Quantifying and Predicting the Spread of Established Non-Native Fishes in Peninsular Florida, USA

The spread of non-native species plays a substantial role in the designation of a species as invasive, yet the determination and measurement of non-native-species spread is challenging, particularly for fishes, which are limited by aquatic connectivity. Spread has been quantified for fishes in a var...

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Main Authors: Katelyn M. Lawson, Hannah G. Talbert, Jeffrey E. Hill
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Biology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/2/189
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author Katelyn M. Lawson
Hannah G. Talbert
Jeffrey E. Hill
author_facet Katelyn M. Lawson
Hannah G. Talbert
Jeffrey E. Hill
author_sort Katelyn M. Lawson
collection DOAJ
description The spread of non-native species plays a substantial role in the designation of a species as invasive, yet the determination and measurement of non-native-species spread is challenging, particularly for fishes, which are limited by aquatic connectivity. Spread has been quantified for fishes in a variety of ways and exact methods vary by region and taxonomic group. In this study, we quantified fish spread in peninsular Florida and used life history traits to understand what factors contribute to the rate at which fish species spread. Using a variety of statistical analyses, we found that fast spreaders in peninsular Florida tend to have a larger body size, narrow diet, shorter time to hatch, greater salinity tolerance, and higher fecundity. However, some variables like parental care, egg diameter, and reproductive guild were the same or very similar across all established species that were included in the analyses. Predicting whether an established species will spread quickly or slowly in Florida may be more challenging than predicting whether an introduced fish species will establish, yet there is support across regions for the use of life history traits in the risk assessment process.
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spelling doaj-art-a577cd5a71674bb1827d80652fd750e92025-08-20T02:44:31ZengMDPI AGBiology2079-77372025-02-0114218910.3390/biology14020189Quantifying and Predicting the Spread of Established Non-Native Fishes in Peninsular Florida, USAKatelyn M. Lawson0Hannah G. Talbert1Jeffrey E. Hill2Program in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida, 1408 24th Street SE, Ruskin, FL 33570, USADepartment of Crop, Soil, and Environmental Sciences, 201 Funchess Hall, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USAProgram in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences, University of Florida, 1408 24th Street SE, Ruskin, FL 33570, USAThe spread of non-native species plays a substantial role in the designation of a species as invasive, yet the determination and measurement of non-native-species spread is challenging, particularly for fishes, which are limited by aquatic connectivity. Spread has been quantified for fishes in a variety of ways and exact methods vary by region and taxonomic group. In this study, we quantified fish spread in peninsular Florida and used life history traits to understand what factors contribute to the rate at which fish species spread. Using a variety of statistical analyses, we found that fast spreaders in peninsular Florida tend to have a larger body size, narrow diet, shorter time to hatch, greater salinity tolerance, and higher fecundity. However, some variables like parental care, egg diameter, and reproductive guild were the same or very similar across all established species that were included in the analyses. Predicting whether an established species will spread quickly or slowly in Florida may be more challenging than predicting whether an introduced fish species will establish, yet there is support across regions for the use of life history traits in the risk assessment process.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/2/189life historyinvasive speciesalien speciesrisk assessment
spellingShingle Katelyn M. Lawson
Hannah G. Talbert
Jeffrey E. Hill
Quantifying and Predicting the Spread of Established Non-Native Fishes in Peninsular Florida, USA
Biology
life history
invasive species
alien species
risk assessment
title Quantifying and Predicting the Spread of Established Non-Native Fishes in Peninsular Florida, USA
title_full Quantifying and Predicting the Spread of Established Non-Native Fishes in Peninsular Florida, USA
title_fullStr Quantifying and Predicting the Spread of Established Non-Native Fishes in Peninsular Florida, USA
title_full_unstemmed Quantifying and Predicting the Spread of Established Non-Native Fishes in Peninsular Florida, USA
title_short Quantifying and Predicting the Spread of Established Non-Native Fishes in Peninsular Florida, USA
title_sort quantifying and predicting the spread of established non native fishes in peninsular florida usa
topic life history
invasive species
alien species
risk assessment
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/14/2/189
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