Asian Loaches: An Emerging Threat as Global Invaders

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F60076658%3A12520%2F25%3A43909684" target="_blank" >RIV/60076658:12520/25:43909684 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.70026" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1111/fwb.70026</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/fwb.70026" target="_blank" >10.1111/fwb.70026</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Asian Loaches: An Emerging Threat as Global Invaders

Original language description

The introduction of non-native species is a major driver of biodiversity loss, posing a growing threat to the health and functioning of freshwater ecosystems globally. In recent decades, pet trade and aquarophilia have become lucrative industries, accelerating the introduction and spread of new non-native fishes. This includes several Asian loach species that have recently been detected outside their native range, such as in Europe, the United States and Australia. Here, we examine the potential of the large-scale loach Paramisgurnus dabryanus and the dojo weatherloach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus to establish outside their native range, and address potential impacts on the threatened European weatherfish Misgurnus fossilis. We used species distribution models (SDM) to estimate the potential global environmental suitability for both Asian loach species and identified key variables determining current distributions. Our results indicate that both species could spread globally and become invasive, with M. anguillicaudatus appearing more capable of larger range expansions compared to P. dabryanus. Especially temperate regions of Europe, North and South America, the south-eastern coast of Australia, and Asia were identified as the most vulnerable areas. Range expansions of both studied Asian loaches in Europe could lead to an increased distribution overlap with populations of the native M. fossilis, with projections showing P. dabryanus increasing from a current overlap of 0.1% to 4.1% and M. anguillicaudatus from 0.2% to 32.8%. Our findings indicate that the introduction of non-native loaches may pose a substantial threat to M. fossilis in its native range, but also to other native species, especially benthic fish and macroinvertebrate species. Preventing new introductions and targeted research on the ecology and distribution patterns of such highly invasive species with growing presence in the international pet trade is essential to halt their further spread. SDMs can offer relevant spatial data for policymakers by identifying regions vulnerable to invasions and prioritising areas for targeted surveillance and management efforts.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10617 - Marine biology, freshwater biology, limnology

Project

—

Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Freshwater Biology

ISSN

0046-5070

e-ISSN

1365-2427

Volume of the periodical

70

Issue of the periodical within the volume

4

Country of publishing house

US - UNITED STATES

Number of pages

11

Pages from-to

nestránkováno

UT code for WoS article

001458829500001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105002155359