[Cyprinodontiformes] Projecto Internacional de Goodeiídeos ( 01 )

[www.viviparos.com]

Prezados amigos,

Nos próximos tempos vou passar a dedicar algumas mensagens a divulgar-vos os
desenvolvimentos ( do que for chegando ao meu conhecimento ) sobre uma
iniciativa internacional, a meu ver muito interessante, que procura
organizar uma cooperação singular entre aquariofilistas e diversas
entidades.
Neste momento trata-se de uma ideia apenas, com resultados imprevisíveis,
mas que, a concretizar-se, seria algo de inimaginável e revolucionário.
Como devem ter a noção, são cada vez menos os aficionados que se dedicam a
manter, de uma forma consistente e sustentável, algumas das cerca de 48
espécies pertencentes à família Goodeidae, a qual inclui espécies
verdadeiramente vivíparas e espécies ovulíperas, sendo quase todas elas
originalidades biológicas muito interessantes.
Ao contrário dos Poecilídeos, os representantes vivíparos desta família não
possuem um órgão complexo de fertilização. O Andropódio ( Andropodium ) é na
realidade uma barbatana anal menos modificada do que o Gonopódio (
Gonopodium ) e não forma um complexo canal.
Ainda assim a relação entre as progenitoras e os embriões durante a gestação
é consideravelmente mais complexa do que entre as fêmeas dos ovovivíparos e
os seus ovos em desenvolvimento. No decurso da evolução dos Goodeiídeos,
foram mesmo surgindo formas de viviparidade mais ou menos complexas.
Sendo o número de espécies em perigo ( ou mesmo já extintas na natureza )
preocupante, tem vindo a ter lugar uma cada vez maior consciencialização do
público para a urgência de uma manutenção sustentável em cativeiro destes
peixes.
Foram mesmo já implementados esforços de conservação " ex situ " ( fora do
habitat natural ), sendo um exemplo modelar e edificativo desse movimento o
projecto " Fish Ark México " ( http://home.clara.net/brachydibble/ ), na
Universidade de Morelia, México.
O mentor deste projecto, o colega Ivan H. Dibble, é um dos participantes no
debate que está a ter lugar sobre a viabilidade deste projecto.
Mas para não alongar mais esta mensagem introdutória, vou passar a
transcrever o conteúdo dos primeiros documentos enviados por Michael Koeck,
curador dos peixes de água doce, pássaros e mamíferos do Zoológico de Viena
de Áustria ( " Haus des Meers – Aqua Terra Zoo Wien " -
http://www.haus-des-meeres.at/ ). 
Ambos os textos que se seguem foram na altura dados a conhecer a alguns de
vós, pois eram os colegas que mantinham Goodeiídeos, isto é, apenas no
âmbito dos meus contactos.
Antes de terminar, apenas uma alusão a uma das regras de funcionamento desta
lista de discussão; toda a troca de correspondência que será divulgada sobre
este assunto é feita em Inglês, em particular pelo facto do grupo incluir
destinatários de muitas e diferentes nacionalidades.
Se alguém interessado no tema tiver dificuldades em entender as informações
publicadas por não dominar essa língua estrangeira, por favor solicite um
resumo traduzido. De acordo com as disponibilidades será feito um esforço
nesse sentido.
Aqui fica então a reprodução do primeiro contacto no qual o meu endereço foi
incluído, para minha grande surpresa, ( mas que me deixou muito honrado por
essa cortesia ) :

De: Michael Koeck [mailto:michael.koeck  haus-des-meeres.at] 
Enviada: domingo, 10 de Agosto de 2008 15:00
Assunto: Goodeids

Dear Goodeid friends,

Please don't be angry about me bothering you with a long text in the
attachment. I have only tried to write down something, that occupies me for
a couple of time now. 
I have sent this ideas to some of my friends in Germany and Hungary before,
and their answers have been all very positive. Now a friend of mine had made
an English version (I didn't want to blame myself with my Austrian-English),
I send to you now.
Whoever has a little time left, I would please to reply with a short
statement. The most of you are too busy, I know, so it would be enough to
answer with “super” or “shit”, that's enough.
After your replies, I will make a short summary to inform you all, and then
we will see further. That would have been that! 
Thank you all a lot for the time, you will offer. I know, for the most of
you, the day should have more than 24 hours. I appreciate this!

Greetings, Michael
  

O texto anexado na mensagem dizia o seguinte :

Dear Goodeid Friends!

I would herewith like to present you with a new idea and would kindly ask
for your opinion on the subject. 
I presume that you are familiar with the alarming situation that Goodeids
are in:
Many species are more or less facing extinction. The Lobby behind these fish
is very small and in the world of the aquarist they play a minute role.
One would think that the few people that deal with these fish would have
good relations to one another. The norm would at least imply so. However
after recent events I have found the opposite to be the case, this was quite
a shock to me indeed!

Event 1:
A good friend from Germany breeds large numbers of Allotoca dugesii and
toyed with the idea, due to lack of demand, to donate them to a zoo as
forage fish! To calm you, this was not the case, and most probably not meant
seriously (but  shows the desperate measures one might be inclined to take.)

Event 2:
The same friends concierge breeds (in the community tank) the most wonderful
Characodon audax that I have ever seen. Does anyone know who he is?
Unfortunately not many!

Event 3:
A then unknown now also good friend contacted me regarding Skiffia
francesae. He is not a member of any breeding club and doesn’t appear on any
lists but breeds several forms of Characidon and a few other Goodeids
successfully.

Event 4:
Another friend from Hungary asked me if I knew anyone who coincidently bred
Ataeniobius toweri. I was somewhat perplexed as at this point in time I had
roughly 200 individuals from 2 habitats myself and was of course glad to
help out. The surprise for us both was that he didn’t know of my fish
although we meet several times a year. 

The list of stories could go on forever. Many of us breed rare and wanted
species and offer them in newspapers, although mostly only regional ones.
How, for example, should a enthusiast from Italy know that a person in
Norway breeds, for example, Girardinchtys vivparus and doesn’t know what to
doe with them anymore? The breeder in Norway however also doesn’t know that
someone in Italy has been looking for these fish for years, just not in the
right place.
 

The Idea: 

What I was thinking about would be a group of private keepers, zoos,
societies and other organisation’s who all have the interest of the Goodeids
at heart. It should not be important that someone breeds 12 variations of
Zoogoneticus quitzeonsis or occasionally Characodon lateralis but rather the
seriousness and effort that one puts into the wellbeing of the animals. 
This idea of a “core-group” does not represent the idea of a society but
should make available to all its members a stock & member list (a who has
what and how many list if you like). This list would offer species and stock
surplus that one may be looking for. A list that crosses borders, a
collection of determined members that are prepared to look further than the
boundaries of a simple society. 
I don’t want to create a Goodeid discussion forum that deals with the
problems of Goodeid keeping. This can already be found under
www.goodeids.com. 
I imagine more of a Genus coordination, which deals with stock lists and
requests concerning supply and demand of individual species. 
If interested also a Literature coordinator who, on request, can supply
information on Keeping protocols, published articles, general questions etc.
A Logistics coordinator would be of great importance, which would deal with
transport possibilities. How can we transport fish as quickly and safely as
possible from point A to B?
The coordinators should be self-recruits and through distribution over Genus
or even species the individual’s time donated is kept at a minimum. The
whole group should function self sufficiently and locally, based on
voluntary efforts without any financial contributions. The only obligation
is the absolute support of existing as well as new members with information.
I hope to figure out how all this could work through discussion in the
following weeks. Herewith I ask for your suggestions.
The following points should also be discussed: 

1) Does the group also want to sponsor projects financially?
2) What happens to the fish in case of death or abandoning of the hobby?
3) How do we deal with the order of several people waiting for offspring of
a particular species?
4) How many individual animals should be in a offspring “package” and how
large should rest populations be so that no problems occur?
5) To what extent should these animals be available to scientific research
groups in order to gain new knowledge about them?

Summary of Goals:
A voluntary group of Goodeid interested people with the goal of keeping
species and populations in care indefinitely and to gain knowledge of these
fish. Out of a worldwide network of private people, zoos, institutes and
societies a large pool is created from which animals can be acquired as well
as given off. The “disappearing” of populations and species due to lack of
interest is a local phenomenon and should be stopped through globalisation.
By splitting the coordination amongst Genus or Species time spent by an
individual is kept at a minimum. For the future a literature pool should be
brought into existence, for the near future the possibility to transport
animals cheaply, safely and fast should be a top priority. 
These goals are base-line minimum ideas. Should any members be of the
opinion that these goals need to be expanded then this can of course be
discussed with the community and amended. 

Several months ago I lost my last Allotoca dugesii from Irapuato. I received
these in the 80’s from Radda and Meyer and presume that I can’t get hold of
any more. In the last stock list of the DGLZ no Colonia Guadelupe variation
of Skiffia(or Neotoca) bilineata appeared. Do these still exist? Is this
form still found in Mexico?
Goodeid keepers conduct animal protection and species conservation on the
front lines, in the midst of species extinction, there where desperation and
hope conjugate a purpose to life is found!
Please let the idea go through your head. I’m waiting for you response.

Best wishes
MSc. Michael Koeck