Management of Indigenous Fish Species Impacted by Introduced Mosquitofish: An Experimental Approach

Lydeard, Charles; Belk, Mark C.

doi:10.2307/3671617

Cited by 28 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…Mosquitofish predation of eggs or juvenile fish is suspected as the primary reason behind reduced population growth rate. Mosquitofish predation on eggs/juvenile fish is in concordance with findings from previous researchers (Schoenherr 1981;Meffe 1985;Lydeard and Belk 1993).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Assessment of Potential Impacts of Exotic Species on Populations of a Threatened Species, White Sands Pupfish, Cyprinodon tularosa

Rogowski

Stockwell

2006

Biol Invasions

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The potential impact of introduced species on rare taxa is of particular concern to conservation biologists. We evaluate the impacts of western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) and virile crayfish (Orconectes virilis) on experimental populations of a threatened species, the White Sands pupfish (Cyprinodon tularosa). Forty experimental pupfish populations were exposed to one of four treatments; (a) 1 crayfish, (b) 4 crayfish, (c) 5 adult mosquitofish and (d) control. Pupfish population size and biomass was monitored over the duration of one breeding season. A repeated measure multiple analysis of covariance revealed a significant effect of treatments on response variables (population size and biomass) (P<0.0001). Mosquitofish had a significant effect on population size and biomass (P=0.0330). The effect of one crayfish was not significant (P=0. 0683). However, 4 crayfish had a significant effect (P<0.0001) on population size. We use these data, along with information on environmental tolerances of crayfish and mosquitofish, to evaluate risks for specific pupfish populations.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Assessment of Potential Impacts of Exotic Species on Populations of a Threatened Species, White Sands Pupfish, Cyprinodon tularosa

Rogowski

Stockwell

2006

Biol Invasions

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“…Crayfish and snails are all extremely abundant in JRS, so it seems likely that they are having a negative impact on native fish, particularly via indirect pathways including competition for limited algae. Mosquitofish may be impacting native fish populations indirectly due to competition for macroinvertebrates and directly due to predation on native pupfish (Meffe 1984, Lydeard andBelk 1993). However, our isotope data are insufficient to resolve whether mosquitofish are actually preying on pupfish or simply eating macroinvertebrates that are also primary consumers.…”

Section: Trophic Position Of Consumersmentioning

confidence: 98%

Eradication of Invasive Tamarix Ramosissima Along a Desert Stream Increases Native Fish Density

Kennedy

Finlay

Hobbie

2005

Ecological Applications

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Spring ecosystems of the western United States have high conservation value, particularly because of the highly endemic, and often endangered, fauna that they support. Refuges now protect these habitats from many of the human impacts that once threatened them, but invasive species often persist. Invasive saltcedar is ubiquitous along streams, rivers, and spring ecosystems of the western United States, yet the impact of saltcedar invasion on these ecosystems, or ecosystem response to its removal, have rarely been quantified. Along Jackrabbit Spring, a springbrook in Nevada that supports populations of two endangered fish (Ash Meadows pupfish and Ash Meadows speckled dace) as well as several exotic aquatic consumers, we quantified the response of aquatic consumers to large‐scale saltcedar removal and identified the mechanism underlying consumer response to the removal. Clearing saltcedar from the riparian zone increased densities of native pupfish and exotic screw snails, but decreased the density of exotic crayfish. Positive effects of saltcedar removal on pupfish and snails occurred because saltcedar heavily shades the stream, greatly reducing the availability of algae for herbivores. This was confirmed by analyses of potential organic matter sources and consumer 13C: pupfish and snails, along with native dace and exotic mosquitofish, relied heavily on algae‐derived carbon and not saltcedar‐derived carbon. By contrast, crayfish δ13C values mirrored algae δ13C during summer, but in winter indicated reliance on allochthonous saltcedar litter that dominated organic inputs in saltcedar reaches and on algae‐derived carbon where saltcedar was absent. The seasonal use of saltcedar by crayfish likely explains its negative response to saltcedar removal. Clearing saltcedar effectively restored the springbrook of Jackrabbit Spring to the conditions characteristic of native vegetation sites. Given the high conservation value of spring ecosystems and the potential conservation benefits of saltcedar removal that this research highlights, eradicating saltcedar from spring ecosystems of the western United States should clearly be a management priority.

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“…However, mosquitofish are aggressive predators that feed on a variety of aquatic organisms, including their own young and the young of other fish (Meffe 1985;Sigler and Sigler 1987;Sigler and Miller 1996;Barrier and Hicks 1994;Gamradt and Kats 1996;Goodsell and Kats 1999;Komak and Crossland 2000). Mosquitofish are also known to be competitively superior to some native fish (Lydeard and Belk 1993;Crivelli 1995).…”

Section: Historical Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Complex interactions between native and invasive fish: the simultaneous effects of multiple negative interactions

2004

Self Cite

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We suggest that the ultimate outcome of interactions between native species and invasive species (extinction or coexistence) depends on the number of simultaneous negative interactions (competition and predation), which depends on relative body sizes of the species. Multiple simultaneous interactions may constrain the ability of native species to trade fitness components (i.e., reduced growth for reduced risk of predation) causing a spiral to extinction. We found evidence for five types of interactions between the adults and juveniles of introduced western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) and the juveniles of native least chub (Iotichthys phlegethontis). We added ten large (23-28 mm) and seven small (9-13 mm) young-of-the-year (YOY) least chub to replicate enclosures with zero, low, and high densities of mosquitofish in a desert spring ecosystem. Treatments with mosquitofish reduced the average survival of least chub by one-third. No small YOY least chub survived in enclosures with high mosquitofish densities. We also performed two laboratory experiments to determine mortality to predation, aggressiveness, and habitat selection of least chub in the presence of mosquitofish. Mean mortality of least chub due to predation by large mosquitofish was 69.7% over a 3-h trial. Least chub were less aggressive, selected protected habitats (Potamogeton spp.), and were more stationary in the presence of mosquitofish where the dominance hierarchy was large mosquitofish>>large least chub approximately small mosquitofish>>small least chub. Least chub juveniles appear to be figuratively caught in a vice. Rapid growth to a size refuge could reduce the risk of predation, but the simultaneous effects of competition decreased least chub growth and prolonged the period when juveniles were vulnerable to mosquitofish predation.

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Management of Indigenous Fish Species Impacted by Introduced Mosquitofish: An Experimental Approach

Cited by 28 publications

References 9 publications

Assessment of Potential Impacts of Exotic Species on Populations of a Threatened Species, White Sands Pupfish, Cyprinodon tularosa

Assessment of Potential Impacts of Exotic Species on Populations of a Threatened Species, White Sands Pupfish, Cyprinodon tularosa

Eradication of Invasive Tamarix Ramosissima Along a Desert Stream Increases Native Fish Density

Complex interactions between native and invasive fish: the simultaneous effects of multiple negative interactions

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