The Ballad of Banded Killifish: Examining the invasion of a native transplant fish in the Great Lakes region
Non-native fishes can cause ecological impacts as invasive species, and identifying which non-native species have harmful impacts is critical to inform management interventions and policy decisions. In the United States, non-game native transplant fishes have been overlooked as invasive species because exotic fish are often easier to regulate, and natural resource managers have historically emphasized game fish. I evaluated the invasion and potential impacts of an NGNT fish – Eastern Banded Killifish – in Lake Michigan and connected waters. I found that successful establishment and spread of Eastern Banded Killifish in locations historically unoccupied by native Western Banded Killifish may be due to the ability of the Eastern subspecies to exploit a broader range of diet items. Further, I documented widespread hybridization and introgression between invasive Eastern and native Western Banded Killifish. The results of this project can be used to inform management of invasive Eastern Banded Killifish and conservation of native Western Banded Killifish.
