Removal control of the highly invasive fish Gambusia holbrooki and effects on its population biology: learning by doing

2013 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Ruiz-Navarro ◽  
D. Verdiell-Cubedo ◽  
M. Torralva ◽  
F. J. Oliva-Paterna
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Reproductive Investment ◽  
Learning By Doing ◽  
Biological Traits ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Gambusia Holbrooki ◽  
Invasive Fish ◽  
Age Class ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Ecological Features

Context For the success of future conservation and management programs, it is necessary to better understand the resilience mechanisms of invasive species and their invasive potential. In this sense, the study of the effects that management actions have on their biological traits is essential. Aims The present study aimed to assess the effects of removal control on the abundance and biology of an isolated population of the top invasive fish Gambusia holbrooki (eastern mosquitofish). Methods Experimental removal control with traps and handnets was carried out on a population of mosquitofish inhabiting a small semiarid stream in south-eastern Spain. Mosquitofish were periodically captured for more than 3 years. Temporal variations in abundance, fish somatic condition and reproductive investment, percentage of mature females, size at maturity and population recruitment were analysed. Key results Individuals of the 1+ age class increased their reproductive investment when population abundance was lower, thus increasing recruitment rate during the first months of the recruitment period. Individuals of the 0+ age class were responsible for expanding the reproductive period in conditions of low fish abundance. Conclusions The mosquitofish population showed variations of reproductive parameters that could indicate a compensatory density-dependent phenotypic response under diminished abundance conditions. However, its removal by the constant use of a combination of active and passive capture methods, reinforced by increased extraction effort according to its local biology, has led to an eradication of the population. The target mosquitofish population showed distinct ecological features that may have contributed to the effectiveness of local control, namely, low initial fish density, isolation in a headwater stretch and the prevalence of individuals in sunlit shallow ponds. Implications The compensatory mechanisms of this invasive species in low-density conditions should be considered in the design of management programs. Moreover, further research into removal control methods for mosquitofish or similar species is also needed.

Life History Perspectives on Voltinism

2018 ◽  
pp. 125-150
Author(s):  
Carlos San Vicente
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Invasive Species ◽  
Life History ◽  
Population Ecology ◽  
Generation Time ◽  
Reproductive Investment ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Biological Traits ◽  
Size At Maturity ◽  
Life Pattern

Patterns of voltinism are well documented in many crustaceans and other invetebrates, and these studies provide diverse insights into species biology, population ecology, and drivers of the evolution of voltinism. This chapter examines voltinism across crustacean taxa, with a focus on mysids as an informative model taxon that exhibits a broad range of life pattern diversity. Voltinism, which describes the number of generations per year for population or species, can be measured as generation time and is shaped by multiple environmental factors, including temperature, latitude, salinity, and depth. Generation time also varies with important biological traits, such as body size, life span, and maturation size and age. I discuss the relationships between voltinism and life history strategies, and the influence of voltinism on adaptative plasticity of species and their populations. Many factors shape evolution of voltinism, including fitness components such as survival, reproduction, and dispersal, as well as tradeoffs among age and size at maturity, reproductive investment, and lifespan. I highlight the importance of voltinism for population modeling in crustaceans, and for understanding regional differences in voltinism. Studies comparing and contrasting voltinism will be critical to better understand how climate change, strong habitat modifications, pollution, and invasive species will impact crustacean populations and their dependent communities.

Two new species in the Ficinia indica complex (Cyperaceae, tribe Cypereae) from South Africa

Phytotaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 295 (1) ◽  
pp. 49
Author(s):  
ALUWANI A. TSHIILA ◽  
SAMSON B.M. CHIMPHANGO ◽  
JAN-ADRIAAN VILJOEN ◽  
A. MUTHAMA MUASYA
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Region Growing ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Cape Floristic Region ◽  
Morphological Data ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Ecological Features ◽  
Dichotomous Key ◽  
As Species ◽  
Two New Species

Unclear boundaries between species hinder identification in the field and in herbaria, especially in species groups that can only be distinguished on the basis of subtle morphological and ecological features. One such taxon is Ficinia indica, widespread in the Greater Cape Floristic Region, growing on deep sandy soils between sea level and 1000 m elevation. Within its range, several phylogenetically related and morphologically similar species co-occur or occupy distinct habitats. Studies in herbaria show species in the Ficinia indica complex to be largely misidentified based on the use of qualitative information. Here, we investigate whether the six taxa recognized, based on one or a few characters, are supported as distinct species based on multivariate analysis of macro-morphological data. Two of the taxa were mostly separated whereas the other four taxa overlapped in multivariate space, but all the taxa could be distinguished using a single or a combination of morphological and ecological characters. We uphold the four previously recognized taxa (Ficinia argyropus, F. elatior, F. indica, F. laevis) as species, describe two new species (F. arnoldii and F. montana), and provide a dichotomous key for their identification.

scholarly journals ASSESSMENT OF A 5-YEAR-OLD REHABILITATED RIPARIAN FOREST: IS IT ALREADY SUSTAINABLE?

2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 603-610
Author(s):  
Vinícius Londe ◽  
Hildeberto Caldas de Sousa ◽  
Alessandra Rodrigues Kozovits
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Invasive Plants ◽  
Riparian Forest ◽  
Canopy Openness ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Minas Gerais State ◽  
Hemispherical Photographs ◽  
Exotic Invasive ◽  
Exotic Invasive Plants ◽  
Over Time

ABSTRACTAs important as the establishment of projects of ecological restoration is its assessment post-implementation to know whether the area is becoming self-sustainable or need to be redirected. In this way, this study aimed to know the current situation of a 5-year-old rehabilitated riparian forest,inserted in an anthropogenic impacted region,at the das Velhas River, Minas Gerais State, studying the canopy openness and recruitment of seedlings as plant indicators. 15 plots were allocated in the forest, where hemispherical photographs were taken to analyze the canopy openness and evaluate all seedlings from 0.30 m to 1.30 m height.Canopy openness ranged from 23.7% to 38.8% between seasons and only 192 seedlings were found,from 13 species, five of them exotic and aggressive. Although canopy openness was low, it seems that lateral penetration of light has been favoring the development and dominancy of plants from invasive species, whereas few native ones have been recruited. The exotic/invasive plants may compromise the success of restoration mainly by competition with native planted species. The outcomes evidenced an unsustainability of the riparian forest and the requirement of some management actions to control exotic and invasive plants and ensure the preservation of the area and its ecological roles over time.

scholarly journals Participatory mapping of aquatic invasive species: a demonstration in a coastal lagoon

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacopo Cerri ◽  
Ernesto Azzurro
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Coastal Lagoon ◽  
Coefficient Of Variation ◽  
Procambarus Clarkii ◽  
Freshwater Ecosystems ◽  
Aquatic Invasive Species ◽  
Spatial Gradient ◽  
Participatory Mapping ◽  
Ecological Requirements ◽  
Management Actions

Aquatic Invasive species (AIS) are a growing driver of change across marine and freshwater ecosystems but spatially-explicit information is seldom available for supporting management actions and decision making. Here we conceived and tested a new participatory method to map the distribution of three invasive species (Callinectes sapidus, Procambarus clarkii and Oreochromis niloticus) in the coastal lagoon of Lesina (Italy). Local fishers were asked to draw the distribution of each species on pre-printed maps, indicating districts of the lagoon characterized by different abundance levels. Then, maps were converted to a lattice grid and a Bayesian hierarchical Generalized Additive Modeling was adopted to model species distribution in the lagoon, calculating the coefficient of variation for model fitted values to map fishers agreement about the distribution of each species.The spatial gradient in the abundance of the three species in the lagoon aligned with their ecological requirements. C. sapidus was abundant throughout the whole lagoon, peaking in correspondence of saltmarsh vegetation, while P. clarkii and O. niloticus, were much less abundant and remained distributed near to freshwater inputs. Experts agreed about the spatial distribution of C. sapidus in the lagoon, with a median coefficient of variation in model fitted values of 3.9%. On the other hand, the coefficient of variation was higher for P.clarkii (19.9%) O. niloticus (18.4%), indicating a higher level of uncertainty about their estimated distribution.With this example, we provided new metrics to evaluate the quality of LEK-based participatory mapping in terms of agreement and consistency among experts. The resulting information provides new insights for spatially informed management across aquatic realms in relation to the increasing ecological and socio-economical pressures posed by biological invaders.

scholarly journals What’s for Dinner? Assessing the Value of an Edible Invasive Species and Outreach Actions to Promote Its Consumption

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inês Cerveira ◽  
Vânia Baptista ◽  
Maria Alexandra Teodósio ◽  
Pedro Morais
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Aquatic Invasive Species ◽  
Native Range ◽  
Invasive Fish ◽  
Press Releases ◽  
Cynoscion Regalis ◽  
The Public ◽  
Native Resources ◽  
A New Species

Abstract Promoting the consumption of edible aquatic invasive species has gained popularity to minimize its impacts while easing pressure on native resources. Weakfish Cynoscion regalis (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) is one of the most recent invasive fish species in the Iberian Peninsula (Europe) which once sustained an important fishery in the native range (Northwest Atlantic Ocean). Portugal ranks third in the list of the world’s top fish consumers, so promoting a weakfish fishery could at least help minimize the impacts upon native species, since weakfish have innate traits that are likely appreciated by Portuguese fish consumers. However, introducing a new species to consumers is challenging owing to consumers’ habits and unfamiliarity with the species. So, we aimed to (i) evaluate the acceptance of weakfish by a panel of Portuguese fish consumers and (ii) create outreach actions – partnerships with local Chefs and press releases – to explain to a broader public what invasive species are and promote the consumption of edible aquatic invasive species. The survey that we conducted to Portuguese fish consumers showed that weakfish has great chances of being well accepted by the public – 90% of consumers would buy weakfish because they appreciated its appearance, flavour, and texture, besides being a wild fish. The outreach actions reached a few million people because 46 online articles were published, and three news pieces broadcasted on national television. Overall, our strategy greatly increased the public’s awareness about invasive species, which can be replicated elsewhere in the world.

Identifying the weakest link: simulating adaptive management of the reintroduction of a threatened fish

2002 ◽  
Vol 59 (11) ◽  
pp. 1709-1716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew R Bearlin ◽  
E S.G Schreiber ◽  
Simon J Nicol ◽  
A M Starfield ◽  
Charles R Todd
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive Management ◽  
Weak Link ◽  
Learning By Doing ◽  
Barriers To Learning ◽  
Management Options ◽  
Endangered Fish ◽  
Management Intervention ◽  
Management Actions ◽  
Goals And Objectives ◽  
Management Cycle

As part of an ongoing program of management for a critically endangered fish, we explored adaptive management as a method to overcome pervasive uncertainty regarding the reintroduction of trout cod (Maccullochella macquariensis Cuvier). We simulated the entire adaptive management cycle to explore the suitability of the approach for guiding threatened species management and to identify problems and barriers to "learning by doing". During the planning phase, a number of compromises were identified between specification of goals and objectives, the available management options, and current monitoring capacity. Undertaking a simulation of the implementation of alternate adaptive approaches to this reintroduction provided a number of insights into adaptive management in general. First, identifying the weak link in the process of inference emphasized the need to consider whether goals and objectives are achievable and meaningful and whether they complement monitoring and (or) any other limitations of the system. Second, in natural resource management, it is crucial to negotiate objectives in the light of what one can measure. Third, although there are lessons to be learned from each stage of the adaptive management cycle, there is value in simulating the entire adaptive management cycle, including management actions, monitoring, and the states of the system that lead to management intervention.

scholarly journals Inferring invasive species abundance using removal data from management actions

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 2339-2346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy J. Davis ◽  
Mevin B. Hooten ◽  
Ryan S. Miller ◽  
Matthew L. Farnsworth ◽  
Jesse Lewis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Management Actions

Twenty-five new polymorphic microsatellites for the eastern mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki (Actinopterygii : Poeciliidae), an invasive species in Australia

2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate D. L. Umbers ◽  
Michael D. Jennions ◽  
J. Scott Keogh
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Paternity Analysis ◽  
Gambusia Holbrooki ◽  
Target Species ◽  
Single Population ◽  
Invasive Range ◽  
Polymorphic Microsatellites ◽  
Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium ◽  
Polymorphic Microsatellite ◽  
Eastern Mosquitofish

We isolated 25 new polymorphic microsatellite markers from the eastern mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki. Initially, 454 shotgun sequencing was used to identify 1187 loci for which primers could be designed. Of these 1187, we trialled 48 in the target species, 40 of which amplified a product of expected size. Subsequently, those 40 loci were screened for variation in 48 individuals from a single population in Canberra, Australia. Twenty loci were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and polymorphic, with observed heterozygosity ranging from 0.04 to 0.72 (mean: 0.45 ± 0.18) and the number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 5 (mean: 3.20 ± 1.05). These loci will be useful in understanding genetic variation, paternity analysis and in managing this species across both its native and invasive range.

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