morphological traits associated with the trophic niche in adults and juveniles of both species.
- Communicate results through scientific papers, doctoral theses, and outreach materials.
This project is implemented by Marcos Waldbillig, Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Animal, CONICET-UBA.
