The use of native piscivorous fishes for the eradication of the invasive Chinese Sleeper, Perccottus glenii

Abstract

The chief aim of invasive species management is to prevent biological invasions by taking measures for suppressing or eradicating potential invaders. Biological control as a management tool is frequently implemented to reduce the population size, adverse ecological impacts, and dispersal of invasive species. The efficacy of biological control measures in managing the Perccottus glenii population was assessed in four small lakes of Lithuania. The biocontrol was carried out by introducing the native piscivorous fishes Esox lucius and Perca fluviatilis into the invaded water bodies for two successive reproductive seasons. The stocking of these fishes led to an instant reduction in P. glenii abundances, and the outcome of the repeated stocking was complete disappearance of the species from the water bodies investigated. Our study proves that native predator fishes can be successfully used for eradicating well-established P. glenii populations in small eutrophic lakes. We hope the current study results will contribute to developing risk-commensurate methodologies for the control of invasive P. glenii populations in small water bodies.

Keywords

• biological control
• fish community
• invasion management
• Perca fluviatilis
• Esox lucius