Recently, genetically modified glowing fish escape breeding facilities and begin invading Brazilian waters. Sounds like an over-the-top sci-fi flick, right? Unfortunately, it's true: the rare case of a transgenic species establishing itself in surrounding ecosystems has happened and in our own country no less. Although for some this may sound harmless, many biologists see this as an enormous threat to the ecological community of one of the most diverse areas in the world.
Firstly, why do these glowing fish even exist? In a Singaporean study to detect toxins in waterways, a team of scientists was able to genetically modify fish into fluorescence. What began as an investigation to protect communities of people drinking intoxicated water ended up later being marketed as beautiful glowing fish to fill your aquariums. Now, these so-called “Glofish” form roughly 10% of the world’s aquarium fish sales. So far so good, but the problem lies in the fact that, even though their sale is illegal in Brazil, there are still several breeding farms all over the country. Unlike in Florida, for example, where a single Glofish was spotted in canals, Brazil has an exponentially growing population of them. This is due to the lack of predators in Brazil’s waters such as the largemouth bass or the eastern mosquitofish which fit the niche to hunt these glowing fish. “They are in the first stages of invasion with potential to keep going,” says Andre Magalhaes from the Federal University of Sao Joao del-Rei.
Overall, this is no huge catastrophe - even if at a glance it may seem terrible for the Brazilian ecosystem, Quenton Tuckett of the University of Florida assures, “[the glowing fish] could be considered little weeds growing up out of concrete,” and while Magalhaes appreciates the metaphor he suggests that even little weeds can grow to cause heavy damage.
Photo Source: sentinelsource.com
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