Alien Express: The threat of aquarium e-commerce introducing invasive aquatic plants in Brazil
Aquarium market is one of the main causes of exotic species dispersion, as it promotes the introduction of potential invaders on natural environments. In this scenario, e-commerce provides easy access of invasive plants from around the world. Despite the economic importance of this trade, few studie...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2018-10-01
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| Series: | Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2530064418300798 |
| _version_ | 1818597105605804032 |
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| author | Cleto Kaveski Peres Richard Wilander Lambrecht Diego Alberto Tavares Wagner Antonio Chiba de Castro |
| author_facet | Cleto Kaveski Peres Richard Wilander Lambrecht Diego Alberto Tavares Wagner Antonio Chiba de Castro |
| author_sort | Cleto Kaveski Peres |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Aquarium market is one of the main causes of exotic species dispersion, as it promotes the introduction of potential invaders on natural environments. In this scenario, e-commerce provides easy access of invasive plants from around the world. Despite the economic importance of this trade, few studies have addressed the patterns and extension of environmental problems associated with this market. Using search engines and specialized literature, we characterized the e-commerce of freshwater aquarium plants in Brazil, including its commercial flow, traded species and invasive potential of exotic species. We observed that Brazilian e-commerce provides easy access to multiple aquatic plants, which are generally sold at low cost and as vegetative parts. From the 287 species of aquatic plants for sale, distributed in 58 families, 188 were exotic species, originated from Oriental biogeographic region. The trade of exotic species is a potential problem if they (1) are recognized as highly invasive in many parts of the world, (2) belong to genera and families very distinct from native species and could occupy empty niches, and (3) may hybridize with native species, creating lineages with increased potential for invasion. Although Brazilian laws regulating the trade of exotic species are adequate, there is a widespread illegal e-commerce of aquatic plants. The invasive potential of aquarium plants species traded via e-commerce should be a major concern and become the focus of increasing inspections and law compliance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T11:42:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a9396705542245f7a5094c6cc7ea1ee9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2530-0644 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T11:42:31Z |
| publishDate | 2018-10-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation |
| spelling | doaj.art-a9396705542245f7a5094c6cc7ea1ee92022-12-21T22:32:55ZengElsevierPerspectives in Ecology and Conservation2530-06442018-10-01164221227Alien Express: The threat of aquarium e-commerce introducing invasive aquatic plants in BrazilCleto Kaveski Peres0Richard Wilander Lambrecht1Diego Alberto Tavares2Wagner Antonio Chiba de Castro3Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana, UNILA, Instituto Latino-Americano de Ciências da Vida e da Natureza, Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil; Corresponding author.Instituto de Botânica, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ecologia, São Paulo, SP, BrazilInstituto de Botânica, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ecologia, São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana, UNILA, Instituto Latino-Americano de Ciências da Vida e da Natureza, Foz do Iguaçu, Paraná, BrazilAquarium market is one of the main causes of exotic species dispersion, as it promotes the introduction of potential invaders on natural environments. In this scenario, e-commerce provides easy access of invasive plants from around the world. Despite the economic importance of this trade, few studies have addressed the patterns and extension of environmental problems associated with this market. Using search engines and specialized literature, we characterized the e-commerce of freshwater aquarium plants in Brazil, including its commercial flow, traded species and invasive potential of exotic species. We observed that Brazilian e-commerce provides easy access to multiple aquatic plants, which are generally sold at low cost and as vegetative parts. From the 287 species of aquatic plants for sale, distributed in 58 families, 188 were exotic species, originated from Oriental biogeographic region. The trade of exotic species is a potential problem if they (1) are recognized as highly invasive in many parts of the world, (2) belong to genera and families very distinct from native species and could occupy empty niches, and (3) may hybridize with native species, creating lineages with increased potential for invasion. Although Brazilian laws regulating the trade of exotic species are adequate, there is a widespread illegal e-commerce of aquatic plants. The invasive potential of aquarium plants species traded via e-commerce should be a major concern and become the focus of increasing inspections and law compliance.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2530064418300798Biodiversity lossExotic speciesFreshwaterMacrophyteMail orderTrade |
| spellingShingle | Cleto Kaveski Peres Richard Wilander Lambrecht Diego Alberto Tavares Wagner Antonio Chiba de Castro Alien Express: The threat of aquarium e-commerce introducing invasive aquatic plants in Brazil Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation Biodiversity loss Exotic species Freshwater Macrophyte Mail order Trade |
| title | Alien Express: The threat of aquarium e-commerce introducing invasive aquatic plants in Brazil |
| title_full | Alien Express: The threat of aquarium e-commerce introducing invasive aquatic plants in Brazil |
| title_fullStr | Alien Express: The threat of aquarium e-commerce introducing invasive aquatic plants in Brazil |
| title_full_unstemmed | Alien Express: The threat of aquarium e-commerce introducing invasive aquatic plants in Brazil |
| title_short | Alien Express: The threat of aquarium e-commerce introducing invasive aquatic plants in Brazil |
| title_sort | alien express the threat of aquarium e commerce introducing invasive aquatic plants in brazil |
| topic | Biodiversity loss Exotic species Freshwater Macrophyte Mail order Trade |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2530064418300798 |
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