Amazon Basin

FishVery large— 20% of global riverine discharge into oceans

  • Flows into Atlantic

  • Largest river by discharge volume


Seasonal Changes

  • Seasonal flooding

    • High water season (spring-Fall) and low water season (winter to spring)

    • Can vary 12m in depth

    • Circulates nutrients, provides opportunities for fish dispersal


Ribeirinhos 

Indeginoues communities rely on the Amazon River Basin


Arapaima or Pirarucu

  • Largest freshwater fish species in the world

  • Flagship species

  • highly acclaimed and social economic importance

  • Obligate air breathers— must surface every 5-15 minutes

  • Breed and migrate short distances during high flood periods

    • Pair constructs nest

    • Male cares for offspring ~3 months

    • Secretes substance from face to feed young


  • Display rapid growth— up to 2.2 pounds a month during first year of life

    • fastest growth rate recorded in fish

    • efficient food to mass conversion rate

    • good for aquaculture?

Great Cultural Importance and History

  • indigenous people in Guyana call them the mother of all fishes

  • because of cultural norm, locals mostly left them alone

  • Colonists and settlers fished them and found them to be a great food source

Fishing

  • Their air breathing makes them easier to catch

  • waters are murky— can’t see the fish

  • expert fishers look for very subtle cues in water