Recent Fish Introductions Into Everglades National Park: An Unforeseen Consequence of Water Management?

Authors

Jeffrey L. Kline, South Florida Natural Resources Center, Everglades National Park
William F. Loftus, Aquatic Research & Communication, LLCFollow
Kevin Kotun, South Florida Natural Resources Center, Everglades National ParkFollow
Joel C. Trexler, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International UniversityFollow
Jennifer S. Rehage, Earth & Environment Department, Southeast Environmental Research Center, Florida International UniversityFollow
Jerome J. Lorenz, Audubon Florida, Tavernier Science CenterFollow
Michelle Robinson, Audubon Florida, Tavernier Science Center

Abstract

Non-native fishes present a management challenge to maintaining Everglades National Park (ENP) in a natural state. We summarized data from long-term fish monitoring studies in ENP and reviewed the timing of introductions relative to water-management changes. Beginning in the early 1950s, management actions have added canals, altered wetland habitats by flooding and drainage, and changed inflows into ENP, particularly in the Taylor Slough/C-111 basin and Rocky Glades. The first non-native fishes likely entered ENP by the late 1960s, but species numbers increased sharply in the early 1980s when new water-management actions were implemented. After 1999, eight non-native species and three native species, all previously recorded outside of Park boundaries, were found for the first time in ENP. Several of these incursions occurred following structural and operational changes that redirected water deliveries to wetlands open to the eastern boundary canals. Once established, control non-native fishes in Everglades wetlands is difficult; therefore, preventing introductions is key to their management. Integrating actions that minimize the spread of non-native species into protected natural areas into the adaptive management process for planning, development, and operation of water-management features may help to achieve the full suite of objectives for Everglades restoration.

Comments

The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13157-012-0362-0

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation through the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research program under Cooperative Agreements #DBI-0620409 and #DEB-9910514. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Recommended Citation

Kline, J., W.F. Loftus, K. Kotun, J.C. Trexler, J.S. Rehage, J.J. Lorenz, M. Robinson. 2013. Recent Fish Introductions Into Everglades National Park: An Unforeseen Consequence of Water Management? Wetlands DOI: 10.1007/s13157-012-0362-0