>From Stabroek News, Georgetown, Guyana,
RIVER MINING RUINING HABITAT OF GUYANA'S FISH
Gold and diamond mining is destroying the habitat of some of Guyana's
myriad fish, a small gathering at the US Embassy Lecture Series heard
recently.
Nathan Lujan, a doctoral candidate in Biological Sciences at Auburn
University, Montgomery, Alabama, USA delivered the lecture titled, 'The
scientific and economic value of the beautiful fishes of Guyana', the
third in a series on the biodiversity of Guyana hosted by Deputy Chief
of Mission Michael D. Thomas.
Lujan said the habitat of the fish was being destroyed by gold and
diamond mining. Lujan said also that the after-effects of mining, like
the sediment and siltation that are left in the river, made surveying
certain areas impossible. It was explained that very few fish could
survive with heavy siltation present. Mercury, a toxin which is used in
the mining sector for gold extraction is present, Lujan said, noting
that humans were the end recipients of toxins like mercury. But he said
the fish surveyed showed no external signs of being affected by toxins;
only laboratory tests will show whether or not toxins were present in
the fish. To spread the word on the environment the team visited schools
at Kurupukari and Yupukari.
Lujan said Guyana has resources that can be harvested for the ornamental
fish trade. Local experts have noted that a survey will have to be
conducted on the ornamental fish population to substantiate this.
Lujan was part of a four-member team which came to Guyana on November
20, with at least two of them working on their doctoral theses. On this
first trip, the team gathered DNA samples and plans to return next year.
The team also hopes to compile the information gathered on their trips
in a book called Fishes in Guyana. Funding for this trip was provided by
the National Science Foundation in the sum of US$20,000. The Smithsonian
Institution provided housing in Guyana. Lujan told the small gathering
that Guyana was blessed with over 600 species of fish. The areas of
research included the Branco-Negro and the Essequibo basin, in the
Rupununi Savannahs, Kaieteur and in the Potaro.
Fish found during the research included the world's smallest Anchovy,
which it was noted, was plentiful in the fresh waters. The Arowana, the
father of which broods its young in its mouth, was also found. This
method of breeding is limited to the number of young the father can
carry in its mouth. Thus, this fish does not reproduce rapidly. This
fish was said to be a close relative of the world's largest freshwater
fish, the Arapaima.
In the Rupununi River at Massara, fish were found in rock crevices also.
One aquarium fish was named by the group as Hypostomus Makushi and lives
entirely on wood. It was explained that this fish's jaws and teeth allow
it to consume the wood.
Some species of aquarium fish were said to be plentiful like the
Corydoras adolphi, Cichlidae among others. Abundant also was the
Potomotrygon sp. - one of the most feared fishes around. Also found in
the research were various species of electric fish (Gymnotiformes) and
catfish (Loricariidae). It was noted that in South America there are 700
species of the latter, yet to be described. At the Yukanopito Falls, a
number of catfish were found. For example, in the Takutu River on the
Guyana bank catfish were found which were a centimetre long and feed on
the little worms beneath the surface of the sands. In the Rupununi and
Takutu areas a number of aquarium fish were discovered, for example, the
red tail Pseudacanthicus leopardus which are very popular in Europe and
Japan. Other fish found as a result of the research included the Cichla
ocellaris called Lukanani; Colomesus psitticus called the Puffer or
Balloon fish; Potamorhaphis sp. called Needle fish or Cutlass fish and
Bunocephalus sp. called the Banjo catfish.
It was noted in the presentation that the population of the Arapaima
which is a fish listed by the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), and cannot be
exported, was on the rise. Heavy harvesting had depleted the population.
RIVER MINING RUINING HABITAT OF GUYANA'S FISH
Gold and diamond mining is destroying the habitat of some of Guyana's
myriad fish, a small gathering at the US Embassy Lecture Series heard
recently.
Nathan Lujan, a doctoral candidate in Biological Sciences at Auburn
University, Montgomery, Alabama, USA delivered the lecture titled, 'The
scientific and economic value of the beautiful fishes of Guyana', the
third in a series on the biodiversity of Guyana hosted by Deputy Chief
of Mission Michael D. Thomas.
Lujan said the habitat of the fish was being destroyed by gold and
diamond mining. Lujan said also that the after-effects of mining, like
the sediment and siltation that are left in the river, made surveying
certain areas impossible. It was explained that very few fish could
survive with heavy siltation present. Mercury, a toxin which is used in
the mining sector for gold extraction is present, Lujan said, noting
that humans were the end recipients of toxins like mercury. But he said
the fish surveyed showed no external signs of being affected by toxins;
only laboratory tests will show whether or not toxins were present in
the fish. To spread the word on the environment the team visited schools
at Kurupukari and Yupukari.
Lujan said Guyana has resources that can be harvested for the ornamental
fish trade. Local experts have noted that a survey will have to be
conducted on the ornamental fish population to substantiate this.
Lujan was part of a four-member team which came to Guyana on November
20, with at least two of them working on their doctoral theses. On this
first trip, the team gathered DNA samples and plans to return next year.
The team also hopes to compile the information gathered on their trips
in a book called Fishes in Guyana. Funding for this trip was provided by
the National Science Foundation in the sum of US$20,000. The Smithsonian
Institution provided housing in Guyana. Lujan told the small gathering
that Guyana was blessed with over 600 species of fish. The areas of
research included the Branco-Negro and the Essequibo basin, in the
Rupununi Savannahs, Kaieteur and in the Potaro.
Fish found during the research included the world's smallest Anchovy,
which it was noted, was plentiful in the fresh waters. The Arowana, the
father of which broods its young in its mouth, was also found. This
method of breeding is limited to the number of young the father can
carry in its mouth. Thus, this fish does not reproduce rapidly. This
fish was said to be a close relative of the world's largest freshwater
fish, the Arapaima.
In the Rupununi River at Massara, fish were found in rock crevices also.
One aquarium fish was named by the group as Hypostomus Makushi and lives
entirely on wood. It was explained that this fish's jaws and teeth allow
it to consume the wood.
Some species of aquarium fish were said to be plentiful like the
Corydoras adolphi, Cichlidae among others. Abundant also was the
Potomotrygon sp. - one of the most feared fishes around. Also found in
the research were various species of electric fish (Gymnotiformes) and
catfish (Loricariidae). It was noted that in South America there are 700
species of the latter, yet to be described. At the Yukanopito Falls, a
number of catfish were found. For example, in the Takutu River on the
Guyana bank catfish were found which were a centimetre long and feed on
the little worms beneath the surface of the sands. In the Rupununi and
Takutu areas a number of aquarium fish were discovered, for example, the
red tail Pseudacanthicus leopardus which are very popular in Europe and
Japan. Other fish found as a result of the research included the Cichla
ocellaris called Lukanani; Colomesus psitticus called the Puffer or
Balloon fish; Potamorhaphis sp. called Needle fish or Cutlass fish and
Bunocephalus sp. called the Banjo catfish.
It was noted in the presentation that the population of the Arapaima
which is a fish listed by the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), and cannot be
exported, was on the rise. Heavy harvesting had depleted the population.
