The scientist eyes: monitoring YouTube™ to quantify aquatic pet release in Brazil

Abstract

This study shows how YouTube™, a popular video website, is a powerful tool to document and improve our ability to manage freshwater pet release in Brazil. Based on a series of 24 videos chosen randomly using 19 standardized keywords posted by pet-keeping YouTubers between January 1, 2020 and March 20, 2023 (650 h of searching time), we documented the intentional release of 12 translocated and five non-native species involving 11 fish species, two freshwater stingray species, two freshwater turtle species, one freshwater crab species, and one crayfish species in multiple watersheds/ecoregions of Brazil. This is the first record of intentional introduction for 17 species in Brazilian inland waters. The main drivers behind pet release were excessive growth, “agreeableness” (i.e., compassion, pet owner's reluctance to euthanize the animal), and aggressive behavior. The videos documented the release of multiple freshwater pets in numerous freshwater ecosystems. Pet releases were predominantly into rural freshwater ecosystems rather than urban, with an introduction hotspot identified in the Southeast region. This finding is important because pet release is more common in urban than rural areas. While colonization pressure (i.e., number of translocated/non-native species that each pet owner released) was high, overall propagule pressure (i.e., number of individuals of a translocated/non-native species released into a region) was low with a total of 49 individuals released over the monitored period. Proactive management is key in reducing the incidence of pet release in Brazil, attainable through transforming pet shop owners into disseminators of correct information about species traits. Environmental authorities should create “Non-native Pet Amnesty Day” to provide the opportunity for people to surrender their non-native aquatic pets; YouTubers can engage in awareness actions on YouTube™ such as show the negative effects that aquatic pets can cause if introduced into the wild; Brazilian scientists turn into “science YouTubers” and provide arguments that can be used to disseminate reliable scientific messages about freshwater pet release.