RE: NANFA-- exotic species impact

Bruce Stallsmith (fundulus-in-hotmail.com)
Thu, 27 May 2004 10:21:17 -0400

A major stressor of native fishes in the desert springs and streams of the
Southwest has been the introduction of a long list of exotics, including
bass, crayfish, mollies and dambusia. Also, you could throw in most of the
state of California where the original (short) list of natives has been
severely stressed by the introduction of fishes from eastern North America,
for instance the Sacramento Perch is on the ropes from both habitat
alteration and exotics. As to aquarium releases, that has been part of the
story especially in smaller springs. And some state agencies have introduced
game fishes in these areas for the usual stupid reasons, and this has
apparently been supplemented by freelance "bucket biologists".

So the short answer is yes.

--Bruce Stallsmith
Huntsville, AL, US of A

>From: "Nick Zarlinga" <njz-in-clevelandmetroparks.com>
>Reply-To: nanfa-in-aquaria.net
>To: "NANFA List Server (E-mail)" <nanfa-in-aquaria.net>
>Subject: NANFA-- exotic species impact
>Date: Thu, 27 May 2004 09:22:26 -0400
>
>A surprisingly simple question came up this morning. Have there been any
>native species that have become endangered or threatened by the release of
>an introduced species, whether through the aquarium trade or otherwise?
>
>Nick Zarlinga
>Aquarium Biologist
>Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
>216.661.6500 ext 4485
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