Pet or Threat?
Release goldfish or destroy biodiversity
Science and Technology Daily, Beijing, May 26 (intern reporter Zhang Jiaxin) If you are considering releasing goldfish in a fish tank, please think twice before throwing them into the river.
These creatures may appear beautiful and innocent, but are actually a "fascinating danger".
Attempts to release goldfish could actually have disastrous consequences for local biodiversity, according to research published today in the journal New Biology.
Invasive species are one of the main reasons for the decline of global biodiversity, and the pet trade accounts for 30% of aquatic invasive species.
To better understand the ecological risks posed by different species in the pet trade, the researchers focused on the two most common fish species in Northern Ireland: goldfish and white cloud minnow.
Using a new approach based on availability, feeding rates and behavioral patterns, the study assessed the ecological impacts and risks posed by the two species.
It was found that goldfish were more "gluttonous" and had a greater appetite than Baiyun Mountain minnow or native species.
Goldfish are also more "brave" and more willing to compete with other species when it comes to behavioral patterns.
Research has also shown that goldfish can wreak havoc on native wildlife populations in UK ponds, rivers and streams.
The researchers explain that although the Nordic climate is often a barrier to survival in the wild for non-native species, goldfish are able to tolerate it, devouring resources that other species depend on for their survival, or posing a real threat to native biodiversity in rivers, lakes, and lakes. .
Goldfish prey on tadpoles and other small fish when they are released into UK waterways, damaging natural ecosystems.
In the United States, goldfish have grown to over 30 cm in length in some waterways due to their adaptability.
Many pet owners believe their release of goldfish into the wild is humane, but researchers warn it could be destructive.