Factors limiting the colonization success of an introduced exotic fish (Carassius auratus)
The goldfish (Carassius auratus) is a hardy exotic species that have established sporadically distributed feral populations throughout North America. In one shallow seasonally anoxic pond goldfish formed a large stunted population of 15-17,000 ind ha$ sp{-1}$, with 53% being small young of the year....
Main Author: | |
---|---|
Other Authors: | |
Format: | Thesis |
Language: | English |
Published: |
McGill University
1996
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=40235 |
id |
ftcanadathes:oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.40235 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftcanadathes:oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.40235 2023-05-15T18:32:37+02:00 Factors limiting the colonization success of an introduced exotic fish (Carassius auratus) Richardson, Michael John Whomskey, F. G. (advisor) Doctor of Philosophy (Department of Natural Resource Sciences.) 1996 application/pdf http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=40235 en eng McGill University alephsysno: 001506057 proquestno: NN12466 Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=40235 All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. Goldfish -- North America -- Behavior Predation (Biology) Animal introduction -- North America Pest introduction -- North America Electronic Thesis or Dissertation 1996 ftcanadathes 2014-02-16T01:03:56Z The goldfish (Carassius auratus) is a hardy exotic species that have established sporadically distributed feral populations throughout North America. In one shallow seasonally anoxic pond goldfish formed a large stunted population of 15-17,000 ind ha$ sp{-1}$, with 53% being small young of the year. Goldfish were predominantly benthic herbivores with little diet overlap with resident red-spotted newts (Notapthalmus v. viredescens). Thus in relatively simple systems lacking fish predators goldfish can be very successful. However in systems with a complex native fish community, goldfish have had less success in colonizing. This could be related to an inability of goldfish to cope with native predators. Tests for assortative shoaling between brown and gold coloured morphs showed that gold coloured fish exhibited no colour based assortive shoaling, while brown fish showed slight but significant colour preferences for like-coloured fish. This level of shoaling preference did not improve after visual exposure or interaction with native predators, indicating that goldfish showed limited behaviourial responses to predators, and that they were unable to modify their response to a predation threat. Further trials allowing goldfish to interact with either pike (Esox lucius) or bass (Ambloplites rupestris), in both single species groups of predator-naive goldfish, and mixed species conditions of goldfish with predator-experience minnows, showed that goldfish did not alter their behaviour in the presence of minnows (Pimephales notatus) when the predators were not present. However, with the predators present goldfish altered their activities to a more minnow-like pattern and showed a significant improvement in anti-predator behaviour. This improved behaviour continued by goldfish when they were retested on their own, indicating that the goldfish were reacting to the predator and not the minnows. Goldfish colonization may therefore be limited not so much by predation or competition from native cyprinids, but more by the absence/presence of a suitable, native, predator-experienced fish from which to copy the appropriate anti-predator behaviours. Thesis The Minnows Theses Canada/Thèses Canada (Library and Archives Canada) Minnows ENVELOPE(-65.359,-65.359,-66.027,-66.027) The Minnows ENVELOPE(-65.359,-65.359,-66.027,-66.027) |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Theses Canada/Thèses Canada (Library and Archives Canada) |
op_collection_id |
ftcanadathes |
language |
English |
topic |
Goldfish -- North America -- Behavior Predation (Biology) Animal introduction -- North America Pest introduction -- North America |
spellingShingle |
Goldfish -- North America -- Behavior Predation (Biology) Animal introduction -- North America Pest introduction -- North America Richardson, Michael John Factors limiting the colonization success of an introduced exotic fish (Carassius auratus) |
topic_facet |
Goldfish -- North America -- Behavior Predation (Biology) Animal introduction -- North America Pest introduction -- North America |
description |
The goldfish (Carassius auratus) is a hardy exotic species that have established sporadically distributed feral populations throughout North America. In one shallow seasonally anoxic pond goldfish formed a large stunted population of 15-17,000 ind ha$ sp{-1}$, with 53% being small young of the year. Goldfish were predominantly benthic herbivores with little diet overlap with resident red-spotted newts (Notapthalmus v. viredescens). Thus in relatively simple systems lacking fish predators goldfish can be very successful. However in systems with a complex native fish community, goldfish have had less success in colonizing. This could be related to an inability of goldfish to cope with native predators. Tests for assortative shoaling between brown and gold coloured morphs showed that gold coloured fish exhibited no colour based assortive shoaling, while brown fish showed slight but significant colour preferences for like-coloured fish. This level of shoaling preference did not improve after visual exposure or interaction with native predators, indicating that goldfish showed limited behaviourial responses to predators, and that they were unable to modify their response to a predation threat. Further trials allowing goldfish to interact with either pike (Esox lucius) or bass (Ambloplites rupestris), in both single species groups of predator-naive goldfish, and mixed species conditions of goldfish with predator-experience minnows, showed that goldfish did not alter their behaviour in the presence of minnows (Pimephales notatus) when the predators were not present. However, with the predators present goldfish altered their activities to a more minnow-like pattern and showed a significant improvement in anti-predator behaviour. This improved behaviour continued by goldfish when they were retested on their own, indicating that the goldfish were reacting to the predator and not the minnows. Goldfish colonization may therefore be limited not so much by predation or competition from native cyprinids, but more by the absence/presence of a suitable, native, predator-experienced fish from which to copy the appropriate anti-predator behaviours. |
author2 |
Whomskey, F. G. (advisor) |
format |
Thesis |
author |
Richardson, Michael John |
author_facet |
Richardson, Michael John |
author_sort |
Richardson, Michael John |
title |
Factors limiting the colonization success of an introduced exotic fish (Carassius auratus) |
title_short |
Factors limiting the colonization success of an introduced exotic fish (Carassius auratus) |
title_full |
Factors limiting the colonization success of an introduced exotic fish (Carassius auratus) |
title_fullStr |
Factors limiting the colonization success of an introduced exotic fish (Carassius auratus) |
title_full_unstemmed |
Factors limiting the colonization success of an introduced exotic fish (Carassius auratus) |
title_sort |
factors limiting the colonization success of an introduced exotic fish (carassius auratus) |
publisher |
McGill University |
publishDate |
1996 |
url |
http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=40235 |
op_coverage |
Doctor of Philosophy (Department of Natural Resource Sciences.) |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-65.359,-65.359,-66.027,-66.027) ENVELOPE(-65.359,-65.359,-66.027,-66.027) |
geographic |
Minnows The Minnows |
geographic_facet |
Minnows The Minnows |
genre |
The Minnows |
genre_facet |
The Minnows |
op_relation |
alephsysno: 001506057 proquestno: NN12466 Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=40235 |
op_rights |
All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
_version_ |
1766216830382243840 |