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Abstract
Western mosquitofish Gambusia affinis has major impacts on Gila topminnow Poeciliopsis occidentalis. Thirteen years have passed since information on negative impacts has been published. I will list and discuss additional examples where mosquitofish have impacted topminnow. In addition, it appears that long-term drought has a synergistic and negative effect on this relationship. Since the last publications detailing the loss of Gila topminnow populations to mosquitofish, two natural topminnow populations have been lost in the Santa Cruz River basin: Redrock Canyon and Sharp Spring. Drought and climate change likely exacerbated the impacts of mosquitofish on these two populations, speeding the decline and disappearance of topminnow from both. Dynamic conservation actions are required to conserve and recover the Gila topminnow.
Parent Publication
Keywords
Madrean Archipelago,
Sky Islands,
southwestern United States,
northern Mexico,
natural environment,
fauna,
flora,
research,
management,
biodiversity,
climate change
Citation
Duncan, Douglas K. 2013. Gila topminnow interactions with western mosquitofish: An update. In: Gottfried, Gerald J.; Ffolliott, Peter F.; Gebow, Brooke S.; Eskew, Lane G.; Collins, Loa C. Merging science and management in a rapidly changing world: Biodiversity and management of the Madrean Archipelago III and 7th Conference on Research and Resource Management in the Southwestern Deserts; 2012 May 1-5; Tucson, AZ. Proceedings. RMRS-P-67. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 283-287.
