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Saturday, June 14th, 1:00 PM (noon Social/Setup)
Dr. Leandro Sousa: “How Do Our Plecos Live in Nature?”
SPU, Otto Miller Hall Room 109
Dr. Leandro Sousa from Altamira, Brazil, is an Ichthyologist and Professor of Biology at the Universidade Federal do Pará, right in front of the Xingu rapids, where he is doing extensive field trips with local fishers to try to understand the amazing Loricariid biodiversity there. Dr. Sousa uses SCUBA diving techniques to register the fishes, characterize the rocks they live in, as well as how fishers catch them. Since 2014, he has coordinated a Conservational Breeding Project of Xingu Endemic Species at the University. In 2019, the iconic Zebra Pleco was front and center in aquarium news as nations meet in Panama for the 19th Conference of Parties as part of CITES. Part of this effort created the IctioXingu Project to raise public awareness on social media about native ornamental fish and conservation. Facing up to an 80% reduction in flow as the result of the Belo Monte dam, the Volta Grande reach of the Xingu River and the species that live there face a highly uncertain future.
In 2023, Dr. Sousa teamed with Oliver Lucanus to release their book Xingu – Below Water, full of photographs of fish in their natural environment, that has become a must for tropical freshwater enthusiasts wanting to emulate the Xingu or similar biotopes in home aquaria.
Join us for a captivating presentation by Dr. Sousa on the mesmerizing world of plecos in their natural habitat! Discover the Amazon rainforest through Leandro's expert lens as he unveils the secrets of these armored catfish. With his deep passion and extensive fieldwork, Sousa will take you to the heart of the Amazon, where we'll witness the astonishing adaptability of plecos, from their remarkable body shapes to their ability to thrive in diverse environments.
After the main presentation, stay for the Monthly Auction (sellers, pre-register your stuff here).
There will be an informal gathering with the speaker Friday evening, the day before the main presentation. Contact us at info@gsas.org for more information, or look for announcements on our e-mail lists.