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Behavioral constraints for the spread of the eastern mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki (Poeciliidae)

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Abstract

Eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) are native to the southeastern United States but notoriously invasive elsewhere, and are aggressive predators in ecosystems they inhabit. Information on dispersal behavior is needed to better understand mosquitofish spread upon introduction and potential means to mitigate that spread. We experimentally tested the effects of shallow water depths (3–24 mm) and obstacles (leaf litter) on mosquitofish dispersal behavior, plus a range of conditions relevant to field situations. Mosquitofish dispersed significantly faster in deeper water (p < 0.001) but some dispersed in only 3 mm water depth (i.e., one-half average body depth). Wetland and upland leaf litter at natural densities strongly interfered with mosquitofish dispersal behavior. Based on our results, introduced mosquitofish spread rapidly given unimpeded dispersal corridors (e.g., mowed ditches), and may do so at rates >800 m/day. Also, consistent lack of sexual dimorphism in dispersal behavior indicates that mosquitofish spread is not strongly dependent on female poeciliid reproductive biology. Our results support designation of mosquitofish as highly invasive and suggest that barriers to mosquitofish spread must obstruct dispersal pathways as shallow as 3 mm depth.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Chris Embick for his assistance; John Fauth and Chris Parkinson for their editorial comments on previous drafts; Jesse Abelson, Andrea Barber, Tracy Blowers, Katie Grablow, Daniel Hernandez and Jerry Leakey for follow-up experiments, and Bob Banks for tools and logistics. This project was supported, in part, by a UCF Department of Biology Graduate Student Research Enhancement Award and the James and Annie Ying Eminent Scholarship in Biology.

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  1. Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, 32816-2368, USA

    Shireen D. Alemadi & David G. Jenkins

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  1. Shireen D. Alemadi
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  2. David G. Jenkins
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Correspondence to David G. Jenkins.

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Alemadi, S.D., Jenkins, D.G. Behavioral constraints for the spread of the eastern mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki (Poeciliidae). Biol Invasions 10, 59–66 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-007-9109-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-007-9109-x

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