The release of a single female guppy into the wild can generate entire new populations, even with no males present, according to new research.
Research by biologists at the University of St Andrews (Dr Amy Deacon and Professor Anne Magurran) and The UWI (Professor Indar Ramnarine) on this popular ornamental species, reveals how its ability to keep on reproducing has earned the guppy its reputation as one of the world’s most invasive fish.
The study, published recently in the journal PLoS ONE, reports that the apparently harmless release of guppies into the wild has led to the fish being found in every continent with the exception of Antarctica.
The guppy, whose native home is Trinidad and the north-eastern fringe of South America, is now present in over 70 countries worldwide. Since a single female guppy can establish a viable new population, the research demonstrates that even well-intentioned releases of unwanted pets can contribute to the loss of biological diversity.
St Andrews lead researcher Dr Amy Deacon commented, “Our findings show that the range of the guppy has expanded dramatically since the early 1900s.” ... more>>
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