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. 2020 May 1;70(5):404-414.
doi: 10.1093/biosci/biaa021. Epub 2020 Apr 1.

The Influence of Forests on Freshwater Fish in the Tropics: A Systematic Review

Michaela Lo  1 , James Reed  1 , Leandro Castello  2 , E Ashley Steel  3 , Emmanuel A Frimpong  1 , Amy Ickowitz  1
Affiliations

The Influence of Forests on Freshwater Fish in the Tropics: A Systematic Review

Michaela Lo et al. Bioscience. .

Abstract

Tropical forests influence freshwater fish through multiple pathways, only some of which are well documented. We systematically reviewed the literature to assess the current state of knowledge on forests and freshwater fish in the tropics. The existing evidence is mostly concentrated in the neotropics. The majority of studies provided evidence that fish diversity was higher where there was more forest cover; this was related to the greater heterogeneity of resources in forested environments that could support a wider range of species. Studies quantifying fish abundance (or biomass) showed mixed relationships with forest cover, depending on species-specific habitat preferences. We identify the key challenges limiting our current understanding of the forest-fish nexus and provide recommendations for future research to address these knowledge gaps. A clear understanding of the functional pathways in forest-freshwater ecosystems can improve evidence-based policy development concerned with deforestation, biodiversity conservation, and food insecurity in the tropics.

Keywords: conservation management; ecosystem function; functional diversity; inland; land use.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
The number of published studies as a function of publication date and geographical region. We found no studies that met our selection criteria between 1985 and 1997; for the purpose of visuals, we include an axis break during this period.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
The number of responses that reported on the effect of forests and trees on fish diversity in stream or river systems (top) and floodplain or reservoir systems (bottom). The outcomes are divided by type of indicator, functional or taxonomic.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
The number of studies that reported on the effect of forests and trees on the abundance and biomass of fish at the species and community level in stream or river systems (top) and floodplain or reservoir systems (bottom).
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
The strength and direction of correlations between forests or trees and freshwater environments that are broadly categorized into physical structure, water quality, and food. The thickness of the arrows represents the number of studies in which the linkages between forests and the characteristics of freshwater habitats were measured. The grey circles show the direction of the correlation, which may be positive (+), negative (–), or similar ( = ).
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