Mosquitofish in NE Ohio...

A couple years ago I was visiting a little suburban Creek Chub riddled stream and noticed a few topminnows/killifish/livebears/some little grey fish scooting along the surface. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get back (more out of laziness and figuring the extreme NE Ohio winters would do them in) until the other day. They fish unfortunately were still there so I caught a large pregenant female who I lost. After contacting a notable fish surveyor in the state he told me to get more. I caught 5 more (missed a few more) and they are for sure Mosquitofish which will be swimming in preservative soon.

He then informed me that these fish won't do any harm, and maybe they won't spread due to our harsh winters, but what do you think? I have heard Mosquitofish can harm tadpole populations but what are some other impacts they may have?

Andy

Never underestimate Gambusia... they're tough suckers. They affect many other species through interference, literally intervening in breeding displays, spawning and attempts to care for young. They are also very good at eating juvenile fish, never a good thing for reproductive success.

Even in rabidly distrubed systems in Ohio, they never become abundant, let alone invasive.

Now, I'm not saying go introduce them... I wish they'd make it illegal to sell them for ornamental ponds, which is probably how your population became established. But I would agree with your surveyor's assessment.

Todd

I wondered if the Ohio mosquitofish come from Fattig Fish's cold tolerant strains?

The power of Dambusia to spread has amazed me. In 2005 I found Dambusia at a dozen sites in Nebraska. Nebraska is not known for mild winters.

Near the Ak Sar Ben Aquarium, near South Bend, NE, I caught some Dambusia. I set my 4 foot seine across a 1.5 foot wide by 1 foot deep creek mouth just before the creek joined the Platte River. I kicked down 20 feet of the creek and lifted my seine. This is what I caught:

Thanks, Phil, I rest my case.

Thanks, Phil, I rest my case.

About a year ago Pat Rake's of Conservation fisheries did a talk on the Barrens Topminnow. Pat actually used the Barren's Topminnow as his Thesis at the University of Tennessee. During the talk Pat explained what they went through to find out why the Barren's Topminnow population was declining. They finally figured out that the Gambusia was out competing the Topminnow. One of the things he pointed out in the talk was that the Gambusia would persistently attack the larger topminnows. Once they started removing the Gambusia, the topminnow started to make a come back. Below is a link to the website and a short summary of what he learned.

http://www.conservat...lus_julisia.htm

Bill F.

About a year ago Pat Rake's of Conservation fisheries did a talk on the Barrens Topminnow. Pat actually used the Barren's Topminnow as his Thesis at the University of Tennessee. During the talk Pat explained what they went through to find out why the Barren's Topminnow population was declining. They finally figured out that the Gambusia was out competing the Topminnow. One of the things he pointed out in the talk was that the Gambusia would persistently attack the larger topminnows. Once they started removing the Gambusia, the topminnow started to make a come back. Below is a link to the website and a short summary of what he learned.

Bill F.

I heard that Fundulus sciadicus, Plains Topminnow, is currently in rapid decline in Nebraska.

I couldn't find any articles more recent than 1997.

I heard that Fundulus sciadicus, Plains Topminnow, is currently in rapid decline in Nebraska.

You guys are overlooking just a couple covariate factors out in Neb

Todd

You guys are overlooking just a couple covariate factors out in Neb

Todd

Ahh, the dilemma of a conservationist: If you wait for solid science, it may be too late.

Think about how long it took to Prove that cigarettes cause cancer.

I don't know much about Nebraska and its climate or topography (or lack of) when compared to Ohio, so whats the overlooked factors differing the two states in relation to Mosquitofish.

Andy

Turbidity and zoogeography, to start.

Todd

Edited by farmertodd, 29 August 2008 - 10:29 AM.

About a year ago Pat Rake's of Conservation fisheries did a talk on the Barrens Topminnow. Pat actually used the Barren's Topminnow as his Thesis at the University of Tennessee. During the talk Pat explained what they went through to find out why the Barren's Topminnow population was declining. They finally figured out that the Gambusia was out competing the Topminnow. One of the things he pointed out in the talk was that the Gambusia would persistently attack the larger topminnows. Once they started removing the Gambusia, the topminnow started to make a come back. Below is a link to the website and a short summary of what he learned.

http://www.conservat...lus_julisia.htm

Bill F.

Actually, most of the field and laboratory research done showing the competitive relationship between mosquito fish and BTM was conducted by students at Tennessee Tech. Pat and CFI have been involved to varying extents with this research. I'm also not quite sure the removal of the mosquitofish, via antimyacin?, was successful in the long run.

See Laha & Mattingly 2006a, 2006b, Johnson & Bettoli 2003, Goldsworth & Bettoli 2006, and upcoming manuscripts by Westhoff & Mattingly and Benton & Mattingly. Some project reports can also be found online.