Coulter, A. A., M. J. Moore, J. Golcher-Benavides, F. J. Rahel, A. W. Walters, S. K. Brewer, M. L. Wildhaber. A synthesis of the characteristics and drivers of introduced fishes in prairie streams: can we manage introduced harmful fishes in these dynamic environments? Biological Invasions.
Abstract
Prairie streams of North America support native fishes that are adapted to the dynamic environment that characterizes these ecologically and economically important ecosystems. However, prairie streams have been altered by landscape changes that may affect the balance between native and introduced species. Herein, we investigate drivers of introduced fish occurrence, detail common introduced species and their traits and effects, investigate how climate change may alter the balance between native and introduced species, and summarize management options. Commonly introduced fishes are those with the ability to tolerate extreme variations in temperature, hydrology, and salinity and, as a result, most of the introduced fishes were native to other prairie streams within the Great Plains ecoregion. This suggests environmental extremes may act as a filter for establishment or that short-distance translocations are more common than introductions from other ecoregions. The mechanisms or extent to which introduced species affect native fishes is often assumed and/or understudied. Climate change will likely amplify environmental disturbances in ways that may favor native or introduced fishes depending on species traits and biotic interactions. Management actions, such as population control or habitat modifications may be able to shift the balance between native and introduced species. Research to understand the relative roles of trait preadaptation and spatial proximity of source populations in introduced species establishment would benefit future management. Moreover, patterns observed in other ecosystems may not be transferrable to prairie streams highlighting the need to understand the context dependency of effects of introduced species.