2014-07-292011-02-252008-02-27LIMA JUNIOR, Dilermando Pereira. Transforming stumbling blocks into dancing steps: the use of exotic species in biogeographic studies. 2008. 68 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Ciências Biológicas - Biologia) - Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, 2008.http://repositorio.bc.ufg.br/tede/handle/tde/2548The establishment of exotic species is known for the negative impacts it causes. However, it can be used as models to study the ecological and evolutionary causes of biogeography patterns and access whether the niche conservatism is the determinant of the species limits distribution. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the difference between pools of exotic fish species in biogeographical regions of the world based on the theories of Niche Conservatism and Evolutionary Dynamics of Latitudinal Gradients of Diversity. We found a strong tendency of the niche conservatism with exotic fishes, but no phylogentic structures of the invaders fishes were found. Therefore, predictive models that purpose to evaluate the potential invasion of fishes has to, include extrinsic factors as climatic conditions, propagule pressure, environmental disturbance, human use and intrinsic factors as parental care and body size of the species.application/pdfAcesso AbertoEspécies exóticasPeixes exóticosConservação de nichoExotic speciesInvasive speciesExotic fishNiche conservatismCNPQ::CIENCIAS BIOLOGICAS::ECOLOGIA::ECOLOGIA TEORICADissertação