Evaluating the potential role of predation by native fish regulating the abundance of invasive spiny water flea
Creators: name: Martin, Benjamin E.
name: Mrnak, Joseph T.
name: Vander Zanden, M. Jake
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2023
Subjects: subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Ecology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Science Policy
subject: Marine Biology
subject: Inorganic Chemistry
subject: FOS: Chemical sciences

description: Predation by native predators can hinder the success of an invasive species. <i>Bythotrephes, an invasive zooplankton species,</i> established in Trout Lake, Vilas County, Wisconsin, USA, in 2014. However, by 2020, <i>Bythotrephes</i> densities dropped to densities where they were barely detectable. Cisco (<i>Coregonus artedi</i>), a native zooplanktivore, is an abundant fish species in Trout Lake and has been shown to significantly prey on <i>Bythotrephes.</i> Given the decline in <i>Bythotrephes</i>, we asked whether Cisco predation could have played a role in the observed decline in <i>Bythotrephes</i> densities. We modeled Cisco consumption of <i>Bythotrephes</i> using bioenergetic modeling and <i>Bythotrephes</i> production from a production to biomass model. The model results suggested that Cisco consumption was lower than <i>Bythotrephes</i> production during the early years of the invasion, but since 2017 Cisco consumption exceeded <i>Bythotrephes</i> production and has likely played a role in the observed <i>Bythotrephes</i> density declines. Our study provides quantitative context for predation on <i>Bythotrephes</i>, and alongside other studies, suggests native predators can control <i>Bythotrephes</i> densities. Leveraging predation by native species could be an invasive species management tool, so it is important to synthesize and document cases in which predation may control or reduce impacts of invasive species. Invasive species can have severe impacts on freshwater ecosystems and will continue to spread across the landscape. When species do invade, invasive species management tools are incredibly important as they can mitigate impacts. However, successful management of invasive species often goes undocumented.Predation by native species can be an invasive species management tool to mitigate impacts of invasions. Leveraging native species to reduce the abundance of an invasive species can be difficult and requires thorough consideration of indirect impacts.There have been some cases where predation by native species has been attributed to controlling the abundances of invasive species. In such cases, promoting native species abundances can reduce the abundance of invasive species. This can be highly advantageous for lake managers, however, natural resource management includes many different stakeholders and therefore decisions regarding invasive species management can be complex. Invasive species can have severe impacts on freshwater ecosystems and will continue to spread across the landscape. When species do invade, invasive species management tools are incredibly important as they can mitigate impacts. However, successful management of invasive species often goes undocumented. Predation by native species can be an invasive species management tool to mitigate impacts of invasions. Leveraging native species to reduce the abundance of an invasive species can be difficult and requires thorough consideration of indirect impacts. There have been some cases where predation by native species has been attributed to controlling the abundances of invasive species. In such cases, promoting native species abundances can reduce the abundance of invasive species. This can be highly advantageous for lake managers, however, natural resource management includes many different stakeholders and therefore decisions regarding invasive species management can be complex.