Abstract
Biotic resistance is the process where aspects of the receiving environment inhibit the establishment and invasion of an introduced species. Resistance against an introduced fish can be through strong competition and/or predation from resident fishes. Here, the biotic resistance against introduced topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva (a highly invasive fish in Europe) by resident carp Cyprinus carpio was tested in experimental mesocosms. The introduction scenario was six adult P. parva (three male, three female) on a single occasion. Resistance to their establishment was provided by three and six resident C. carpio whose effects on P. parva growth and reproduction were compared to a Control (no resident fish at the time of introduction) and treatments containing three and six P. parva. After 120 days, the growth rates of the introduced P. parva were significantly depressed in C. carpio presence and in mesocosms with three C. carpio present, significantly decreased numbers of 0+P. parva were recorded. Where six C. carpio were present, no 0+P. parva were recorded, indicating resistance strength increased with carp abundance. In contrast, there were no differences in P. parva reproduction and growth rates between the Control and treatments containing conspecifics. Stable isotope analysis (δ15N, δ13C) revealed C. carpio were feeding at one trophic level above 0+P. parva, suggesting the process of resistance was predation (facultative piscivory) rather than competition. Thus, if P. parva are to establish and invade following an introduction, they must overcome this biotic resistance from cyprinid fishes such as C. carpio.
Highlights
The probability of an introduced species surviving, establishing a sustainable population and developing invasive populations is dependent on the interaction of numerous factors in the receiving environment [1]
Under a scenario of a single P. parva introduction event and a set number of released propagules (66) at an equal sex ratio, reproduction and survival of 0+P. parva was apparent in the Control and treatments containing conspecifics, suggesting establishment was occurring
The presence of three C. carpio in the treatments suppressed 0+P. parva survival and where six C. carpio were present, no 0+fish were found at the end of the experimental period
Summary
The probability of an introduced species surviving, establishing a sustainable population and developing invasive populations is dependent on the interaction of numerous factors in the receiving environment [1]. Survival and establishment of the introduced species may be inhibited by environmental factors, such as climate and habitat [2]. If environmental conditions are suitable biotic resistance can be important through inhibiting establishment processes [3,4,5]. This resistance may result from the diversity of the communities in the receiving environment [6,7,8] or from the presence of predators or strong competitors that impede survival and reproduction of the introduced propagules [1,4,9,10]. Establishment of introduced non-indigenous brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis in Idaho, USA, was not, resisted by the native rainbow trout Oncorhyncus mykiss, with habitat characteristics being more important in determining invasion success [13]
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