Mosquitofish in Australia

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A mosquitofish by the lake in Victoria Park, Sydney Mosquitofish Victoria Park pond.jpg
A mosquitofish by the lake in Victoria Park, Sydney
Feature article regarding the introduction of Gambusia (Mosquitofish) to Western Australia by amateur fish breeder Ernest Prout. A Smack In The Eye For Mr. Mosquito Full Page Mirror Perth WA Saturday 5 November 1927.jpg
Feature article regarding the introduction of Gambusia (Mosquitofish) to Western Australia by amateur fish breeder Ernest Prout.

The eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) was introduced to Australia in 1925, and had spread from the northeast coasts to New South Wales, southern Australia, and parts of Western Australia by 1934. [1] By the 21st century, known populations of wild mosquitofish had occurred in every state and territory except the Northern Territory, found in swamps, lakes, billabongs, thermal springs, salt lakes, and ornamental ponds. Mosquitofish are considered a noxious pest, especially in New South Wales and Queensland, and it is illegal to release them into the wild or transport them live into any of the states or territories. [2] Mosquitofish were introduced by military and local councils to control mosquito populations; however, there has been no evidence that Gambusia has had any effect in controlling mosquito populations or mosquito-borne diseases. [3] Studies have shown that Gambusia can suffer mortalities if fed only on mosquito larvae, and survivors show poor growth and maturation. [1] Gambusia typically eat zooplankton, beetles, mayflies, caddis flies, mites and other invertebrates; mosquito larvae make up only a small portion of their diet. [4]

Contents

Mosquito control

Many ichthyologists believe native species are more effective in population control than mosquitofish. [5] These include species such as the western minnow and pygmy perches. [6] Unfortunately, gambusia may have exacerbated the mosquito problem in many areas by outcompeting native invertebrate predators of mosquito larvae. Because of their aggressive nature and high birthrate, mosquitofish can overtake most native species in an area, drastically harming local populations. Even if they were needed for mosquito control, studies have also shown that at least 5,000 fish/ha would be needed for effective control. However, mosquitoes' breeding environments are migratory and unreliable, so regular fish predators can have little effect from year to year. [1]

Biology

Mosquitofish have a high tolerance for salinity, low oxygen, extreme temperatures (from 0.5-35°C), and pollutants, and are therefore able to live in many areas where other fish cannot. Certain thermal adaptations have allowed them to live in places from 55° North to 44° South, expanding their natural range. [1] However, cool temperatures can affect their reproduction cycle. [7] They have a resistance to a wide variety of pollutants, including organic waste, heavy metals, insecticides, herbicides, rotenone, phenol, and radiation. [1]

Effect on native wildlife

Mosquitofish have harmed native fish populations in many ways. Gambusia holbrooki has been implicated in the decline of at least 9 fish and 10 native frog species. [7]

By consuming algae-eating zooplankton, they increase the chances of algae blooms in the water, reducing the water quality. They are very aggressive, and tend to attack other fish and nip their fins, leading to infection or death. [8] Studies have shown that the purple spotted gudgeon fish population has declined as a result of high densities of mosquitofish. [9] They have also negatively impacted populations of beetles, backswimmers, rotifers, red finned blue eye, Edgbast goby, crustaceans and mollusks, to name a few. [10] In a study done by Keane et al., 2004, one major threat to Tasmanian fauna could be to native galaxiids, as suggested by the fact that mosquitofish are known to attack and kill adult Galaxias gracilis in New Zealand. [11] If Gambusia became native in certain areas by eradicating other fish populations, it could put a great deal of stress on the remaining flora and fauna. Decreasing the number of native species would also benefit mosquitoes by decreasing the competitive pressure from other fish. Because of their high reproductive rate (an average of 50 young per brood, with up to nine broods per year), fast maturation (sexual maturity is reached in two months), and aggressive behaviour, mosquitofish can outcompete almost any native fish. [5]

Mosquitofish also pose a threat to populations of native frogs (such as Limnodynastes ornatus ) in natural water bodies where these species co-occur. In one study conducted by Keane et al., Gambusia consumed the tadpoles of L. ornatus, leading researchers to believe that over a period of time, they could wipe out the L. ornatus population as a whole. Gambusia are known predators of tadpoles of other closely related frog species, such as L. aurea and L. dentata. The green and golden bellfrog in Tasmania is now directly threatened by Gambusia, and is listed under Tasmania's Threatened Species Protection Act 1995 . [11] Another study conducted by Keane found that tadpoles are better suited to environments without introduced fish. Responses observed in the green and golden bellfrog suggest that tadpoles are naïve to mosquitofish because they did not respond to them. Additionally, Gambusia and other introduced fish may have reduced the suitability of permanent water bodies as breeding sites for pond-breeding amphibian species such as the green and golden bellfrog. [12]

One species of fish, the Edgbaston hardyhead, was as of 2007 restricted to one spring-fed pool in the Edgbaston Spring Complex located in Edgbaston Station, central Queensland. The hardyhead competes with the mosquitofish for food and resources; if the mosquitofish outcompetes the hardyhead, they will have eradicated an entire species in one fell swoop. That is why the hardyhead is now considered a high priority for conservation recovery actions in Queensland, where steps are now being taken to exterminate the mosquitofish from the spring. [13]

The mosquitofish was nominated as an environmental hazard in NSW in 1999 under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 , making it illegal for landowners to do anything that would help spread Gambusia. [14] This includes releasing mosquitofish pets into the wild, one of the biggest problems affecting local rivers throughout eastern Australia. [10]

Control measures

Proposals for Gambusia population control have included introducing viral, bacterial, or fungal diseases and parasites into an overpopulated area. However, many diseases can jump species and would harm native fish. [10]

The Tasmanian Government has taken steps to eradicate mosquitofish by containing current populations and minimising paths of dispersal. [11] In Gordon’s Lagoon at the Clarkesdale Bird Sanctuary in Linton, Victoria, which experiences major infestations of mosquitofish year-round, park managers took advantage of dry conditions by draining ponds in 2008. Residual wet areas were treated with lime solutions, changing the pH of the water and killing off the fish. [15]

In 2018, University of Western Australia researchers built a robot fish that mimics the movements and appearance of the natural predator of the mosquitofish, the largemouth bass, and found that it scared the pest species away. After a team of biologists and engineers from Australia, the US and Italy trialled using the fake predator fish, a study published in iScience in December 2021 revealed that fear of the robot fish altered the behaviour, physiology and fertility of the mosquitofish. [16]

See also

Related Research Articles

Mosquitofish Species of fish

The western Mosquitofish is a species of freshwater fish, also known commonly, if ambiguously, as simply Mosquitofish or by its generic name, Gambusia, or by the common name gambezi. Its sister species, the eastern mosquitofish is also referred to by these names.

<i>Gambusia</i> Genus of fishes

Gambusia is a large genus of viviparous fish in the family Poeciliidae. Gambusia contains over 40 species, most of which are principally found in freshwater habitats, though some species may also be found in brackish or saltwater habitats. The type species is the Cuban gambusia, G. punctata. The greatest species richness is in Mexico, Texas, and the Greater Antilles, but species are also found elsewhere in the eastern and southern United States, the Bahamas, Central America, and Colombia. Gambusia species are often called topminnows, or simply gambusias; they are also known as mosquitofish, which, however, refers more specifically to two species, G. affinis and G. holbrooki, which are often introduced into ponds to eat mosquito larvae. As a consequence, they have been introduced widely outside their native range, and frequently become invasive, threatening local species. They are only occasionally kept in aquariums, due to their relative lack of color and the highly aggressive nature of the aforementioned mosquitofish species.

Green and golden bell frog Species of amphibian

The green and golden bell frog, also named the green bell frog, green and golden swamp frog and green frog, is a ground-dwelling tree frog native to eastern Australia. Despite its classification and climbing abilities, it does not live in trees and spends almost all of its time close to ground level. It can reach up to 11 cm (4.5 in) in length, making it one of Australia's largest frogs.

Tusked frog Species of amphibian

The tusked frog is a species of ground-dwelling frog native to eastern Australia from Eungella National Park, Queensland south to Ourimbah, New South Wales. It is the only species in the genus Adelotus - adelotus meaning "unseen" and brevis meaning "short".

Squirrel tree frog Species of amphibian

The squirrel tree frog is a small species of tree frog found in the south-eastern United States, from Texas to Virginia. This is an introduced species in the Bahamas.

Eastern mosquitofish Species of fish

The eastern mosquitofish is a species of freshwater fish, closely related to the western mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis. It is a member of the family Poeciliidae of order Cyprinodontiformes. The eastern mosquitofish is native to the eastern and southern United States from Florida to Pennsylvania and inland to Alabama and Tennessee, while the western mosquitofish has a larger distribution throughout the United States.

Least chub Species of fish

The least chub is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Cyprinidae, the only member of the genus Iotichthys.

The Darling River hardyhead is a species of fish in the family Atherinidae endemic to Australia. The species name amniculus is from the Latin meaning a small creek or stream, in reference to the habitat where these fish are often found.

Clear Creek gambusia Species of fish

The Clear Creek gambusia is a species of fish in the family Poeciliidae endemic to the United States, particularly Menard County, Texas.

The honey blue-eye is an endangered species of fish in the subfamily Pseudomugilinae. It is endemic to southeastern Queensland, Australia, where it is found in mildly acidic, often tannin-stained, ponds and streams in wallum habitat.

The red-finned blue-eye is a tiny, critically endangered species of fish in the Pseudomugilidae family and the only species in its genus. The species was first recorded in 1990. It is endemic to central Queensland in Australia, where it is restricted to springs in Bush Heritage's Edgbaston Reserve.

Dusky millions fish Species of fish

The dusky millions fish, speckled mosquitofish or the one-spot livebearer is a species of fish native eastern and southern Brazil, northern Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. It has also been introduced to Australia, Malawi and New Zealand; primarily for mosquito control, but also as escapees from the aquarium trade. It has been reported as having adverse ecological effects in areas where it has been introduced. The females of this species grow to a total length of 6 centimetres (2.4 in), while males remain smaller.

<i>Melanotaenia duboulayi</i> Species of fish

Melanotaenia duboulayi, the crimson-spotted rainbowfish, less commonly known as the Duboulay's rainbowfish, is a species of freshwater rainbowfish endemic to eastern Australia. M. duboulayi has also been kept in aquariums since the early 20th century, and is the original Australian rainbowfish.

Saint Raphael Lake

Saint Raphael Lake is a small rural area just outside the locality of Kerċem, at the south-west of the island of Gozo. The area is approximately 148 m (486 ft) above sea level, and 350 m (1,150 ft) away from the sea. The area is surrounded by two of the most important bays in Gozo; the Dwejra Bay to the northwest, and the Xlendi Bay to the southeast.

Ornate rainbowfish Species of fish

The ornate rainbowfish is a species of rainbowfish endemic to an area in eastern Australia, where it is native to coastal regions and sandy offshore islands in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales. It is the only known member of its genus. It is a popular aquarium fish.

<i>Hypseleotris compressa</i> Species of fish

Hypseleotris compressa, the empire gudgeon, is a species of Gobiiform fish in the family Eleotridae endemic to Australia and south-central New Guinea.

Pacific blue-eye Species of fish

The Pacific blue-eye is a species of fish in the subfamily Pseudomugilinae native to eastern Australia. Described by Austrian naturalist Rudolf Kner in 1866, it comprises two subspecies that have been regarded as separate species in the past and may be once again with further study. It is a common fish of rivers and estuaries along the eastern seaboard from Cape York in North Queensland to southern New South Wales, the Burdekin Gap in central-north Queensland dividing the ranges of the two subspecies.

Ambassis marianus, commonly known as the estuary perchlet, Ramsay's glassfish, estuary glassfish or glass perchlet, is a species of fish in the family Ambassidae. It is native to coastal eastern Australia. It gains its common name from its transparent appearance.

Poeciliinae is a subfamily of killifish from the family Poeciliidae which contains species from the Americas which are collectively known as the livebearers because many, but not all, of the species within the subfamily are ovoviviparous.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Kitching, R.l., ed. The Ecology of Exotic Animals. Milton: John Wiley and Sons, 1986. 7-25.
  2. ↑ Fairfax, R, R Fensham, R Wager, S Brooks, A Webb, and P Unmack. 'Recovery of the Red-Finned Blue-Eye: an Endangered Fish From Springs of the Great Artesian Basin.' Wildlife Research 34 (2007): 156-166. 14 May 2008 <http://www.publish.csiro.au/?paper=WR06086>.
  3. ↑ Lake, John S. Freshwater Fishes and Rivers of Australia. Thomas Nelson and Sons, Ltd. Sydney: 1971. 26.
  4. ↑ Lund, Mark. 'Mosquitofish: Friend or Foe?' Edith Cowan University. 16 November 2005. Dr. Mark Lund's Wetlands Research Website, ECU. 9 May 2008 < "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 September 2006. Retrieved 20 September 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)>.
  5. 1 2 Pollard, Jack, ed. G.P. Whitley's Handbook of Australian Fishes. Sydney: Jack Pollard, Ltd., 1980. 489.
  6. ↑ 'Fish are Best for Mosquito and Tadpole Control in Marron Ponds.' Government of Western Australia. September 1998. Department of Fisheries. 9 May 2008 <http://www.fish.wa.gov.au/docs/aq/aq019/index.php?0404>.
  7. 1 2 Gomon, Martin; Bray, Dianne. "Eastern Gambusia, Gambusia holbrooki". Fishes of Australia. Retrieved 15 October 2014.
  8. ↑ Moore, Anthony S. 'Density Dependent Interference Competition Between Gambusia holbrooki and Three Australian Native Fish.' Australian Society for Fish Biology (2002). 9 May 2008 <http://asfb.org.au/pubs/2002/asfb_2002-45.htm#TopOfPage Archived 2010-12-30 at the Wayback Machine >.
  9. ↑ McDowall, R.m., ed. Freshwater Fishes of South-Eastern Australia. Wellington: Reed Pty, Ltd., 1980. 94.
  10. 1 2 3 'Gambusia Control Homepage.' Gambusia.Net. 9 May 2008 <http://gambusia.net>.
  11. 1 2 3 Keane, John P. and Francisco J. Neira. 'First Record of Mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki, in Tasmania, Australia: Stock Structure and Reproductive Biology.' New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 38 (2004): 857-867.
  12. ↑ Hamer, A, S Lane, and M Mahony. 'The Role of Introduced Mosquitofish in Excluding the Native Green and Golden Bell Frog From Original Habitats in South-Eastern Australia.' Oecologia 132 (2002): 445-452. 9 May 2008.
  13. ↑ 'Edgbaston Goby.' Nature Conservancy and Wildlife. 21 August 2007. Queensland Government. 14 May 2008 < "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 17 July 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)>.
  14. ↑ McKew, Maxine. 'Scientists Declare War on Mosquitofish.' ABC News. 14 April 1999. ABC News Online. 9 May 2008 <http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/stories/s21851.htm>.
  15. ↑ Komak, Spogmai, and Michael R. Crossland. 'An Assessment of the Introduced Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis holbrooki) as a Predator of Eggs, Hatchlings and Tadpoles of Native and Non-Native Anurans.' Wildlife Research (2000): 185-189. 10 May 2008.
  16. ↑ "Robot fish scare off invasive species in Australian waters, study finds". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
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