Introduction to a Special Section: Angling for Dinosaurs-Status and Future Study of the Ecology, Conservation, and Management of Ancient Fishes

Gars (Lepisosteidae) and Bowfins (Amiidae), collectively known as holosteans, are members of an ancient lineage of fish dating back over 200 million years. Holosteans have outlasted the dinosaurs but presently face significant anthropogenic threats. Due to holosteans’ perceived lack of value, their atypical morphology compared with traditional game fishes (e.g., Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides and Yellow Perch Perca flavescens), and misconceptions that they harm valuable sport fisheries, humans have historically sought to eradicate gars and bowfins from aquatic habitats (Scarnecchia 1992). Throughout much of their native range, gars and bowfins are often considered “trash fish” or “noxious species,” commanding the same level of disdain as invasive carps. This perception has been held by fisheries managers as well; it was historically illegal in several states to return gars to the water alive after they had been caught (Scarnecchia 1992). As a result, many holostean populations have declined due to habitat loss, overfishing, and removal efforts (Scarnecchia 1992; Kluender et al. 2016). As an extreme example, the Alligator Gar Atractosteus spatula has been extirpated from most of its historic northern range (Thomas and Hilsabeck 2011). Fortunately, perceptions of gars and bowfins are changing as new research and renewed interest from anglers are fostering a more positive image of these misunderstood fishes. For example, gar fishing guides in Texas host anglers from all over the world who are seeking the opportunity to catch (and release) giant 200-lb (91 kg) Alligator Gars. In 2016, scientists discovered that the genome of the Spotted Gar Lepisosteus oculatus can bridge a gap between human and teleost biomedical models, improving our understanding of development and disease (Braasch et al. 2016; Parichy 2016). Restoration efforts are also under way; in an attempt to recover what was lost decades ago, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources is reintroducing the Alligator Gar to several Illinois rivers to increase biodiversity and create a trophy sport fishery (Illinois Department of Natural Resources 2016). Knowledge of the basic biology and life history of holostean species is limited, however (Binion et al. 2015; David et al. 2015; Smylie et al. 2015). Information on the vital rates (growth, mortality, and dispersal) of holostean populations lags far behind that for most other fisheries, and little is known about the behavior and habitats of juvenile holosteans (Solomon et al. 2013). We are only beginning to understand that species such as the Alligator Gar likely do not spawn every year while others like the Spotted Gar may be capable of spawning more than once annually. As anglers’ conception of these ancient species begins to change from “rough fish” to “sport fish,” better understanding of the ecology and conservation status of holostean populations will be fundamental to effective management. At the 146th Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society in Kansas City, Missouri, in 2016, fisheries scientists and managers gathered for a symposium focused on the ecology, conservation, and management of holostean fishes. The symposium provided the opportunity for scientists and managers to discuss past and current research on the life history, genetics, evolution, sampling methodologies, population dynamics, hybridization, aquaculture, and human dimensions of holosteans. The presentations and panel discussions provided valuable information, furthering our