Results of an Eradication Program on the Ecological Relationships of Fishes in Leon Creek, Texas

Trophic ecology of a nonnative population of suckermouth catfish (Hypostomus plecostomus) in a central Texas spring-fed stream

“…Because lower trophic level and detritivorous fishes typically are successful invaders (Peterson et al 2006;Gido and Frannsen 2007;Gergs et al 2008), invading fishes in general and suckermouth catfishes specifically are expected to compete with, and perhaps ultimately displace, native herbivorous fishes within central Texas drainages (Hubbs et al 1978;Lopez-Fernandez and Winemiller 2005). Indeed, preliminary analysis of endemic Guadalupe roundnose minnow Dionda nigrotaeniata and central stoneroller Campostoma anomalum in central Texas rivers suggests moderate to high dietary similarities with Hypostomus plecostomus (Cohen 2008).…”

Battle against extinction: native fish management in the American West

“…In 1974 a non-native pupfish (sheepshead minnow, C. variegatus) was illegally introduced into Leon Creek, the only remaining natural habitat of the Leon Springs pupfish, and it began to hybridize with the native species (c. Hubbs et al 1978;. Rapid and drastic action was initiated, and rotenone was applied to the entire 8 km of permanent water in Leon Creek on 13 February 1976 in an attempt to remove all pupfish that possessed C. variegatus characteristics (c. Hubbs et al 1978).…”

“…Rapid and drastic action was initiated, and rotenone was applied to the entire 8 km of permanent water in Leon Creek on 13 February 1976 in an attempt to remove all pupfish that possessed C. variegatus characteristics (c. Hubbs et al 1978). Pupfish that appeared to be pure C. bovinus, as well as endangered Pecos gambusia and other fishes and invertebrate species native to the creek, were held for reintroduction in nearby temporary refuges until the stream detoxified.…”

“…Efforts involved in eradicating the C. variegatus genome from Leon Creek were described by C. Hubbs et al (1978) and . Hybrids were present in the entire lower reach in January 1976, and it was treated with rotenone in February.…”

Aggressive interactions between the invasive Rio Grande cichlid (Herichthys cyanoguttatus) and native bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), with notes on redspotted sunfish (Lepomis miniatus)

“…This species is native to the southern drainages of the Rio Grande River with its type locality being Brownsville, Texas (Baird and Girard 1854). Populations in the United States were once restricted to the southern half of the Rio Grande River basin, but now H. cyanoguttatus occurs in many parts of Texas, including the Guadalupe River basin, the San Antonio area, and the Edwards Plateau region (Brown 1953;Hubbs et al 1978;Fuller et al 1999). Outside Texas, the only established populations in the United States are in Florida and Louisiana (Fuller et al 1999).…”