Assisted colonization of a regionally native predator impacts benthic invertebrates in fishless mountain lakes
Abstract The intentional introduction of native cold‐water trout into high‐elevation fishless lakes has been considered a tool to build resilience to climate change (i.e., assisted colonization); however, ecological impacts on recipient communities are understudied. The purpose of this study was to...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Conservation Science and Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.344 |
| _version_ | 1797659218902253568 |
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| author | Allison L. K. Banting Mark K. Taylor Rolf D. Vinebrooke Chris M. Carli Mark S. Poesch |
| author_facet | Allison L. K. Banting Mark K. Taylor Rolf D. Vinebrooke Chris M. Carli Mark S. Poesch |
| author_sort | Allison L. K. Banting |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The intentional introduction of native cold‐water trout into high‐elevation fishless lakes has been considered a tool to build resilience to climate change (i.e., assisted colonization); however, ecological impacts on recipient communities are understudied. The purpose of this study was to inform native cold‐water trout recovery managers by assessing potential consequences of translocating a regionally native trout (westslope cutthroat trout; Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) into fishless mountain lakes. This study compared littoral benthic invertebrate richness, diversity, community structure and abundance between three groups of lakes (fishless, native trout, nonnative trout) in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. While richness and diversity were preserved across all lake groups, other lines of evidence suggested that the introduction of native westslope cutthroat trout into fishless lakes can alter littoral benthic invertebrate communities in similar ways as nonnative brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). The community structure of cutthroat trout lakes resembled brook trout lakes compared to that of fishless lakes. For example, both trout‐lake groups contained a lower density of free‐swimming ameletid mayflies and a higher density of certain burrowing taxa. Risk assessments for trout‐recovery actions should consider the potential for collateral damage to recipient invertebrate communities. Future research should identify possible cascading trophic effects on species subsidized by invertebrate prey. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T18:10:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f810989ed07849c9962082fcb9cca699 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2578-4854 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T18:10:43Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Conservation Science and Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-f810989ed07849c9962082fcb9cca6992023-10-16T14:51:41ZengWileyConservation Science and Practice2578-48542021-02-0132n/an/a10.1111/csp2.344Assisted colonization of a regionally native predator impacts benthic invertebrates in fishless mountain lakesAllison L. K. Banting0Mark K. Taylor1Rolf D. Vinebrooke2Chris M. Carli3Mark S. Poesch4Parks Canada Agency Banff National Park Alberta CanadaParks Canada Agency Banff National Park Alberta CanadaDepartment of Biological Sciences University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta CanadaFisheries and Oceans Canada Whitehorse Yukon CanadaDepartment of Renewable Resources University of Alberta Edmonton Alberta CanadaAbstract The intentional introduction of native cold‐water trout into high‐elevation fishless lakes has been considered a tool to build resilience to climate change (i.e., assisted colonization); however, ecological impacts on recipient communities are understudied. The purpose of this study was to inform native cold‐water trout recovery managers by assessing potential consequences of translocating a regionally native trout (westslope cutthroat trout; Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi) into fishless mountain lakes. This study compared littoral benthic invertebrate richness, diversity, community structure and abundance between three groups of lakes (fishless, native trout, nonnative trout) in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. While richness and diversity were preserved across all lake groups, other lines of evidence suggested that the introduction of native westslope cutthroat trout into fishless lakes can alter littoral benthic invertebrate communities in similar ways as nonnative brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). The community structure of cutthroat trout lakes resembled brook trout lakes compared to that of fishless lakes. For example, both trout‐lake groups contained a lower density of free‐swimming ameletid mayflies and a higher density of certain burrowing taxa. Risk assessments for trout‐recovery actions should consider the potential for collateral damage to recipient invertebrate communities. Future research should identify possible cascading trophic effects on species subsidized by invertebrate prey.https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.344aquatic conservationassisted colonizationfreshwater biodiversityinvasive speciesspecies at risk |
| spellingShingle | Allison L. K. Banting Mark K. Taylor Rolf D. Vinebrooke Chris M. Carli Mark S. Poesch Assisted colonization of a regionally native predator impacts benthic invertebrates in fishless mountain lakes Conservation Science and Practice aquatic conservation assisted colonization freshwater biodiversity invasive species species at risk |
| title | Assisted colonization of a regionally native predator impacts benthic invertebrates in fishless mountain lakes |
| title_full | Assisted colonization of a regionally native predator impacts benthic invertebrates in fishless mountain lakes |
| title_fullStr | Assisted colonization of a regionally native predator impacts benthic invertebrates in fishless mountain lakes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assisted colonization of a regionally native predator impacts benthic invertebrates in fishless mountain lakes |
| title_short | Assisted colonization of a regionally native predator impacts benthic invertebrates in fishless mountain lakes |
| title_sort | assisted colonization of a regionally native predator impacts benthic invertebrates in fishless mountain lakes |
| topic | aquatic conservation assisted colonization freshwater biodiversity invasive species species at risk |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.344 |
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