Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Wyoming
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Nonnative species pose a substantial threat to aquatic ecosystems. Brook Stickleback is small fish non-native in Wyoming where it co-occurs with native non-game fish including at least six species that are listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Despite this extensive overlap, there has been no research on potential interactions between these species so it is unclear what level of risk Brook Stickleback establishment and expansion poses to the Wyoming native nongame fish assemblage. This work is in collaboration with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. An understanding of the potential effects of Brook Stickleback on native nongame fish populations will help determine whether management actions to control Brook Stickleback would be justified.