Composición, origen y valor de conservación de la ictiofauna del río San Pedro (cuenca del río Valdivia, Chile)

Abstract

Based on three consecutive years of sampling and bibliographic revision, the composition, singularity and conservation status of the San Pedro River ichthyofauna is described. In addition, the potential origin of this Valdivia River ichthyofauna was analyzed and this basin is proposed to have worked like a sink, mainly the higher zone, having been colonized both from Coastal-Pacific as from Eastern Andes sources. It is concluded that this river has a particular conservation value due to its high species richness, endemism and biogeographic characteristics.