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opencc-zeroDec 2010View details →

Data from: Winning the invasion roulette: escapes from fish farms increase admixture and facilitate establishment of non-native rainbow trout

Aquaculture is a major source of invasive aquatic species, despite the fact that cultured organisms often have low genetic diversity and tend to be maladapted to survive in the wild. Yet, to what extent aquaculture escapees become established by means of high propagule pressure and multiple origins is not clear. We analysed the genetic diversity of 15 established populations and 4 farmed stocks of non-native rainbow trout in Chile, a species first introduced for recreational fishing around 1900, but which has in recent decades escaped in large numbers from fish farms and become widespread. Aquaculture propagule pressure was a good predictor of the incidence of farm escapees, which represented 16% of all free-ranging rainbow trout and were present in 80% of the study rivers. Hybrids between farm escapes and established trout were present in all rivers at frequencies ranging between 7 and 69%, and population admixture was positively correlated with genetic diversity. We suggest that non-native salmonids introduced into the Southern Hemisphere could benefit from admixture because local adaptations may not have yet developed and there may be initially little fitness loss resulting from outbreeding depression.

opencc-zeroDec 2017View details →

Data from: A simple, cost-effective emitter for controlled release of fish pheromones: development, testing, and application to management of the invasive sea lamprey

Semiochemicals that elicit species-specific attraction or repulsion have proven useful in the management of terrestrial pests and hold considerable promise for control of nuisance aquatic species, particularly invasive fishes. Because aquatic ecosystems are typically large and open, use of a semiochemical to control a spatially dispersed invader will require the development of a cost-effective emitter that is easy to produce, environmentally benign, inexpensive, and controls the release of the semiochemical without altering its structure. We examined the release properties of five polymers, and chose polyethylene glycol (PEG) as the best alternative. In a series of laboratory and field experiments, we examined the response of the invasive sea lamprey to PEG, and to a partial sex pheromone emitted from PEG that has proven effective as a trap bait to capture migrating sea lamprey prior to spawning. Our findings confirm that the sea lamprey does not behaviorally respond to PEG, and that the attractant response to the pheromone component was conserved when emitted from PEG. Further, we deployed the pheromone-PEG emitters as trap bait during typical control operations in three Great Lakes tributaries, observing similar improvements in trap performance when compared to a previous study using mechanically pumped liquid pheromone. Finally, the polymer emitters tended to dissolve unevenly in high flow conditions. We demonstrate that housing the emitter stabilizes the dissolution rate at high water velocity. We conclude the performance characteristics of PEG emitters to achieve controlled-release of a semiochemical are sufficient to recommend its use in conservation and management activities related to native and invasive aquatic organisms.

opencc-zeroDec 2011View details →

Data from: An invasive species reverses the roles in a host-parasite relationship between bitterling fish and unionid mussels

The impact of multiple invading species can be magnified due to mutual facilitation, termed "invasional meltdown", but invasive species can also be adversely affected by their interactions with other invaders. Using a unique reciprocal host-parasite relationship between a bitterling fish, Rhodeus amarus, and unionid mussels, we show that an invasive mussel reverses the roles in the relationship. Bitterling lay their eggs into mussel gills, and mussel larvae parasitize fish. Bitterling recently colonized Europe and parasitize all sympatric European mussels, but are unable to utilize a recently invasive mussel, Anodonta woodiana. The parasitic larvae of A. woodiana successfully develop on R. amarus, while larvae of European mussels are rejected by bitterling. This demonstrates that invading species may temporarily benefit from a coevolutionary lag by exploiting evolutionarily naïve hosts, but the resulting relaxed selection may facilitate its exploitation by subsequent invading species, leading to unexpected consequences for established interspecific relationships.

opencc-zeroDec 2016View details →

Data from: Invasion of the Hawaiian Islands by a parasite infecting imperiled stream fishes

Points of origin and pathways of spread are often poorly understood for introduced parasites that drive disease emergence in imperiled native species. Co-introduction of parasites with non-native hosts is of particular concern in remote areas like the Hawaiian Islands, where the introduced nematode Camallanus cotti has become the most prevalent parasite of at-risk native stream fishes. In this study, we evaluated the prevailing hypothesis that C. cotti entered the Hawaiian Islands with poeciliid fishes from the Americas, and spread by translocation of poeciliid hosts across the archipelago for mosquito control. We also considered the alternative hypothesis of multiple independent co-introductions with host fishes originating from Asia. We inferred conduits of introduction and spread of C. cotti across the archipelago from geographic patterns of mtDNA sequence variation and allelic variation across 11 newly developed microsatellite markers. The distribution of haplotypes suggests that C. cotti spread across the archipelago following an initial introduction on O'ahu. Approximate Bayesian Computation modeling and allelic variation also indicate that O'ahu is the most likely location of introduction, from which C. cotti dispersed to Maui followed by spread to the other islands in the archipelago. Evidence of significant genetic structure across islands indicates that contemporary dispersal is limited. Our findings parallel historical records of non-native poeciliid introductions and suggest that remediating invasion hotspots could reduce the risk of infection in native stream fishes, which illustrates how inferences on parasite co-introductions can improve conservation efforts by guiding responses to emerging infectious disease in species of concern.

openNov 2023View details →

Invasive traits of freshwater fish database (ITOFF)

ITOFF unifies data on life-history traits, interactions, and taxonomies of invasive freshwater fish, those species they endanger, and species known to be impacted by invasive species but not at risk of extinction. These data provide the opportunity to improve current understanding of factors that promote invasive success or increase susceptibility to invasion in critically threatened freshwater ecosystems.

opencc-zeroOct 2023View details →

Supplementary material 1 from: Souza AT, Dias E, Antunes C, Ilarri M (2023) Disruptions caused by invasive species and climate change on the functional diversity of a fish community. NeoBiota 88: 211-244. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.88.108283

Daily air temperature and precipitation data, extracted from the NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) POWER Project website

opencc-zeroApr 2022View details →

Data from: A new composite abundance metric detects stream fish declines and community homogenization during six decades of invasions

Aim: We developed a new technique, utilizing species-specific counts of individuals from historical fish community samples, to examine landscape-level, spatiotemporal trends in relative abundance distributions. Abundance-based historical distribution analyses are often plagued by data comparability issues, but provide critical information about community composition trends inaccessible to those using analyses based only on species presence-absence. We established trends in native and non-native fish abundance and community homogenization, uniqueness, and diversity to help local conservation managers prioritize targets and motivate similar studies globally to support fish conservation. Location: Upper and middle New River (UMNR) basin, Appalachian Mountains, USA. Methods: We compiled catch data from 61 years of fish community surveys (1958-2019) and tested for community homogenization by comparing data from repeatedly sampled sites (1900s versus 2000s samples) using dispersion analyses. We measured community uniqueness (site contributions to beta diversity) and species diversity (Shannon index) at sampled streams to identify potential conservation hotspots. We then used regression analyses and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to examine species-specific basin-wide and local abundance trends and identify species of potential conservation concern. Results: Dispersion of sites in species-abundance space was significantly greater in the 1900s compared to the 2000s, indicating homogenization had occurred. Of 36 native species analyzed, 44.4% (16) showed basin-wide declines. Non-native species exhibited mixed patterns; site-level abundance increased in 2 of 15 species analyzed (13%). Main conclusions: Our results indicate basin-wide community homogenization has occurred within the UMNR, but many unique and diverse communities persist. If conserved, these could help maintain regional fish diversity. We found basin-wide declines in four endemic species, as well as spread patterns of non-native and native species that were not detected by a presence-absence analysis applied within the same study area. This finding illustrates the importance of considering both species' abundance and occurrence patterns as separate dimensions of biodiversity to inform conservation planning.

opencc-zeroOct 2022View details →

Supplementary material 1 from: Mumladze L, Kuljanishvili T, Japoshvili B, Epitashvili G, Kalous L, Vilizzi L, Piria M (2022) Risk of invasiveness of non-native fishes in the South Caucasus biodiversity and geopolitical hotspot. In: Giannetto D, Piria M, Tarkan AS, Zięba G (Eds) Recent advancements in the risk screening of freshwater and terrestrial non-native species. NeoBiota 76: 109-133. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.76.82776

Combined AS-ISK report including the 96 screenings for the 32 fish species screened for the South Caucasus

opennotspecifiedFeb 2019View details →

FIG. 1 in A New Non-Invasive Technique for Temporarily Tagging Coral Reef Fishes

FIG. 1. (A) Graphic scheme of the tagging procedure: i) Dry the scales of the fish, scraping gently with a clean cotton tip (moving the top of the cotton tip in the same direction as the fish scales); ii) Apply on the dried area a very small drop of topical tissue adhesive; iii) Place the tag on the spot of adhesive using tweezers; iv) Using a wet cotton tip, press on the tag for few seconds (ensuring that there are no bubbles of air between the tag and the fish scales); v) Finally, apply a small amount of adhesive on the right and left extremities of the tag. This procedure requires less than a minute for each tag. (B) Graphic scheme and photo examples of the six possible combinations of the tags. Positions of the tags along the fish body (horizontal— posterior in orange, middle in yellow, and anterior in purple; and vertical—dorsal in red, central in blue, and ventral in green). Illustrations by RB.

opennotspecifiedFeb 2019View details →

FIG. 2 in A New Non-Invasive Technique for Temporarily Tagging Coral Reef Fishes

FIG. 2. (A) Comparison of attachment time of tags by position (horizontal positions—posterior, middle, and anterior; vertical positions—dorsal, central, and ventral) for left (L) and right (R) side of the fish; box plots show medians, 25th, and 75th percentiles. Black dots represent outliers. (B) Mean attachment time grid by position. Each square represents one of the nine possible tag positions with the relative mean attachment time represented by different color shades (blue-dark purple for mean attachment time between 40–45 hours; light purple-yellow for mean attachment time between 45–50 hours; yellow-orange for mean attachment time between 50–55 hours; orange-red for mean attachment time between 55–60 hours).

opennotspecifiedFeb 2019View details →

FIG. 3 in A New Non-Invasive Technique for Temporarily Tagging Coral Reef Fishes

FIG. 3. Comparison of attachment time (hr) of tags by fish (Fish Identity) ordered by fish size (total length in mm). Box plots show medians, 25th, and 75th percentiles. Black dots represent outliers; gray dots represent total length of fish.

opencc-zeroDec 2017View details →

Data from: Standing genetic diversity and selection at functional gene loci are associated with differential invasion success in two non-native fish species

Invasive species are expected to experience a unique combination of high genetic drift due to demographic factors while also experiencing strong selective pressures. The paradigm that reduced genetic diversity should limit the evolutionary potential of invasive species and thus their potential for range expansion has received little empirical support, possibly due to the choice of genetic markers. Our goal was to test for effects of genetic drift and selection at functional genetic markers as they relate to the invasion success of two paired invasive goby species, one widespread (successful) and one with limited range expansion (less successful). We genotyped fish using two marker types: single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in known-function, protein-coding genes and microsatellites to contrast the effects of neutral genetic processes. We identified reduced allelic variation in the invaded range for the less-successful tubenose goby. SNPs putatively under selection were responsible for the observed differences in population structure between marker types for round goby (successful) but not tubenose goby (less successful). A higher proportion of functional loci experienced divergent selection for round goby, suggesting increased evolutionary potential in invaded ranges may be associated with round goby's greater invasion success. Genes involved in thermal tolerance were divergent for round goby populations but not tubenose goby, consistent with the hypothesis that invasion success for fish in temperate regions is influenced by capacity for thermal tolerance. Our results highlight the need to incorporate functional genetic markers in studies to better assess evolutionary potential for the improved conservation and management of species.

Figure 3 in Parasites of the Lessepsian invasive fish Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin 1789) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea

Figure 3. Mouth parts of Gnathia sp. praniza larva. (a) Tip of mandible showing teeth. (b) Paragnaths (i), maxillule with teeth (ii) and maxillipede (iii).

Figure 6 in Parasites of the Lessepsian invasive fish Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin 1789) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea

Figure 6. Hysterothylacium aduncum found in Lagocephalus sceleratus. (a) Anterior part showing large lips (i), and cuticle striation (ii). (b) Posterior end of female showing small caudal spines ('cactus-tail', arrow). (c) Posterior end of male showing two spicules (arrow).

Figure 2 in Parasites of the Lessepsian invasive fish Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin 1789) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea

Figure 2. Gnathia sp. praniza larva found in the gills of Lagocephalus sceleratus under stereomicroscope. (a) Fresh specimen. (b) Preserved specimen.

Figure 1 in Parasites of the Lessepsian invasive fish Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin 1789) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea

Figure 1. Locations of Lagocephalus sceleratus sampling. Lesvos Island (top right), northeastern Aegean Sea; Rhodes Island (bottom right), southeastern Aegean Sea.

Figure 5 in Parasites of the Lessepsian invasive fish Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin 1789) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea

Figure 5. Anisakis sp. found in Lagocephalus sceleratus. (a) Mouth part with the lips (arrowhead) and boring tooth (arrow). (b) Tail part showing anus opening (arrowhead) and a thin anomalous mucron (arrow).

Figure 4 in Parasites of the Lessepsian invasive fish Lagocephalus sceleratus (Gmelin 1789) in the eastern Mediterranean Sea

Figure 4. Mouth parts of Gnathia sp. praniza larva. (a) Maxillipede showing endite (i), hairs (ii), teeth (iii) and setae (iv). (b) Gnathopod (i) and maxillipede (ii).

opencc-zeroDec 2022View details →

Invasive predator diet plasticity has implications for native fish conservation & invasive species suppression

Diet plasticity is a common behavior exhibited by piscivores to sustain predator biomass when preferred prey biomass is reduced. Invasive piscivore diet plasticity could complicate suppression success; thus, understanding invasive predator consumption is insightful to meeting conservation targets. Here, we determine if diet plasticity exists in an invasive apex piscivore and how plasticity could influence native species recovery benchmarks and invasive species suppression goals. We compared diet and stable isotope signatures of invasive lake trout and native Yellowstone cutthroat trout (cutthroat trout) from Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming, U.S.A. as a function of no, low-, moderate-, and high-lake trout density states. Lake trout exhibited plasticity in relation to their density; consumption of cutthroat trout decreased 5-fold (diet proportion from 0.89 to 0.18) from low- to high-density state. During the high-density state, lake trout switched to amphipods, which were also consumed by cutthroat trout, resulting in high diet overlap (Schoener's index value, D = 0.68) between the species. As suppression reduced lake trout densities, more cutthroat trout (moderate-density state proportion of cutthroat trout = 0.42) were consumed, and diet overlap was released between the species (D = 0.30). A shift in lake trout δ13C signatures from the high- to the moderate-density state also corroborated increased consumption of cutthroat trout and lake trout diet plasticity. Observed declines in lake trout are not commensurate with expected cutthroat trout recovery due to lake trout diet plasticity. The abundance of the native species in need of conservation may take longer to recover due to the diet plasticity of the invasive species. The changes observed in diet, diet overlap, and isotopes associated with predator suppression provide more insight into conservation and suppression dynamics than using predator and prey biomass alone. By understanding these dynamics, we can better prepare conservation programs for potential feedbacks caused by invasive species suppression.