Potential negative impacts and low effectiveness in the use of African annual killifish in the biocontrol of aquatic mosquito larvae in temporary water bodies

0348349 - ÚBO 2011 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Reichard, Martin - Watters, B. R. - Wildekamp, R. H. - Sonnenberg, R. - Nagy, B. - Polačik, Matej - Valdesalici, S. - Cellerino, A. - Cooper, B. J. - Hengstler, H. - Rosenstock, J. - Sainthouse, I.
Potential negative impacts and low effectiveness in the use of African annual killifish in the biocontrol of aquatic mosquito larvae in temporary water bodies.
Parasites & Vectors. Roč. 3, - (2010), s. 89. ISSN 1756-3305. E-ISSN 1756-3305
R&D Projects: GA ČR GA206/09/0815
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z60930519
Keywords : heterospecific males * sheepshead minnow * sexual selection * hybridization
Subject RIV: EG - Zoology
Impact factor: 2.130, year: 2010
http://www.parasitesandvectors.com/content/3/1/89

Commentary and discussion on a paper promoting the use of Nothobranchius guentheri, a small annual fish from the Island of Zanzibar as a tool to control mosquito larvae in temporary bodies of freshwater throughout Africa is presented. Arguments on major points; (1) expected low success of annual fish introductions, (2) low success of mosquito control in the field, (3) ecological threats, and (4) ethical issues are detailed. Despite serious problems with mosquito-borne diseases in tropical Africa and elsewhere, we encourage responsible means of biological control of parasite vectors. We show that effectiveness of Nothobranchius translocations is low (the previous attempts failed), likelihood of effective mosquito larvae control under field condition is negligible and ecological threats from Nothobranchius translocations from within and outside the naturally occurring range are serious. We advocate against the proposed next step of the project, i.e. field trials in Tanzania.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0188903