Invasion biology of salmonid fishes

Abstract

Introduction of non-native salmonid species by man, both accidentally and deliberately, has been a common event during the last 200 years, often without consideration on potential ecological and economical consequences on native fauna. Since declining distribution and diversity among native salmonids around the globe partly have been explained by introduction of non-native salmonids, the invasion biology of non-native species has become an important area for research. Especially, from a management and conservation point of view, request for risk assessment as a management strategy trying to prevent or hindered the invasion rate is increasing. In 2002, a research program (AquAliens) initiated by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency was started up, aimed to increase our knowledge on how to assess the risks, both economical and ecological, posed by introduced aquatic species. The AquAliens consists of several socalled work packages, each dealing with specific taxa. Within the aquaculture part of the program, species as rainbow trout (non-invasive) and brook charr (invasive) was selected for the research on potential mechanism responsible for the possibility of non-native salmonid to arrive, establish and disperse within the country. Potential identified research areas are abiotic factors (mainly factors as gradient, barriers, size of stream) affecting the dispersal potential and invasion rate of brook charr within and between drainage areas. Furthermore, biotic factors (competition and predation interactions with native species as brown trout and sculpin at different densities, and rate of domestication) responsible for initial survival and potential establishment of rainbow trout and brook charr were selected as target areas. Finally, since much of the research so fare have been concentrated to the end of the invasion process, work has to be done in an initial stage of the process when a new species is arriving to a new habitat. Thus, consequences of escapees from aquaculture facilities are of great concern. The research result from the different work packages will be linked together and used as the foundation of a risk analysis for invasion by nonnative species in aquatic environments. The risk analysis is a part of a risk management strategy served as a basin for decision-making people regarding future potential threats of non-native species

Published in

Rapport / Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, Vattenbruksinstitutionen
2005, number: 43
Publisher: Vattenbruksinstitutionen, SLU

SLU Authors

• Lindberg, Magnus

  • Department of Aquaculture, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Fish and Aquacultural Science

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/7143