Threshold responses of freshwater fish community size spectra to invasive species
Abstract Aquatic invasive species (AIS) threaten biodiversity and ecosystem services around the world, but their management has been hampered by the lack of quantifiable control targets. The introduction of Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) throughout the mid‐western United States epitomizes...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Ecosphere |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70090 |
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| author | Bradley Novak Brent A. Murry Jeff S. Wesner Vojsava Gjoni Caroline C. Arantes Erin Shepta Justin P. F. Pomeranz James R. Junker Kathrine Zipfel Andrew Stump Levi E. Solomon Kristopher A. Maxson Jason A. DeBoer |
| author_facet | Bradley Novak Brent A. Murry Jeff S. Wesner Vojsava Gjoni Caroline C. Arantes Erin Shepta Justin P. F. Pomeranz James R. Junker Kathrine Zipfel Andrew Stump Levi E. Solomon Kristopher A. Maxson Jason A. DeBoer |
| author_sort | Bradley Novak |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Aquatic invasive species (AIS) threaten biodiversity and ecosystem services around the world, but their management has been hampered by the lack of quantifiable control targets. The introduction of Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) throughout the mid‐western United States epitomizes both the impacts of AIS and the need for quantitative control targets. Silver Carp are large‐bodied planktivores that compete with native planktivores, which can cause cascading effects throughout the food web. Our study tested the threshold of abundance beyond which Silver Carp alter fish assemblage structure. We used a community size spectra (CSS) approach to evaluate fish community size structure across temporal and spatial gradients of Silver Carp abundances. We hypothesized that Silver Carp would flatten the size spectra slope because they are large‐bodied and feed at a low trophic position. Electrofishing data were obtained for the La Grange Pool of the Illinois River (1994–2021) and for six pools of the Ohio River (2015–2020). Results supported our hypothesis, showing a 98% probability that the relative biomass of Silver Carp is positively related to the CSS slope (resulting in “flattening”). This pattern was strongest in the Illinois River, where Silver Carp made up >30% of fish assemblage biomass in recent years. The pattern was weakest in the Ohio River (78% probability of a positive relationship) where Silver Carp rarely exceeded 20% of total fish biomass. Subsequent changepoint models indicated that a Silver Carp relative biomass of ~24% represents a threshold below which negative food web impacts should be minimized. Our study demonstrates a clear shift in fish community size structure following invasion by Silver Carp and suggests that pre‐invasion CSS slopes may serve as a restoration target. It also illustrates the benefits of CSS to guide Silver Carp and other AIS management. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7e88484db8324abe8607332480c1be6f |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2150-8925 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecosphere |
| spelling | doaj-art-7e88484db8324abe8607332480c1be6f2025-01-27T14:51:33ZengWileyEcosphere2150-89252024-12-011512n/an/a10.1002/ecs2.70090Threshold responses of freshwater fish community size spectra to invasive speciesBradley Novak0Brent A. Murry1Jeff S. Wesner2Vojsava Gjoni3Caroline C. Arantes4Erin Shepta5Justin P. F. Pomeranz6James R. Junker7Kathrine Zipfel8Andrew Stump9Levi E. Solomon10Kristopher A. Maxson11Jason A. DeBoer12Davis College, School of Natural Resources and the Environment West Virginia University Morgantown West Virginia USADavis College, School of Natural Resources and the Environment West Virginia University Morgantown West Virginia USADepartment of Biology University of South Dakota Vermillion South Dakota USADepartment of Biology University of South Dakota Vermillion South Dakota USADavis College, School of Natural Resources and the Environment West Virginia University Morgantown West Virginia USADavis College, School of Natural Resources and the Environment West Virginia University Morgantown West Virginia USADepartment of Physical and Environmental Sciences Colorado Mesa University Grand Junction Colorado USADepartment of Biological Sciences Advanced Environmental Research Institute, University of North Texas Denton Texas USAWest Virginia Division of Natural Resources Parkersburg West Virginia USAKentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Frankfort Kentucky USAIllinois River Biological Station, Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute University of Illinois Urbana‐Champaign Havana Illinois USAIllinois River Biological Station, Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute University of Illinois Urbana‐Champaign Havana Illinois USAIllinois River Biological Station, Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute University of Illinois Urbana‐Champaign Havana Illinois USAAbstract Aquatic invasive species (AIS) threaten biodiversity and ecosystem services around the world, but their management has been hampered by the lack of quantifiable control targets. The introduction of Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) throughout the mid‐western United States epitomizes both the impacts of AIS and the need for quantitative control targets. Silver Carp are large‐bodied planktivores that compete with native planktivores, which can cause cascading effects throughout the food web. Our study tested the threshold of abundance beyond which Silver Carp alter fish assemblage structure. We used a community size spectra (CSS) approach to evaluate fish community size structure across temporal and spatial gradients of Silver Carp abundances. We hypothesized that Silver Carp would flatten the size spectra slope because they are large‐bodied and feed at a low trophic position. Electrofishing data were obtained for the La Grange Pool of the Illinois River (1994–2021) and for six pools of the Ohio River (2015–2020). Results supported our hypothesis, showing a 98% probability that the relative biomass of Silver Carp is positively related to the CSS slope (resulting in “flattening”). This pattern was strongest in the Illinois River, where Silver Carp made up >30% of fish assemblage biomass in recent years. The pattern was weakest in the Ohio River (78% probability of a positive relationship) where Silver Carp rarely exceeded 20% of total fish biomass. Subsequent changepoint models indicated that a Silver Carp relative biomass of ~24% represents a threshold below which negative food web impacts should be minimized. Our study demonstrates a clear shift in fish community size structure following invasion by Silver Carp and suggests that pre‐invasion CSS slopes may serve as a restoration target. It also illustrates the benefits of CSS to guide Silver Carp and other AIS management.https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70090biomass–abundance relationshipfisheries managementfood webindividual size distributioninvasive carpthreshold |
| spellingShingle | Bradley Novak Brent A. Murry Jeff S. Wesner Vojsava Gjoni Caroline C. Arantes Erin Shepta Justin P. F. Pomeranz James R. Junker Kathrine Zipfel Andrew Stump Levi E. Solomon Kristopher A. Maxson Jason A. DeBoer Threshold responses of freshwater fish community size spectra to invasive species Ecosphere biomass–abundance relationship fisheries management food web individual size distribution invasive carp threshold |
| title | Threshold responses of freshwater fish community size spectra to invasive species |
| title_full | Threshold responses of freshwater fish community size spectra to invasive species |
| title_fullStr | Threshold responses of freshwater fish community size spectra to invasive species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Threshold responses of freshwater fish community size spectra to invasive species |
| title_short | Threshold responses of freshwater fish community size spectra to invasive species |
| title_sort | threshold responses of freshwater fish community size spectra to invasive species |
| topic | biomass–abundance relationship fisheries management food web individual size distribution invasive carp threshold |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.70090 |
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