CONICET La Plata study maps fish diversity in Río de la Plata

Scientists from CONICET La Plata and the University of La Plata conducted the most extensive fish monitoring ever carried out in the Río de la Plata. Over a year they sampled six sites along a 35‑kilometre coastal stretch from Boca Cerrada to Playa Bagliardi, using nets at depths of 1.5 m and 3 m and repeating collections in each season. The effort recorded 17,952 specimens representing 49 fish species, providing a detailed baseline of the river’s freshwater community.

The researchers say the data will serve as a “thermometer” for the ecosystem, helping to predict how climate change, pollution and human activity may alter species distributions. Lead investigator Tomás Maiztegui emphasized that understanding spatial and temporal variations in fish assemblages is essential for anticipating future environmental scenarios.