Failed invasion of a southeastern blackwater stream by bluegills: Implications for conservation of native communities

Journal Article · Wed May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Transactions of the American Fisheries Society; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8659(1991)120<0333:FIOASB>2.3.CO;2· OSTI ID:5700537

Meffe, G K ^[1]

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1. Savannah River Ecology Lab., Aiken SC (United States)

The author studied three sites in an undisturbed, third-order blackwater stream in the central Savannah River drainage of South Carolina for 2 years before and 3 years after the accidental introduction of bluegills Lepomis macrochirus. Although large numbers invaded the stream, the species declined over the next 3 years and will likely disappear soon. The bluegills had no measurable effect on the numbers of species or individuals of the stream's indigenous fish fauna. Nearby in the same drainage, bluegills successfully colonized an impounded cooling reservoir and a downstream swamp, but they did not become established in the high-flow stream below the reservoir. Unsuccessful colonization by many nonnative fishes. These data, together with examples from arid-zone streams of the American Southwest, illustrate that unimpeded flow in lotic habitats may protect against successful invasion by some introduced fishes, whereas stabilized flows may increase their likelihood of establishment.

• OSTI ID: 5700537
• Journal Information: Transactions of the American Fisheries Society; (United States), Vol. 120:3; ISSN 0002-8487
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
FISHES
POPULATION DYNAMICS
STREAMS
ECOLOGY
COOLING PONDS
HABITAT
RESOURCE CONSERVATION
SAVANNAH RIVER
SOUTH CAROLINA
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
FEDERAL REGION IV
NORTH AMERICA
PONDS
RIVERS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
VERTEBRATES
WATER RESERVOIRS
540310* - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (1990-)