New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research abstracts
New records and invasive potential of the poeciliid fish Phalloceros caudimaculatus
J. J. L. Rowley1,3
T. S. Rayner2,3
G. H. Pyke1
1Frog Ecology and Behaviour Group
Australian Museum
6 College Street, Sydney
NSW 2000, Australia
2Office of Conservation
NSW Fisheries
Port Stephens Fisheries Centre
Taylors Beach Road, Taylors Beach
NSW 2316, Australia
3Present address: School of Tropical Biology, James Cook
University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia. email: Jodi.Rowley@jcu.edu.au
Abstract Many species from the family Poeciliidae have
been transported around the world by the aquarium trade, often establishing
populations in areas far outside their natural range. The one-spot livebearer,
Phalloceros caudimaculatus is one such poeciliid species. In March
2002, a nonindigenous population of P. caudimaculatus was discovered
at Collaroy, in the Sydney metropolitan area, the first record of this species
in eastern Australia. Following this discovery, electrofishing and light-trap
surveys were conducted at the site, and dip-netting and visual surveys were
conducted in surrounding water bodies. P. caudimaculatus was widespread
and abundant at the Collaroy site, but no further populations were discovered.
Another pest poeciliid species, Gambusia holbrooki, originally present
at the site, was absent and, although the mechanism remains unclear, may have
been displaced by P. caudimaculatus. Both P. caudimaculatus
and G. holbrooki share the characteristics of successful invasive species,
with extremely broad physical tolerances and high reproductive outputs. Given
the well-documented negative ecological effects of poeciliids, especially
G. holbrooki, we recommend that a precautionary approach should be
adopted for the management of P. caudimaculatus and its eradication
from the site be attempted.
Keywords Australia; invasion; nonindigenous fishes; pest;
Phalloceros caudimaculatus; poeciliidae
M04154; Online publication date 22 July 2005 Received 24 November 2004;
accepted 8 April 2005
New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, 2005, Vol. 39:
1013-1022
0028-8330/05/3905-1013 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2005
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