Distribution and ecology of exotic fishes in Everglades National Park
Loftus WF. 1988. Distribution and ecology of exotic fishes in Everglades National Park. Pages 24-34. In Thomas LK: Management of exotic species in natural communities: Proceedings of the Fourth Triennial Conference on Research in National Parks, Vol 5. Fort Collins, Colorado (Colorado State University). July 13-18, 1986. The George Wright Society and The U.S. National Park Service. Washington, DC
Southern Florida hosts a diverse exotic freshwater ichchyofauna of which six species have colonized Everglades National Part. Five species are cichlids from tropical America and Africa; the sixth species, the walking catfish, originated in Southeast Asia. The exotic species are of tropical origin, while the native ichthyofauna is derived from temperate North America. Exotics were introduced by tropical fiSh hobbyists and the aquaculture industry and entered the Part via the perimeter canal system. Vast continuous wetlands in the Part permit unrestricted movements by fishes during high· wale!' periods. However, exotic fish abundance is greatest in· disturbed habitats and is usually low in natural marshes. Minimum winter water temperatures (S0-100C) probably limit marsh colonization. AU of the exotics are ecological generalists. Breeding seasons are often prolonged, and all species exhibit a high degree of parental protection, often by both parents. AU exotics except the blue tilapia (an herbivore) are omnivorous. Assessment of any ecological changes caused by exotics is difficult due to the absence of baseline data for the native fauna prior to the introductions. Eradication of established exotic fishes is infeasible because populations are often widely distributed across large areas of marsh and because rapid recruitment is likely from reservoirs of exotics outside the Part. An attempt to manage blue tilapia in the Part is described.
- Type
- Conference Proceeding Paper
- Authors
- Loftus, William
- Units
- EVER
- Keywords
- Animal Studies, black acara (Cichlasoma bimaculatum), blue tilapia (Tilapia aurea), Clarias catfish (Clarias batrachus), Colonization, Distribution, Ecology, Exotic Species, Fish, Mayan cichlid (Cichlasoma urophthalmus), oscar (Astronotus ocellatus), spotted tilapia (Tilapia mariae)