The diet of non-indigenous Ameiurus nebulosus of varying size and its potential impact on native fish in shallow lakes

Rechulicz, Jacek; Płaska, Wojciech

doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01881

Cited by 5 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…This relatively poor diet composition is most likely due to the low diversity of macroinvertebrates and zooplankton in peat pools. Research has shown that the food base of this species in lake ecosystems (determined based on the analysis of stomach contents) consists of as many as 18 taxonomic groups of aquatic organisms of various types as well as detritus [7]. In lake ecosystems, A. nebulosus most often consumed Chironomidae, accounting for 50-60% of the contents of the alimentary tract, with a large proportion of detritus as well [7,11].…”

Section: Diet Of Ameiurus Nebulosusmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research has shown that the food base of this species in lake ecosystems (determined based on the analysis of stomach contents) consists of as many as 18 taxonomic groups of aquatic organisms of various types as well as detritus [7]. In lake ecosystems, A. nebulosus most often consumed Chironomidae, accounting for 50-60% of the contents of the alimentary tract, with a large proportion of detritus as well [7,11]. Our study thus confirms observations from lake ecosystems, which showed that brown bullhead most often feeds on the food that is most abundant in its living environment, while at the same time, we showed that water temperature significantly influenced the species' feeding activity.…”

Section: Diet Of Ameiurus Nebulosusmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Its effects on lake ecosystems, particularly its impact on native fish species, have been described. This impact has mainly been in the form of predation, competition for food resources, habitat destruction, as well as parasite transmission [6,7]. Ameiurus nebulosus is an opportunistic species that usually consume the food that is most abundant [8], while its diet varies Water 2022, 14, 815 2 of 13 depending on its age and size.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of the Invasive Fish Species Ameiurus nebulosus on Microbial Communities in Peat Pools

Mieczan

Płaska

Adamczuk

et al. 2022

Water

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Disturbances in the functioning of peatlands, due to growing human impact, climate change and the appearance of alien invasive species, are becoming increasingly common. Analysis of trophic relationships in the predator (invasive alien species)–prey system is extremely important for understanding the functioning of peat pools—small water bodies formed in peatlands by peat extraction. These issues are, as yet, very little understood. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of Ameiurus nebulosus, an alien and invasive fish species dominant in these pools, on the microbial communities and small metazoa (phycoflora, bacteria, heterotrophic flagellates, ciliates, and crustaceans) in peat pools. The laboratory experiment included two groups of treatments simulating natural conditions: treatments without fish and treatments with brown bullhead. The water temperature was manipulated as well. The presence of brown bullhead in combination with climate changes was shown to cause a change in the structure of microbial communities. This is reflected in a decrease in the abundance of planktonic crustaceans and an increase in ciliates. The overlapping effects of alien species and gradual climate warming may intensify the eutrophication of peatland ecosystems and the increase in the proportion of cyanobacteria, thereby affecting the carbon cycle in these ecosystems.

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Section: Diet Of Ameiurus Nebulosusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Diet Of Ameiurus Nebulosusmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effects of the Invasive Fish Species Ameiurus nebulosus on Microbial Communities in Peat Pools

Mieczan

Płaska

Adamczuk

et al. 2022

Water

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“…These can provide evidence for direct predation on native fish (e.g. Rechulicz & Płaska, 2021) or changes in native fish prey selection due to competition (e.g. Borcherding, Heubel & Storm, 2019).…”

Section: (C) Stable Isotope and Dietary Assessmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An integrative approach to assess the impact of disturbance on native fish in lakes

Thomson‐Laing,

Schallenberg,

Kelly

et al. 2023

Biological Reviews

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Freshwater fish are in a perilous state with more than 30% of species considered critically endangered. Yet significant ecological and methodological complexities constrain our ability to determine how disturbances are impacting native fish communities. We review current methods used to assess the responses of fish communities, especially native fish, to disturbances, with a focus on lakes. These methods include contemporary population surveys, manipulative experimental approaches, paleolimnological approaches and Indigenous Knowledge and social histories. We identify knowledge gaps, such as a lack of baseline data for native fish, an inability to assess the impact of historical disturbances, stressor response dynamics in contemporary multi‐stressor environments, and natural disturbance regimes. Our assessment of the current methods highlights challenges to filling these knowledge gaps using the reviewed methods. We advocate strongly for the implementation of an integrative approach that combines emerging technologies (i.e. molecular‐based techniques in contemporary surveys and paleolimnology) and underutilised knowledge streams (i.e. Indigenous Knowledge and social histories) which should be used in concert with conventional methods. This integrative approach will allow researchers to determine the key drivers of decline and the degree of change, which will enable more informed and successful management actions.

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“…Assessment of foraging habits using stomach content analyses are the conventional method for investigating the impacts of non-native fish (Gozlan et al, 2010). These can provide evidence for direct predation on native fish (e.g., Rechulicz & Płaska, 2021) or changes in native fish prey selection due to competition (e.g., Borcherding, Heubel, & Storm, 2019). Direct stomach content analysis has also linked fish dietary changes to anthropogenic disturbances such as eutrophication.…”

Section: Stable Isotope and Dietary Assessmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reconstructing the response of native fish in lakes to historical anthropogenic disturbances

Thomson-Laing

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There is a well-documented decline in the native fish of Aotearoa New Zealand, with 74% of species currently categorised as at risk or threatened. There is an urgent need for more data on how fish communities respond to the complex and synergistic drivers that are causing their biodiversity loss in lakes. Paleolimnological studies overcome the limitation of short monitoring records and allow research which explores the impact of disturbances on fish and the wider ecosystem. Until recently the ability to detect changes in historical fish communities has been limited by the lack of fossil remains left behind by fish. This thesis explored the use of sedimentary DNA (sedDNA) to track fish communities in sediment cores. I began by reviewing available methods used to measure or infer how fish communities respond to disturbance. These included contemporary population surveys, manipulative experimental methods, paleolimnological approaches, Indigenous Knowledge and social histories. The benefits and limitations of these approaches were identified and discussed within the context of eutrophication, land use change and introduced fish. I highlighted the value of environmental DNA based approaches, and Indigenous Knowledge and social histories and how different methods can compensate for the limitations inherent in other methodologies. I demonstrated how the application of an integrative methodological approach could greatly advance knowledge on how native freshwater fish in lakes respond to anthropogenic disturbances. I identified fish sedDNA as an emerging tool in paleolimnology but highlighted the ongoing need for method development. Secondly, I tested five methods with various modifications to establish their ability to desorb extracellular fish DNA from aquatic sediments. I characterised the recovery of fish sedDNA from sediments using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assays targeting eel (Anguilla australis, Anguilla dieffenbachii) and perch (Perca fluviatilis). A range of sediment masses (0.25–20 g) were assessed to establish the optimal amount required to accurately assess fish sedDNA. An optimised extraction method was developed and used in my subsequent chapters. I assessed the effect of sediment core location (nearshore verses depocentre), fish or mussel species and molecular method (ddPCR versus metabarcoding) on sedDNA detection in sediment cores from a small eutrophic lake in the Wairarapa region (Aotearoa New Zealand). There were higher detections in the nearshore core compared to the depocenter core which was most likely related to the locality of the target species. Differential detection of target species was likely caused by their ecology and biomass. The ddPCR assays were more sensitive than the metabarcoding approach. Target species detection was negatively impacted by a reduction in total DNA concentration in older sediments. These results highlighted that current molecular techniques used to target fish sedDNA can result in inconsistent temporal and spatial detection of species, especially in older sediments.I reconstructed the abundance and diversity of a native fish community over 1390 years in a small eutrophic lake in the Gisborne region (Aotearoa New Zealand) using metabarcoding and a fish specific ddPCR approach. A suite of sedDNA and other traditional paleolimnological approaches, e.g., pollen analysis, X-ray fluorescence and hyperspectral scanning, and trace metal analysis were used to explore drivers of changes in the fish communities. Generalised additive mixed models identified distinct shifts in fish community composition, notably a decline in a Galaxias species concomitant with early land use changes starting around 1350 CE. A significant decline in fish abundance around 1950 CE aligned with agricultural intensification and shifts in both phytoplankton and zooplankton communities. The results suggested that the major changes in fish diversity and abundance in the lake were mostly related to external drivers (i.e., agricultural intensification) and correlated internal productivity (i.e., eutrophication) than to food web composition changes (i.e., dietary shifts). This study emphasised the potential of using fish sedDNA (with the appropriate methodological considerations) to investigate the impact of anthropogenic disturbance on lake fish communities. This knowledge will assist with the future management and conservation of native fish species in freshwater lakes.

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The diet of non-indigenous Ameiurus nebulosus of varying size and its potential impact on native fish in shallow lakes

Cited by 5 publications

References 24 publications

Effects of the Invasive Fish Species Ameiurus nebulosus on Microbial Communities in Peat Pools

Effects of the Invasive Fish Species Ameiurus nebulosus on Microbial Communities in Peat Pools

An integrative approach to assess the impact of disturbance on native fish in lakes

Reconstructing the response of native fish in lakes to historical anthropogenic disturbances

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