All Cypriniformes Species DR LARRY PAGE Inventory, Which Is Cataloguing the Diversity of This Widepsread Order of Fishes

Cataloguing Cypriniform fishes

Ichthyologist Dr Larry Page discusses the aims of the All Cypriniformes Species DR LARRY PAGE Inventory, which is cataloguing the diversity of this widepsread order of fishes

Why are cypriniformes of particular and evolution of freshwater organisms. This research interest? involves sponsoring internationally integrated programmes of species discovery and related Primarily, it is because of their diversity. research in evolution and ecology, training Approximately one in three species of students to conduct research across a range freshwater fishes, one in eight species of all of disciplines using modern methods and fishes (marine and freshwater), and one in 17 promoting the importance of understanding species of vertebrates are cypriniformes. We biodiversity in solving major environmental think that as many as 1,000 species await issues. One way to develop collaborations formal taxonomic description. Increasing is by enhancing communication. This is knowledge of this diverse group of fishes, the primary goal of the Asian Society which often exist in large populations and of Ichthyologists. significantly impact their environments, will increase our understanding not only of aquatic What is the ultimate vision for this biodiversity but also of ecosystem functions. inventory, and what barriers must it first overcome? Could you outline some of the pressures facing freshwater ecosystems around The long-term benefit of an improved the world? understanding of biodiversity is an increased appreciation of the benefits to humans and the There are numerous pressures related to need to protect and better manage ecosystems. human use of natural resources and these Major obstacles include the size of the task, What are the primary objectives of the are increasing dramatically in line with rising including conducting fieldwork in areas that All Cypriniformes Species Inventory? human populations. Pressures that exhibit the are often difficult to reach and explore, and the most detrimental impacts are the destruction need to visit museums to compare new with During the four years of funding from of river floodplains and other wetlands, already described species. The latter requires the US National Science Foundation the building of dams, water withdrawal for foreign travel or large shipments of specimens. (NSF), we hope to greatly increase our crop irrigation, and pollution – primarily Combined with the added issue of obtaining knowledge of Cypriniformes, the largest from agriculture and municipalities. Newly permission to collect and work in foreign group of freshwater fishes – especially their established exotic species pose a serious countries, the result is one that is very time taxonomy and distributions – and develop threat in some areas as they compete with consuming and labour intensive. collaborations with scientists and students native species, carry diseases and alter the in various countries who will further studies conditions under which native species live. Do you have plans to expand the project on fishes and aquatic ecosystems. across other geographic regions? This year saw the official launch of the The Inventory is a means of continuing and Asian Society of Ichthyologists. What was Although my colleague, Dr Richard Mayden at capitalising on the success of the All Catfish the impetus behind its creation? Saint Louis University, and I are concentrating Species Inventory, an earlier NSF-funded on Southeast Asia, the Cypriniformes project Planetary Biodiversity Inventory (PBI). Southeast Asia is rapidly developing the is also active in Africa. Dr Jonathan Armbruster Almost 1,000 new species were discovered kind of infrastructure needed for sustained at Auburn University is leading the effort and over 500 were formally described scientific studies of biodiversity. Although there. Cypriniformes also occur throughout during the catfish project, increasing the the immediate goals of the Cypriniformes North America, Europe and temperate regions known number by approximately 15 per project are to increase our knowledge of of Asia, but the species-level diversity is cent. This huge knowledge increase in freshwater fishes and aquatic ecosystems in much better known in those areas. We are a short period of time was due to NSF Southeast Asia and elsewhere, we also hope concentrating on the tropical areas of Asia and support, and we hope to repeat it with the to enhance the ability of local scientists to Africa where many river basins remain poorly Cypriniformes project. describe and study the diversity, distribution sampled and diversity is not fully understood.

WWW.RESEARCHMEDIA.EU 39 DR LARRY PAGE

A biodiversity inventory of freshwater fishes

The second phase of a Planetary Biodiversity Inventory, coordinated by the Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida, is accelerating the rate of discovery and description through field work in the tropics, digitisation of data, and development of international collaborations

OCCUPYING FRESHWATER HABITATS including those based on landmark-based Phase two aims for similar success. On 13-16 across a range spanning four continents, morphometric analysis and traditional January 2012, scientists and students with Cypriniformes have been around since the morphometrics so new species can be an interest in Cypriniformes descended on Triassic, about 220 million years ago. discovered and described more efficiently. Chiang Mai, Thailand, for a conference funded Bringing together scientists from several by the project. The location provided an ideal Cypriniformes are important economically as a research centres, the project also widens environment within which to discuss research food source (carp), aesthetically for ornamental participation, allowing increased capacity and form partnerships, as Southeast Asia is purposes (koi, goldfish), and environmentally for systematic research and makes all results home to the largest diversity of Cypriniformes. as the most abundant species of fishes in most available in print and online. Many of the papers produced from phase two freshwater ecosystems. Additionally, their were presented at the conference and Zootaxa use is important to the sciences – Zebrafish The project, which represents phase two published a special issue on the event. Two (Danio rerio) is a model species used in many of the Inventory of the Otophysi, conducts more conferences have been held, one in Brunei biological experiments. As such, boosting fieldwork in poorly known regions of the in 2013, and one in Malaysia in 2014 where the knowledge surrounding this order of fishes will planet to obtain specimens for systematic Asian Society of Ichthyologists was launched. prove highly valuable. revisions of selected taxa, and tests hypotheses of phylogenetic relationships. TAPPING INTO LOCAL KNOWLEDGE The digitisation of data and increase in Combining data on mollusc and international collaborative research efforts decapod crustacean species found in Formation of the Asian Society of Ichthyologists has rapidly enhanced the ability of scientists Cypriniformes’ habitats, it will also build a is particularly noteworthy because the and museums to collect and store specimens more complete picture of the ecosystem majority of papers on aquatic biodiversity of any kind. As a result, projects like the structure and function. across Southeast Asia have been published Inventory of the Otophysi (a Planetary by European and American researchers, Biodiversity Inventory) have emerged to So far, around 11,800 specimens and tissues with specimens deposited in their national capitalise on the new technologies and of 1,200 species of fishes have been added collections. With this new infrastructure, intellectual capacity available. to permanent collections in the US at the plus access to digital imaging resources University of Florida (UF), where Principal made possible through All Cypriniformes, Investigator Dr Larry Page is based, Auburn, local researchers can effectively enhance TOWARDS A COMPLETE INVENTORY Saint Louis and Cornell Universities, as well their knowledgebase. Page is keen to note Borne out of the success of the Cypriniformes as the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel that before digital access to publications and Tree of Life (CToL) and All Catfish Species University and institutions in Asia and Europe. specimen data, scientists were restricted in Inventory, the All Cypriniformes Species their ability to carry out studies on biodiversity: Inventory (ACSII) is a natural stepping-stone “It has stymied opportunities for research and CONTINUED SUCCESS towards better understanding patterns of education on freshwater biological diversity evolution and biodiversity in the largest The first phase of the project, All Catfish Species and crippled efforts to understand and manage monophyletic order of craniates. It facilitates Inventory, was completed in 2009. Its task was freshwater ecosystems”. fieldwork and access to digitised data, and large but the results were impressive: over standardises metrics for data acquisition 1,000 new catfish species were discovered and Interestingly, a 2012 study led by Dr >500 formally described in scientific literature, Chavalit Vidthayanon, Fishery Biologist at 285 papers were published and thousands of Thailand’s Inland Fisheries Research and new collections of specimens were deposited in Development Bureau, estimated that up to institutions and made accessible to scientists. half of the known fish species in Thailand and In addition, three postdoctoral fellows and 10 neighbouring countries are taxonomically graduate students were trained at participating undescribed. A majority of the names used for institutions, and support was provided for freshwater fishes are based on descriptions of almost 60 foreign researchers and students in Indonesian and Indian species, despite distinct developing countries. morphological differences. This disparity was a key motivation for these studies and has Accomplishments from the preliminary study prompted international efforts to close the have since inspired ambitious ichthyologists gap in biodiversity knowledge in the region for in other countries to seek similar funding for improved resource management. their own inventories of fishes. Notably, in 2011 Zoology Professor Naércio A Menezes, STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, secured The All Cypriniformes Species Inventory works funding from the Foundation for Research to foster collaborations between scientific, Support of the State of São Paulo (FAPESP) to educational and governmental institutions coordinate an inventory of Characiformes in within Southeast Asia so knowledge can be South America. shared. In doing so, it will help to guarantee

40 INTERNATIONAL INNOVATION As of 5 February 2014, there were Hundreds of species of Cypriniformes INTELLIGENCE described species of Cypriniformes 4,155 have been described in the past 10 years, and it is estimated that at least listed in the Catalog of Fishes, up from ALL CYPRINIFORMES SPECIES in 2011 when All Cypriniformes began. 3,862 1,000 species OBJECTIVES await formal description. • To accelerate the rate of discovery and This equates to about description of cypriniform fishes • To improve the understanding of their 1 in 3 species of all freshwater fishes, evolutionary and ecological relationships 1 in 8 species • To make information on cypriniforms of all fishes and readily available via websites 1 in 17 species of vertebrates. • To build capacity for research in other countries through student training and long-term collaborations • To make available large numbers of specimens and tissues of freshwater fishes in collections of US and foreign institutions PARTNERS Auburn University, USA Saint Louis University, USA Cornell University, USA at-risk species are given the protection minnows and allies) act as keystone species they need using science-based evidence. their sensitivity to environmental change Academy of Natural Sciences, At present, the project is connecting makes them useful indicators of change in Drexel University, USA the University of Florida with Thailand’s freshwater ecosystems as a whole. FUNDING National Inland Fisheries Institute (NIFI), Maejo University and Chiang Mai University Last year a special exhibition was opened at the National Science Foundation – award no. through a memorandum of understanding. Florida Museum of Natural History to display DEB 1022720 The Thai Government has provided additional specimens, images and videos of the species funding to allow this reach to expand to collected through All Cypriniformes, and CONTACT other institutions, and the scientists are also emphasise global diversity and the importance Dr Larry Page discussing plans for continental partnerships of the order. With NSF funding, the project has Curator of Fishes and iDigBio Project with Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia. also supported travel for many researchers in Director Southeast Asia to sample Cypriniformes in their own countries and travel for UF graduate EDUCATION AND OUTREACH Florida Museum of Natural History students to collect specimens in Indonesia, Museum Road and Newell Drive Training students to access and use the Thailand and Laos. Gainesville online databases, including those at iDigBio Florida (idigbio.org) and the Global Biodiversity The project hosted its third conference 32611-7800 Information Facility (GBIF), has enabled in February 2014 and continues to grow USA them to connect with their rich biological from strength to strength. With sustained diversity and fellow researchers and delivered momentum, Page is positive that the project T +1 352 273 1952 additional benefits in raising awareness will leave a lasting legacy, not only for the E [email protected] of environmental concerns. If repositories scientific community, but to those who govern, are available, it is easier to understand protect and appreciate it: “Capacity building LARRY PAGE is Affiliate Professor in phylogenetic relationships (how and why leads to improved research, education and the Department of Biology and School species evolve) and what, in some cases, knowledge, and to a greater understanding of Natural Resources and Environment, might be the cause of their demise. Crucially, of environmental issues”. He concludes: University of Florida, and Principal Scientist pollution, dams and water withdrawal for “Increasing knowledge of this diverse group Emeritus, Illinois Natural History Survey. He agriculture in Southeast Asia pose a real of fishes will increase our understanding received his BSc Biology from Illinois State threat to the stability of aquatic ecosystems. not only of aquatic biodiversity, but also of University in 1966, and MSc and PhD in Because many Cypriniformes (carps, ecosystem functions.” Zoology, both from the University of Illinois, in 1968 and 1972, respectively.

PLANETARY BIODIVERSITY INVENTORY PBI’s aim is to create large, online repositories of information on the world’s biodiversity and develop a comprehensive framework to connect researchers, institutions and countries on all corners of the globe. The overall goal is to improve access to taxonomic data in order to enhance knowledge of species-level diversity and safeguard at-risk species through improved governmental policies and collaborations with The Nature Conservancy, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and other organisations.