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1
Dove, A. D. M., T. H. Cribb, S. P. Mockler, and M. Lintermans. "The Asian fish tapeworm, Bothriocephalus acheilognathi, in Australian freshwater fishes." Marine and Freshwater Research 48, no. 2 (1997): 181. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf96069.
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Bothriocephalus acheilognathi was collected from 13 of 38 carp (Cyprinus carpio), 2 of 4 mosquito fish (Gambusia holbrooki), and 2 of 12 western carp gudgeon (Hypseleotris klunzingeri ) in waterways of the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales. This is the first record of this parasite in Australia, and its presence in H. klunzingeri is a new host record. B. acheilognathi presumably arrived in Australia with its introduced fish hosts and has since crossed into native fishes. This cestode may infect other native fish species, a potential that is significant given the high pathogenicity associated with infection in other known hosts.
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Taylor, Matthew D. "First reports of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in Australian native and introduced freshwater fish and crustaceans." Marine and Freshwater Research 69, no. 4 (2018): 628. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf17242.
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Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are persistent organic pollutants that have been extensively used in commercial and industrial applications, such as aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) formulations. Widespread use of AFFFs has led to an increasing number of reports documenting PFAS contamination around civilian and military airports. However, research on the presence and distribution of PFASs in Australia is lacking. This study presents the first report of PFASs in Australian native and introduced freshwater species, sampled from a watercourse adjacent to the regional airport and colocated fire training ground near Tamworth, New South Wales, Australia. Perfluorooctane sulfonate was the most abundant PFAS compound in biota samples from this area, and both introduced common carp Cyprinus carpio and native Murray cod Maccullochella peelii had average concentrations higher than the Australian trigger value of 5.2μgkg–1. Common yabby Cherax destructor and golden perch Macquaria ambigua carried low concentrations, and common yabby also had low concentrations of perfluorohexane sulfonate. Differences in foraging habits provided some potential explanations of the differences observed among species. There is a clear and pressing need to better understand potential toxicological and reproductive effects of PFASs on Australian freshwater species.
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Shamsi, S., A. Stoddart, L. Smales, and S. Wassens. "Occurrence of Contracaecum bancrofti larvae in fish in the Murray–Darling Basin." Journal of Helminthology 93, no. 05 (July 18, 2018): 574–79. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022149x1800055x.
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AbstractThere is a paucity of information on the diversity and occurrence of freshwater fish parasites in Australia. This study investigates the distribution and occurrence of a parasitic nematode of the genusContracaecumin freshwater fish from south-eastern Australia. Fish (n= 508) belonging to nine species and eight families were collected from eight wetlands associated with the Murrumbidgee River floodplain in the southern Murray–Darling Basin and subjected to laboratory examination. Third-stage nematode larvae were found in eight of the nine fish species. The exception was the fly-specked hardeyhead (Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum), although only one specimen of this species was examined. Nematode larvae were identified asContracaecum bancroftiusing a combined morphological and molecular approach. The parasite was most prevalent in weather loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus; 34.8%) and Australian smelt (Retropinna semoni; 21.4%), followed by carp (Cyprinus carpio; 9.5%), of which the former and latter are non-native species.Contracaecumprevalence differed between locations, with Two Bridges having the highest number of infected fish. This may be due to the higher number of suitable host species collected at these localities.Contracaecumspp. are parasites with low host specificity that have also been reported in Australian marine fish, humans and piscivorous birds. The high parasite prevalence in the two abundant non-native fish species in the region suggests that they act as a suitable host for this endemic parasite, resulting in the increase in the parasite population. It would be interesting to study host–parasite interactions in this area, especially if introduced fish populations declined dramatically in the attempt to eradicate them or control their population.
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Shams, Foyez, Fiona Dyer, Ross Thompson, Richard P. Duncan, Jason D. Thiem, Zuzana Majtánová, and Tariq Ezaz. "Karyotypes and Sex Chromosomes in Two Australian Native Freshwater Fishes, Golden Perch (Macquaria ambigua) and Murray Cod (Maccullochella peelii) (Percichthyidae)." International Journal of Molecular Sciences 20, no. 17 (August 30, 2019): 4244. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms20174244.
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Karyotypic data from Australian native freshwater fishes are scarce, having been described from relatively few species. Golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) and Murray cod (Maccullochella peelii) are two large-bodied freshwater fish species native to Australia with significant indigenous, cultural, recreational and commercial value. The arid landscape over much of these fishes’ range, coupled with the boom and bust hydrology of their habitat, means that these species have potential to provide useful evolutionary insights, such as karyotypes and sex chromosome evolution in vertebrates. Here we applied standard and molecular cytogenetic techniques to characterise karyotypes for golden perch and Murray cod. Both species have a diploid chromosome number 2n = 48 and a male heterogametic sex chromosome system (XX/XY). While the karyotype of golden perch is composed exclusively of acrocentric chromosomes, the karyotype of Murray cod consists of two submetacentric and 46 subtelocentric/acrocentric chromosomes. We have identified variable accumulation of repetitive sequences (AAT)10 and (CGG)10 along with diverse methylation patterns, especially on the sex chromosomes in both species. Our study provides a baseline for future cytogenetic analyses of other Australian freshwater fishes, especially species from the family Percichthyidae, to better understand their genome and sex chromosome evolution.
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Height, S. G., and G. J. Whisson. "Behavioural responses of Australian freshwater crayfish (Cherax cainii and Cherax albidus) to exotic fish odour." Australian Journal of Zoology 54, no. 6 (2006): 399. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo06011.
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Exotic finfish and crayfish have been translocated into Western Australia for more than 100 years. Deliberate stocking and subsequent escape from man-made impoundments have resulted in widespread distribution of non-native yabbies (Cherax albidus) and the exotic redfin perch (Perca fluviatilis) in the State’s south-west. Both species are considered invasive and are known to compete with indigenous species for resources. The nature and degree of impact on native marron (Cherax cainii) is unclear and the subject of current debate. Other researchers have hypothesised that invasive species modify their behaviour in the presence of predators in a more rapid and advantageous manner than native species. This greater behavioural plasticity can result in displacement of indigenous species and successful colonisation of invaders. The aim of this study was to investigate behavioural responses of an indigenous crayfish (C. cainii) and an invasive crayfish (C. albidus) to odours from a native predator (Tandanus bostocki) and an exotic predatory fish (P. fluviatilis) present in Western Australia. Crayfish behaviour was observed in individual glass tanks following the addition of odours from native (T. bostocki) or exotic (P. fluviatilis) finfish predators. Marron exhibited minor behavioural modifications when presented with odours from native or exotic finfish. In contrast, the invasive yabby showed greater detection of odours, displaying significant changes in behaviour (P < 0.05). Yabbies also appeared to distinguish between food odour (commercial crayfish feed) and predator odour; however, neither marron nor yabbies displayed behaviour indicating that they could distinguish between a native or exotic fish predator. Results support the hypothesis that invasive crayfish species have a greater capacity for behavioural plasticity than non-invasive crayfish.
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Close, Paul G., Tom J. Ryan, David L. Morgan, Stephen J. Beatty, and Craig S. Lawrence. "First record of ‘climbing’ and ‘jumping’ by juvenile Galaxias truttaceus Valenciennes, 1846 (Galaxiidae) from south-western Australia." Australian Journal of Zoology 62, no. 2 (2014): 175. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo14004.
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Upstream migration of juvenile stages of temperate Australian amphidromous fish typically coincides with seasonally low river discharge when hydraulic (e.g. cascades) and physical (e.g. rock bars) barriers may be common. The ability to ‘climb’ or ‘jump’ may be expected to assist in negotiating low-flow barriers; however, it is presumed to be limited to a few native Australian freshwater fishes. Juvenile stages of Galaxias truttaceus Valenciennes, 1846 were observed ‘climbing’ and ‘jumping’ to successfully negotiate a low, vertical weir wall during their upstream recruitment migrations in south-western Australia. Based on this observation, we propose initial definitions for ‘climbing’ and ‘jumping’ to describe locomotory strategies employed by fishes to negotiate obstacles that would otherwise prevent free passage by normal swimming behaviour. Greater knowledge of the climbing, jumping and swimming performance, especially for small-bodied species and early life stages, will help improve the management of instream barriers for this critically endangered species and other freshwater fishes of southern Australia.
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Dove, A. D. M., and A. S. Fletcher. "The distribution of the introduced tapeworm Bothriocephalus acheilognathi in Australian freshwater fishes." Journal of Helminthology 74, no. 2 (June 2000): 121–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022149x00000160.
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AbstractNative and exotic fishes were collected from 29 sites across coastal and inland New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, using a range of techniques, to infer the distribution of Bothriocephalus acheilognathi (Cestoda: Pseudophyllidea) and the host species in which it occurs. The distribution of B. acheilognathi was determined by that of its principal host, carp, Cyprinuscarpio; it did not occur at sites where carp were not present. The parasite was recorded from all native fish species where the sample size exceeded 30 and which were collected sympatrically with carp: Hypseleotris klunzingeri, Hypseleotris sp. 4, Hypseleotris sp. 5, Phylipnodon grandiceps and Retropinna semoni. Bothriocephalus acheilognathi was also recorded from the exotic fishes Gambusia holbrooki and Carassiusauratus. Hypseleotris sp. 4, Hypseleotris sp. 5, P. grandiceps, R. semoni and C. auratus are new host records. The parasite was not recorded from any sites in coastal drainages. The only carp population examined from a coastal drainage (Albert River, south-east Queensland) was also free of infection; those fish had a parasite fauna distinct from that of carp in inland drainages and may represent a separate introduction event. Bothriocephalus acheilognathi has apparently spread along with its carp hosts and is so far restricted to the Murray-Darling Basin. The low host specificity of this parasite is cause for concern given the threatened or endangered nature of some Australian native freshwater fish species. A revised list of definitive hosts of B. acheilognathiis presented.
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Ohee, Henderite L. "Keanekaragaman Ikan di Selatan Papua." JURNAL BIOLOGI PAPUA 9, no. 2 (May 14, 2018): 74–83. http://dx.doi.org/10.31957/jbp.117.
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One of zoogeographic provinces of freshwater fish in New Guinea is Southern Province, which almost the same size as Northern Province. This region has high diversity of freshwater fish and also shared 33 species with northern Australia due to land connection in the past. Some endemicity areas with high conservation value are found in this region. The research aims is documenting freshwater fish diversity and its distribution in Southern Papua regencies: Boven Digoel, Mappi, Merauke and Timika. It had been conducted from July to November 2016. Purposive sampling method was used on this research. The fish samples were collected with active method using seine net and those collected with passive method was using gill netts. Fifty species, which consist of 44 natives and 6 introduced species that are part of 29 families and 39 genera were recorded in Timika, Asmat, Boven Digoel, Mappi and Merauke. There was no any dominant fish family found in the survey. Most species found during the survey (60%) has distributed in South New Guinea and Northern Australia. Six (6) introduced species were found spreading in several locations in Southern Papua. Freshwater fish richness in South of Papua and its restricted distribution in the area have showed high conservation value of the area, which should be well managed to avoid fish extinction. Key words: native, endemic, introduced, freshwater fish, South of New Guinea
9
Shamsi, S., A. Turner, and S. Wassens. "Description and genetic characterization of a newContracaecumlarval type (Nematoda: Anisakidae) from Australia." Journal of Helminthology 92, no. 2 (May 5, 2017): 216–22. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022149x17000360.
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AbstractNematode parasites belonging to the genusContracaecumare economically important parasites with zoonotic significance. AdultContracaecumspp. are found in the stomach of marine mammals or piscivorous birds, and larval stages infect a wide range of invertebrates and fish species. Human infection withContracaecumlarvae has been reported in Australia and other countries after the consumption of infected fish. Although the genusContracaecumcomprises numerous species, thus far only fourContracaecumlarval types have been specifically identified, therefore their life cycle and biology are not yet fully understood. In this study, a newContracaecumlarva (type IV), found in the intestinal tissue of carp caught from Coonancoocabil Lagoon, New South Wales, Australia, is described and characterized genetically. It was identified asContracaecum bancrofti,a unique Australian species reported previously from the Australian pelican in Northern Territory, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. This study highlights the role of migratory birds and introduced fish species, such as carp, in distributing zoonotic pathogens not only across the continent but also from marine to freshwater systems. Coonancoocabil Lagoon is located in the Murrumbidgee Valley National Park, a highly managed conservation area with native fish in wetlands located in close proximity to several fish farms and hatcheries. Infection of a highly resilient invasive fish species, such as carp, with a zoonotic parasite of low host specificity, such asContracaecumlarvae, should be alarming for aquaculture and environmental authorities.
10
Spiller, Lindsey, Pauline F. Grierson, Peter M. Davies, Jan Hemmi, Shaun P. Collin, and Jennifer L. Kelley. "Functional diversity of the lateral line system among populations of a native Australian freshwater fish." Journal of Experimental Biology 220, no. 12 (April 10, 2017): 2265–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.151530.
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Russell, D. J., T. J. Ryan, A. J. McDougall, S. E. Kistle, and G. Aland. "Species diversity and spatial variation in fish assemblage structure of streams in connected tropical catchments in northern Australia with reference to the occurrence of translocated and exotic species." Marine and Freshwater Research 54, no. 7 (2003): 813. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf02046.
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The freshwater piscifauna of the watercourses of the Barron and Mitchell systems, two northern Australian catchments with adjacent headwaters, was surveyed. Fifty-eight species of fish from 26 families, including several marine vagrants, were sampled from the freshwater reaches of the Barron River, compared to 28�species from 15 families from the Mitchell River. Species diversity and richness was higher in the coastal section of the Barron catchment owing to the influence of marine vagrants and species that were estuarine dependent for part of their life cycle. Detrended correspondence analysis of fish abundance data showed that sites in the coastal Barron catchment and the Mitchell catchment were widely separated in ordination space. Historically, barriers to fish movement determined species composition in both catchments, but there have been major changes in species composition as a result of extensive translocations of native fish into the Barron catchment over the last 50 years. Five species of exotic fish, including the cichlids Tilapia mariae and Oreochromis mossambicus, were established in the Barron system and one species in the Mitchell catchment. Cherax quadricarinatus, a crustacean endemic to western drainages, has been translocated into the Barron catchment and has since become widely established. This has implications for the interbasin transfer of irrigation water between the Barron and the Mitchell catchments potentially providing a mechanism for fish, including the exotic species O. mossambicus, to spread across northern Australia.
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Butler, Gavin L., Brad Mackay, Stuart J. Rowland, and Bruce C. Pease. "Retention of intra-peritoneal transmitters and post-operative recovery of four Australian native fish species." Marine and Freshwater Research 60, no. 4 (2009): 361. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf08147.
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Regulation of the world’s rivers has permanently altered the natural flow regime in many systems. Australia’s rivers have also been subject to extensive modification; however, little is known of the effect altered flows have on many native fish species. Active transmitters offer an effective method of monitoring fish movement but there is little information on tag retention and post-tagging survival for most Australian species. Four fish species from the north-eastern rivers of New South Wales were surgically implanted with dummy transmitters to determine retention and incision healing rates. Eel-tailed catfish (Tandanus tandanus) were implanted with three types of dummy radio transmitters and the transmitter with the shortest externally exited antenna is recommended. In Australian bass (Macquaria novemaculeata), low water temperature, abdominal distention in females and the breakdown of dissolvable sutures contributed to the expulsion of dummy acoustic transmitters. Freshwater mullet (Myxus petardi) and sea mullet (Mugil cephalus) were implanted with dummy acoustic transmitters and healing rates were different between the two species. The present study demonstrated species specificity in tag suitability and recovery rates, the advantages of quarantining fish before release following the surgical implantation of transmitters and the value of controlled experiments to determine optimal transmitter design and post-operative conditions.
13
Gehrke, PC, and JH Harris. "The role of fish in cyanobacterial blooms in Australia." Marine and Freshwater Research 45, no. 5 (1994): 905. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf9940905.
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Potential pathways for interaction between fish and cyanobacteria include fish grazing directly on cyanobacteria, fish preying on grazers of cyanobacteria, fish supplying nutrients through excretion, fish providing nutrients by resuspending sediments, and fish altering the availability of nutrients and light by damaging macrophytes. The dominant interactions in Australia are likely to be through pathways that increase the availability of nutrients at the bottom of the food web. Carp probably contribute to these pathways more than do other species by excreting nutrients, resuspending sediments and damaging macrophytes. Further research, on both alien and native fish species, is needed to quantify these processes. Grazing of cyanobacteria by fish is probably trivial because freshwater fish in Australia lack mechanisms to process cyanobacterial cells effectively. Trophic interactions between planktivorous fish, zooplankton and cyanobacteria require closer study to assess the potential for preventing cyanobacterial blooms by manipulating natural predator communities in Australia. However, the need to protect and strengthen native fish stocks precludes removal of native fish to reduce predation pressure on zooplankton communities. Alternative solutions that combine control of nutrients entering waterways and removal of carp have a higher likelihood of success.
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Koster, W. M., and D. A. Crook. "Using telemetry data to develop conceptual models of movement to support the management of riverine fishes." Marine and Freshwater Research 68, no. 8 (2017): 1567. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf16415.
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As human demands for freshwater resources increase, there is growing concern for the long-term viability of native fish populations globally. Understanding the movements of fish, and how these are influenced by or respond to environmental changes, is a critical knowledge requirement for effective management; however, limited information on the ecological requirements of many fish species currently hinders our ability to sustainably manage fish populations. In this paper, we use four native Australian fish species with contrasting life histories as case studies to demonstrate how data derived from acoustic and radiotelemetry studies can be synthesised into conceptual diagrams to help scientists and managers develop targeted and effective conservation management strategies. Commonalities in the observed movement patterns were observed among the species despite their contrasting life histories, but there were also important differences that need to be recognised in the development of species-specific conservation management strategies. We conclude by discussing how such information has been or could be incorporated into conservation management actions, including the implementation of environmental flow releases and the identification of critical habitats.
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DOVE, A. D. M. "Richness patterns in the parasite communities of exotic poeciliid fishes." Parasitology 120, no. 6 (June 2000): 609–23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0031182099005958.
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Three species of poeciliids (Gambusia holbrooki, Xiphophorus helleri and X. maculatus) and 15 species of ecologically similar native freshwater fishes (mainly eleotrids, ambassids, melanotaeniids and retropinnids) were examined for parasite richness to investigate parasite flux, qualitative differences, quantitative differences and the structuring factors in parasite communities in the 2 fish types in Queensland, Australia. Theory suggests that poeciliids would harbour depauperate parasite communities. Results supported this hypothesis; poeciliids harboured more species-poor parasite infracommunities and regional faunas than natives (P < 0·0001), despite greater sampling effort for the former. Cluster analysis of presence/absence data for poeciliids and the 6 most-sampled native fishes revealed that parasite communities of the 2 fish groups are qualitatively distinct; the proportion of parasite species with complex life-cycles was lower in poeciliids than in native species, and Myxosporea, Microspora, Coccidia and parasitic Crustacea were all absent from poeciliids. Limited exchange of parasite species has occurred between natives and poeciliids. Logistic ordinal regression analysis revealed that fish origin (exotic or native), environmental disturbance and host sex were all significant determinants of parasite community richness (P < 0·05). Theoretical modelling suggests that poeciliids are at a competitive advantage over native fishes because of their lack of parasites.
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Blake, Tim. "A Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes, Crayfish and Mussels of South-Western Australia." Pacific Conservation Biology 18, no. 2 (2012): 148. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc120148.
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MORGAN et al. have filled a significant gap in the library of pictorial guides to the fauna of South- Western Australia with this publication. This pocketsized edition is a must for anyone who has any interest in the natural history of the South West as well as schools, community groups and anyone who wishes to start investigating the fauna of our rivers. Not only will this guide help anyone with identification, but it will alert them to the very existence of so many native species. Perhaps any small fish will no longer be written off as a “mosquito fish” and elicit a more detailed look. It is quite surprising that there are only 11 native species of fish in the whole south-west province but impressive that 9 are endemic – the highest ratio in any part of Australia. The presence of as many crayfish species (11), many of very limited distribution, is also of note. However, it is quite disturbing that 12 (and likely more) introduced fish species are also listed for identification. A further reflection is that only 1 fish and 3 crayfish in the whole of Australia are on the Critically Endangered list under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 – all of these are in the area covered by the guide.
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Klunzinger, Michael W., Stephen J. Beatty, David L. Morgan, Gordon J. Thomson, and Alan J. Lymbery. "Glochidia ecology in wild fish populations and laboratory determination of competent host fishes for an endemic freshwater mussel of south-western Australia." Australian Journal of Zoology 60, no. 1 (2012): 26. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo12022.
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Glochidia (parasitic larvae) of freshwater mussels generally require a fish as a host. Westralunio carteri Iredale, 1934 (Bivalvia : Hyriidae), the only freshwater mussel found in south-western Australia, was listed as Vulnerable, but recently changed to Least Concern (International Union for the Conservation of Nature). Glochidia were found on four alien and seven native species of fish from 18 sites in the South West Coast Drainage Division. On alien fishes, prevalence of glochidia ranged from 0.0 to 41.0% and mean intensity (number of glochidia per infested fish) from 1.0 to 6.0, while on native fishes prevalence was 9.2–90.5% and intensity was 2.3–7.1. Glochidia infestation was greatest on benthic fishes, which may be a consequence of greater encounter rates, but other factors, such as host size, probably also influence glochidia prevalence and intensity. Glochidia were generally restricted to fins of infested fish, and were rarely on gills or the body surface. In the laboratory, four native and one alien fish species were found to be competent hosts for their ability to produce juvenile W. carteri, but two alien fish species were not. The inability of some alien fishes to produce juvenile W. carteri could potentially reduce recruitment success in areas dominated by alien fishes.
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HARFORD, A., K. OHALLORAN, and P. WRIGHT. "The effects of in vitro pesticide exposures on the phagocytic function of four native Australian freshwater fish." Aquatic Toxicology 75, no. 4 (November 30, 2005): 330–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aquatox.2005.09.005.
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Hamilton, Serena H., Carmel A. Pollino, and Keith F. Walker. "Regionalisation of freshwater fish assemblages in the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia." Marine and Freshwater Research 68, no. 4 (2017): 629. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf15359.
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Regionalisations based on species assemblages are a useful framework for characterising ecological communities and revealing patterns in the environment. In the present study, multivariate analyses are used to discern large-scale patterns in fish assemblages in the Murray–Darling Basin, based on information from the Murray–Darling Basin Authority’s first Sustainable Rivers Audit (SRA), conducted in 2004–2007. The Basin is classified into nine regions with similar historical fish assemblages (i.e. without major human intervention), using data that combine expert opinion, museum collections and historical records. These regions are (1) Darling Basin Plains, (2) Northern Uplands, (3) Murray Basin Plains, (4) Northern Alps, (5) Central East, (6) Avoca Lowland, (7) Southern Slopes, (8) Southern Alps and (9) South-Western Slopes. Associations between assemblages and physical variables (catchment area, elevation, hydrology, precipitation, temperature) are identified and used to reinforce the definitions of regions. Sustainable Rivers Audit data are compared with the historical assemblages, highlighting species whose range and abundance have changed since the early 19th century. Notable changes include declines in native species such as silver perch, river blackfish, mountain galaxias, Macquarie perch, trout cod and freshwater catfish, and the advent of alien species including common carp, eastern gambusia, goldfish, redfin perch, brown trout and rainbow trout. Less significant declines are evident for native carp gudgeons, golden perch, two-spined blackfish, bony herring and flathead gudgeon. Changes are evident even in regions where habitats have been little disturbed in the past 200 years.
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Hardy, Christopher M., Mark Adams, Dean R. Jerry, Leon N. Court, Matthew J. Morgan, and Diana M. Hartley. "DNA barcoding to support conservation: species identification, genetic structure and biogeography of fishes in the Murray - Darling River Basin, Australia." Marine and Freshwater Research 62, no. 8 (2011): 887. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf11027.
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Freshwater fish stocks worldwide are under increasing threat of overfishing, disease, pollution and competition from introduced species. In the Murray—Darling Basin (MDB), the largest river system of Australia, more than half the native species are listed as rare or endangered. Active management is required to counteract reduction in population sizes, prevent local extinctions and to maintain genetic diversity. We describe the first comprehensive set of DNA barcodes able to discriminate between all 58 native and introduced species of freshwater fish recorded in the MDB. These barcodes also distinguish populations from those in adjacent basins, with estimated separation times as short as 0.1 million years ago. We demonstrate the feasibility of using DNA fingerprinting of ribosomal RNA (12S and 18S rRNA) genes and mitochondrial DNA control region (mtDNA CR) sequences to identify species from eggs, larvae, tissues and predator gut contents as well as differentiate populations, morphologically cryptic species and hybrids. The DNA barcode resource will enhance capacity in many areas of fish conservation biology that can benefit from improved knowledge of genetic provenance. These include captive breeding and restocking programs, life history studies and ecological research into the interactions between populations of native and exotic species.
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King, A. J. "Ontogenetic dietary shifts of fishes in an Australian floodplain river." Marine and Freshwater Research 56, no. 2 (2005): 215. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf04117.
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The early life of fishes is marked by rapid development when individuals are thought to optimise their success through ontogeny by altering ecological niches and resources. Since most fish larvae are thought to require small prey items at first feeding, competition for potentially limiting food resources may occur between species creating a juvenile bottleneck, which may, in turn, influence future recruitment strength. The diets of the early life stages of most Australian freshwater fish are poorly known. The present study investigated the ontogenetic dietary patterns of six species of fish in an Australian floodplain river. A large proportion of first-feeding larvae of three species (Murray cod, Australian smelt and carp) were able to feed externally while still retaining their yolk sac. All species demonstrated major dietary shifts from newly hatched larvae through development into juvenile stages and adulthood. Only a few minor overlaps in diet were found, with greater overlaps commonly occurring between sequential stages of the same species, reflecting subtle ontogenetic changes. Despite two co-occurrences of an introduced and a native species using the same rearing habitat as larvae, dietary preferences did not significantly overlap, suggesting that a recruitment bottleneck caused by competition for food resources is unlikely for these species.
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Lintermans, Mark, Hayley M. Geyle, Stephen Beatty, Culum Brown, Brendan C. Ebner, Rob Freeman, Michael P. Hammer, et al. "Big trouble for little fish: identifying Australian freshwater fishes in imminent risk of extinction." Pacific Conservation Biology 26, no. 4 (2020): 365. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc19053.
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Globally, freshwater fishes are declining at an alarming rate. Despite much evidence of catastrophic declines, few Australian species are listed as threatened under national legislation. We aim to help redress this by identifying the Australian freshwater fishes that are in the most immediate risk of extinction. For 22 freshwater fishes (identified as highly threatened by experts), we used structured expert elicitation to estimate the probability of extinction in the next ~20 years, and to identify key threats and priority management needs. All but one of the 22 species are small (<150mm total length), 12 have been formally described only in the last decade, with seven awaiting description. Over 90% of these species were assessed to have a >50% probability of extinction in the next ~20 years. Collectively, the biggest factor contributing to the likelihood of extinction of the freshwater fishes considered is that they occur in small (distributions ≤44km2), geographically isolated populations, and are threatened by a mix of processes (particularly alien fishes and climate change). Nineteen of these species are unlisted on national legislation, so legislative drivers for recovery actions are largely absent. Research has provided strong direction on how to manage ~35% of known threats to the species considered, and, of these, ~36% of threats have some management underway (although virtually none are at the stage where intervention is no longer required). Increased resourcing, management intervention and social attitudinal change is urgently needed to avert the impending extinction of Australia’s most imperilled freshwater fishes.
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Ayres, Renae M., Vincent J. Pettigrove, and Ary A. Hoffmann. "Genetic structure and diversity of introduced eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) in south-eastern Australia." Marine and Freshwater Research 63, no. 12 (2012): 1206. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf11279.
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The closely related eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) and western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) have been introduced into many countries and collectively represent the most widely distributed freshwater fish in the world. We investigated genetic patterns associated with the spread of G. holbrooki in its introduced range in south-eastern Australia, by sampling 60 G. holbrooki populations (n = 1771) from major regions where G. holbrooki was initially introduced into Australia, and characterising the genetic diversity and population structure of G. holbrooki, using five polymorphic nuclear microsatellite loci and sequences from two mitochondrial genetic markers. Results were compared with published data on American and European Gambusia samples and historical records. Low microsatellite diversity and strong population genetic structuring were found within G. holbrooki in south-eastern Australia. Observed heterozygosity and allelic richness declined regionally in the order Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Adelaide. Microsatellite variation in Australia was reduced compared with native populations. Two mitochondrial DNA haplotypes of G. holbrooki were found; one was common, whereas the other was detected in one Sydney population and one Melbourne population. Cytochrome b sequence diversity was reduced compared with native and European ranges, and sequences were identical to two haplotypes previously identified. Microsatellite diversity of G. holbrooki in south-eastern Australia validates historical records of its spread, beginning north and moving south. Mitochondrial sequencing confirms that G. holbrooki is present in Australia, but the origins of Australian G. holbrooki populations remain unclear.
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Costello, Mark J. "Biogeography of Alien Amphipods Occurring in Ireland, and Interactions With Native Species." Crustaceana 65, no. 3 (1993): 287–99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/156854093x00720.
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AbstractFive alien species of amphipod Crustacea have arrived in Ireland this century. The terrestrial Arcitalitrus dorrieni (originally Australasian) and freshwater Crangonyx pseudogracilis (North American) were probably accidentally introduced with garden and garden-pond plants respectively. They had arrived by 1936 and 1969 (respectively), but have had very limited expansion of their ranges since then. The marine Corophium sextonae (originally from New Zealand) arrived by 1982, probably by natural means, from south-west Britain. The freshwater Gammarus pulex was deliberately introduced from Britain in the 1950s to enhance fisheries. However, the effects of this species on freshwater fish (as food source or in introducing parasites) have never been assessed. G. tigrinus was probably introduced accidentally from North America by ships during World War 1. These species are replacing the native G. duebenii celticus and G. lacustris, perhaps through a combination of interspecific and intraspecific predation, and greater population growth in certain biotopes. Despite its former abundance and ubiquity in Ireland, the long-term survival of G. d. celticus (a subspecies rare outside Ireland) appears threatened. The only other freshwater amphipod in Ireland, the subterranean Niphargus kochianus irlandicus is unique to Ireland, but too little is known of its biology and ecology to assess its status. The effects of the introduced species on the ecology of freshwater and terrestrial systems in Ireland remain unknown.
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Lostrom, Samantha, Jonathan P. Evans, Pauline F. Grierson, Shaun P. Collin, Peter M. Davies, and Jennifer L. Kelley. "Linking stream ecology with morphological variability in a native freshwater fish from semi‐arid Australia." Ecology and Evolution 5, no. 16 (July 16, 2015): 3272–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.1590.
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Chilcott, Stuart, Rob Freeman, Peter E. Davies, David A. Crook, Wayne Fulton, Premck Hamr, David Jarvis, and Andrew C. Sanger. "Extinct habitat, extant species: lessons learned from conservation recovery actions for the Pedder galaxias (Galaxias pedderensis) in south-west Tasmania, Australia." Marine and Freshwater Research 64, no. 9 (2013): 864. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf12257.
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The Pedder galaxias (Galaxias pedderensis) from Lake Pedder, Tasmania, Australia, is one of the world’s most threatened freshwater fish. The flooding of Lake Pedder in 1972 for hydroelectric power generation caused a major change to the ecosystem that initiated an irreversible decline in the Pedder galaxias within its natural range. The flooding inundated another headwater catchment and native and introduced fish from this catchment colonised the impoundment. Numbers of the Pedder galaxias declined markedly as the impoundment matured and as colonising fish proliferated. Surveys in the 1980s confirmed the parlous state of the population, highlighting the need for conservation intervention. Several urgent conservation actions were undertaken to save the species from extinction. Translocation was considered the most important recovery action, given the critically low numbers in the wild. The species is now extinct from its natural range and is known from only two translocated populations. The conservation program, and specifically the translocation recovery action, saved the Pedder galaxias from extinction. The conservation management was extremely challenging since rapidly declining fish numbers needed timely and critical decisions to underpin the future of the fish. Recommendations are provided arising from this case study to guide conservation of freshwater fish in similar circumstances.
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Chessman, Bruce C. "Prediction of riverine fish assemblages through the concept of environmental filters." Marine and Freshwater Research 57, no. 6 (2006): 601. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf06091.
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Although the taxonomic composition and richness of fish assemblages are important properties to be considered in freshwater bioassessment, conservation and rehabilitation, it can be difficult to establish a natural benchmark for these properties because of widespread human impact and a lack of pristine reference sites or pre-impact data. As an alternative to the reference site approach, the concept of multiple environmental filters was used to predict the assemblages of fish taxa expected in the absence of anthropogenic stress at 85 sites on rivers in north-eastern New South Wales, Australia. The predicted native fish assemblages were compared with the assemblages recorded by backpack and boat electrofishing at each site. The number of native species predicted by the filters model at each site was highly correlated with the observed number of native species (R2 = 0.75; P < 0.001) but the observed number was generally lower. The model had an average sensitivity of 93% and specificity of 87%, but sensitivity and specificity were considerably less for a few species, including some that are known to have suffered historical declines or been translocated outside of their natural ranges. Comparisons between predicted and observed richness and composition can be used to identify areas of high conservation value and areas where native fish assemblages have been adversely affected by anthropogenic impacts.
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Kelley, Jennifer L., Peter M. Davies, Shaun P. Collin, and Pauline F. Grierson. "Morphological plasticity in a native freshwater fish from semiarid Australia in response to variable water flows." Ecology and Evolution 7, no. 16 (July 20, 2017): 6595–605. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.3167.
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Islam, Md Rakeb-Ul, Daniel J. Schmidt, David A. Crook, and Jane M. Hughes. "Patterns of genetic structuring at the northern limits of the Australian smelt (Retropinna semoni) cryptic species complex." PeerJ 6 (May 3, 2018): e4654. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.4654.
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Freshwater fishes often exhibit high genetic population structure due to the prevalence of dispersal barriers (e.g., waterfalls) whereas population structure in diadromous fishes tends to be weaker and driven by natal homing behaviour and/or isolation by distance. The Australian smelt (Retropinnidae:Retropinna semoni) is a native fish with a broad distribution spanning inland and coastal drainages of south-eastern Australia. Previous studies have demonstrated variability in population genetic structure and movement behaviour (potamodromy, facultative diadromy, estuarine residence) across the southern part of its geographic range. Some of this variability may be explained by the existence of multiple cryptic species. Here, we examined genetic structure of populations towards the northern extent of the species’ distribution, using ten microsatellite loci and sequences of the mitochondrial cytbgene. We tested the hypothesis that genetic connectivity among rivers should be low due to a lack of dispersal via the marine environment, but high within rivers due to dispersal. We investigated populations corresponding with two putative cryptic species, SEQ-North (SEQ-N), and SEQ-South (SEQ-S) lineages occurring in south east Queensland drainages. These two groups formed monophyletic clades in the mtDNA gene tree and among river phylogeographic structure was also evident within each clade. In agreement with our hypothesis, highly significant overallFSTvalues suggested that both groups exhibit very low dispersal among rivers (SEQ-SFST= 0.13; SEQ-NFST= 0.27). Microsatellite data indicated that connectivity among sites within rivers was also limited, suggesting dispersal may not homogenise populations at the within-river scale. Northern groups in the Australian smelt cryptic species complex exhibit comparatively higher among-river population structure and smaller geographic ranges than southern groups. These properties make northern Australian smelt populations potentially susceptible to future conservation threats, and we define eight genetically distinct management units along south east Queensland to guide future conservation management. The present findings at least can assist managers to plan for effective conservation and management of different fish species along coastal drainages of south east Queensland, Australia.
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Wedderburn, S. D., C. M. Bice, and T. C. Barnes. "Prey selection and diet overlap of native golden perch and alien redfin perch under contrasting hydrological conditions." Australian Journal of Zoology 62, no. 5 (2014): 374. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo14018.
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Many freshwater fishes have been introduced outside their natural range. The consequences have included the decline or extinction of native fishes, principally due to competition and predation. Redfin perch (Perca fluviatilis) is a highly efficient predatory fish species that was introduced to Australia in the 1800s. It now has a broad distribution in the Murray–Darling Basin, but its impacts on native fishes are largely unstudied. It often cohabits with native golden perch (Macquaria ambigua ambigua), which is similar from a trophic ecomorphology perspective. We examine prey selection and diet overlap of adult redfin perch and golden perch under contrasting hydrological conditions in terminating lakes of the Murray–Darling Basin. Prey selection by both species varied substantially between drought and flood conditions. Diet overlap of redfin perch and golden perch was significant only during flood, and was apparently related to pelagic prey availability. There were dietary differences during drought that imply that resource partitioning occurred between the perches, possibly because competitive interactions were intensified. Conversely, the promotion of pelagic prey fishes during flooding apparently facilitated resource sharing. The findings suggest that redfin perch can directly compete with native piscivores for prey. The potential impacts on native piscivores and small-bodied fish populations warrant further experimental and field investigations.
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Shelley, James J., Tim Dempster, Matthew C. Le Feuvre, Peter J. Unmack, Shawn W. Laffan, and Stephen E. Swearer. "A revision of the bioregionalisation of freshwater fish communities in the Australian Monsoonal Tropics." Ecology and Evolution 9, no. 8 (March 29, 2019): 4568–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5059.
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Alleway, Heidi K., Bronwyn M. Gillanders, and Sean D. Connell. "‘Neo-Europe’ and its ecological consequences: the example of systematic degradation in Australia's inland fisheries." Biology Letters 12, no. 1 (January 2016): 20150774. http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2015.0774.
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The antiquity of human impact on ecosystems is increasingly understood, though the arrival of settlers to new lands remains a defining period. Colonization of the ‘neo-Europes’, a reference from the discipline of history, precipitated changes in aquatic ecosystems through modification of waterways and introductions of non-native species. We considered historical fisheries and fish market records from South Australia (1900–1946) against contemporary production statistics (1987–2011). Native inland species historically contributed large quantities to the market but have deteriorated such that fishing is now limited, and conservation regulations exist. This pattern mirrors the demand-driven transition from freshwater to marine fisheries in Europe; hence, we propose that this pattern was predicated on societal expectations and that European settlement and introduction of non-native fishes led to systematic overexploitation and degradation of native inland fisheries species in Australia, representing a further consequence of neo-European colonization to ecology. Accurate interpretation of ecological change can ensure more appropriate management intervention. Concepts, such as neo-Europe, from alternative disciplines can inform the recognition and evaluation of patterns at regional and global scales.
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O'Connor, J. P., J. D. Koehn, S. J. Nicol, D. J. O'Mahony, and J. A. McKenzie. "Retention of radio tags in golden perch (Macquaria ambigua), silver perch (Bidyanus bidyanus) and carp (Cyprinus carpio)." Marine and Freshwater Research 60, no. 4 (2009): 334. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf08170.
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Radio tagging and tracking are widely used to study freshwater fish; however, details of fish survival or tag retention rates are rarely reported. The results from five independent tagging trials associated with different tag attachment methods are reported in the present study. Implanted peritoneal cavity tags were trialled for two native Australia freshwater fish species (golden perch and silver perch) and introduced carp. Oesophageal and external tags were also trialled on silver perch. The results from the peritoneal cavity implantation trials in golden perch, silver perch and carp achieved an overall success rate of 81% (after 315 days), 18% (after 200 days) and 43% (after 323 days) respectively. The external attachment of radio tags to silver perch had limited success with all fish either rejecting their tags or dying before 256 days. Silver perch trialled with oesophageal tags had an overall success rate of 25% after 200 days. The trials indicate that internal tagging is suitable for longer-term radio tracking of golden perch, but further developments are required for longer-term applications to silver perch and carp. Tag rejection rates are unlikely to be constant between species or through time and this variability should be incorporated into the study design to prevent bias.
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Meynecke, J. O. "Coastal habitat connectivity ? implications for declared fish habitat networks in Queensland, Australia." Pacific Conservation Biology 15, no. 2 (2009): 96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc090096.
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Estuaries are widely recognized as key habitats supporting nearshore secondary production and catch of commercial fisheries. In Queensland, some of these coastal marine habitats are protected by the declared fish habitat programme run by the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries. Expected environmental changes for Australian estuarine systems include reduced freshwater flow, increased sedimentation and with them, a loss of connectivity. At present, the relationship between the protected declared fish habitat and habitat connectivity remains unknown. By comparing long term coastal fish catch data with geomorphic characteristics of coastal habitats structural connectivity was previously identified as a potential driver of commercial fish catch in Queensland. An ecology landscape approach was used for this study to identify potential fish habitat hotspots along the coastline of Queensland thus allowing better defined networks of declared fish habitats. A comparison between this approach and the current declared fish habitats demonstrated potential deficits and provided important insights for fisheries management. Declared fish habitats should be placed in coastal habitats with high structural connectivity to ensure sustainability of fisheries in light of environmental changes.
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Balcombe, Stephen R., Fran Sheldon, Samantha J. Capon, Nick R. Bond, Wade L. Hadwen, Nick Marsh, and Sofie J. Bernays. "Climate-change threats to native fish in degraded rivers and floodplains of the Murray–Darling Basin, Australia." Marine and Freshwater Research 62, no. 9 (2011): 1099. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf11059.
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Many aquatic ecosystems have been severely degraded by water-resource development affecting flow regimes and biological connectivity. Freshwater fish have been particularly affected by these changes and climate change will place further stress on them. The Murray–Darling Basin (MDB), Australia, represents a highly affected aquatic system with dramatically modified flow regimes. This has impaired the health of its rivers, and potentially limited the adaptive capacity of its biota to respond to a changing climate. Here, we present our predictions of the potential impacts of climate change on 18 native fish species across their distributional ranges against the back-drop of past and continuing water-resource development (WRD). Because most of these species are found across a wide range of geographical and hydrological settings, we classified the MDB into 10 regions to account for likely variation in climate-change effects, on the basis of latitude, elevation and WRD. Cold water-tolerant species will be under greater stress than are warm water-tolerant species. In some regions, the negative impacts on exotic fish such as trout are likely to improve current conditions for native species. Because the impacts of climate change on any given species are likely to vary from region to region, regional fish assemblages will also be differentially affected. The most affected region is likely to occur in the highly disturbed Lower Murray River region, whereas the dryland rivers that are less affected in the northern MDB are likely to remain largely unchanged. Although climate change is a current and future threat to the MDB fish fauna, the continued over-regulation of water resources will place as much, if not more, stress on the remnant fish species.
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Le Feuvre, Matthew C., Tim Dempster, James J. Shelley, Aaron M. Davis, and Stephen E. Swearer. "Range restriction leads to narrower ecological niches and greater extinction risk in Australian freshwater fish." Biodiversity and Conservation 30, no. 11 (June 30, 2021): 2955–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10531-021-02229-0.
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T. Kingsford, Richard. "Managing Australia's Scarce Water Resources for the Environment." Pacific Conservation Biology 15, no. 1 (2009): 4. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc090004.
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Australia has 12 major drainage basins, but most water use and extraction comes from the Murray- Darling Basin, despite not having Australia?s more populous cities. About 66% of surface water use in Australia is extracted from the rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin (NLWRA 2001). The ecological impacts are widespread and insurmountable: key ecosystems are in various stages of collapse. Many of these are conservation reserves and wetlands recognized for their international importance under the Ramsar Convention. Populations of native fish species are considered to be only at 10% of pre European levels with 46% of the 35 fish species now listed as threatened at state level (MDBC 2004). Waterbird populations are also declining significantly, sometimes up to 80% over a period of about 25 years (Kingsford and Thomas 2004; Nebel et al. 2008). Many communities of floodplain vegetation are also in decline. The River Murray no longer breaks through the sand barriers to naturally flow out to sea, with flow now only maintained by a dredge (costing ~$100,000 per week) to ensure that sand does not completely block the Murray mouth. The lower lakes are below sea level for the first time in more than 7,000 years and marine incursions into this freshwater ecosystem have allowed colonies of marine worms Ficopomatus enigmaticus to build their calcareous colonies on the backs of freshwater turtles and crabs weighing them down.
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Shams, Foyez, Fiona Dyer, Ross Thompson, Richard P. Duncan, Jason D. Thiem, T. Gabriel Enge, and Tariq Ezaz. "Multiple Lines of Evidence Indicate Limited Natural Recruitment of Golden Perch (Macquaria ambigua) in the Highly Regulated Lachlan River." Water 12, no. 6 (June 7, 2020): 1636. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w12061636.
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Freshwater ecosystems and their associated biota have been negatively impacted by the human development of water resources. Fundamental to restoration activities for target species is an understanding of the factors affecting population decline or recovery. Within Australia’s Murray–Darling Basin, recovery efforts to address the population decline of native freshwater fish include stock enhancement, habitat restoration, and the delivery of environmental water. Essential to guiding future management actions is information to assess the efficacy of these efforts. We undertook a study to investigate whether natural spawning and recruitment, stock enhancement, or a combination of the two is contributing to sustaining populations of golden perch (Macquaria ambigua) in the highly regulated Lachlan River, Australia. Otolith microchemistry and genetic analyses were used as complementary tools to determine the source (hatchery origin or wild-spawned) of existing populations in the catchment. We identified that natural spawning and recruitment was contributing to riverine populations in some years but that populations were heavily reliant on stocking. It was not possible to distinguish hatchery and wild-born fish using genetic tools, highlighting the value of using multiple lines of evidence to establish causal mechanisms contributing to population recovery.
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Macdonald, Jed I., Zeb D. Tonkin, David S. L. Ramsey, Andrew K. Kaus, Alison K. King, and David A. Crook. "Do invasive eastern gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki) shape wetland fish assemblage structure in south-eastern Australia?" Marine and Freshwater Research 63, no. 8 (2012): 659. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf12019.
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Defining the ecological impacts conferred by invasive fishes provides a framework for evaluating the feasibility of control efforts in invaded waterways, and for predicting the consequences of future incursions. Eastern gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki) is a remarkably successful invader of freshwater systems worldwide, with the capacity to detrimentally impact native fishes both directly (e.g. competition, predation, agonistic interactions) and indirectly (e.g. triggering trophic cascades). Here, we modelled the influence of eastern gambusia and several environmental covariates on fish species diversity, abundance and condition based on quantitative survey data collected from 93 wetlands in south-eastern Australia. We predicted that small-bodied, wetland specialist species sharing dietary- and habitat-niches with eastern gambusia would be most severely impacted, and that environmental stressors associated with wetland drying during late summer would magnify these impacts. Eastern gambusia influenced the occurrence, abundance and/or body condition of most common wetland species; however, the direction and level of impact appeared dependent on both biotic and environmental forces. From these results, we postulate that generalist life-history strategies that permit niche-segregation may release some native species from competitive/predatory pressures, allowing coexistence with eastern gambusia in resource-limited, environmentally harsh habitats, whilst specialist species that occupy narrower ecological niches may be less resistant.
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Furlan, Elise M., and Dianne Gleeson. "Improving reliability in environmental DNA detection surveys through enhanced quality control." Marine and Freshwater Research 68, no. 2 (2017): 388. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf15349.
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Species-specific environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys are increasingly being used to infer species presence in an environment. Current inadequacies in quality control increase concern for false negatives, which can have serious ramifications for both the management of invasive species and the conservation of native species. eDNA surveys involve a multi-step process to sample, capture, extract and amplify target DNA from the environment. We outline various positive control options and show that many of the commonly used controls are capable of detecting false negatives arising during the amplification stage only. We suggest a secondary, generic primer, designed to co-amplify endogenous DNA sampled during species-specific eDNA surveys, constitutes a superior positive control to monitor method success throughout all stages of eDNA analysis. We develop a species-specific European carp (Cyprinus carpio) assay and a generic fish assay for use as an endogenous control for eDNA surveys in Australian freshwater systems where fish are known to be abundant. We use these assays in a multiplex on eDNA samples that are simultaneously sampled, captured, extracted and amplified. This positive control allows us to distinguish method error from informative non-amplification results, improving reliability in eDNA surveys, which will ultimately lead to better informed conservation management decisions.
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Koehn, John D., Scott M. Raymond, Ivor Stuart, Charles R. Todd, Stephen R. Balcombe, Brenton P. Zampatti, Heleena Bamford, et al. "A compendium of ecological knowledge for restoration of freshwater fishes in Australia." Marine and Freshwater Research 71, no. 11 (2020): 1391. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf20127.
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Many freshwater fishes are imperilled globally, and there is a need for easily accessible, contemporary ecological knowledge to guide management. This compendium contains knowledge collated from over 600 publications and 27 expert workshops to support the restoration of 9 priority native freshwater fish species, representative of the range of life-history strategies and values in south-eastern Australia’s Murray–Darling Basin. To help prioritise future research investment and restoration actions, ecological knowledge and threats were assessed for each species and life stage. There is considerable new knowledge (80% of publications used were from the past 20 years), but this varied among species and life stages, with most known about adults, then egg, juvenile and larval stages (in that order). The biggest knowledge gaps concerned early life stage requirements, survival, recruitment, growth rates, condition and movements. Key threats include reduced longitudinal and lateral connectivity, altered flows, loss of refugia, reductions in both flowing (lotic) and slackwater riverine habitats, degradation of wetland habitats, alien species interactions and loss of aquatic vegetation. Examples and case studies illustrating the application of this knowledge to underpin effective restoration management are provided. This extensive ecological evidence base for multiple species is presented in a tabular format to assist a range of readers.
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Vilizzi, Lorenzo, Leigh A. Thwaites, Benjamin B. Smith, Jason M. Nicol, and Chris P. Madden. "Ecological effects of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) in a semi-arid floodplain wetland." Marine and Freshwater Research 65, no. 9 (2014): 802. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf13163.
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Common carp, Cyprinus carpio, is a highly invasive fish species across freshwater systems of south-eastern Australia, and especially in semi-arid floodplain wetlands. However, multi-component, large-scale experimental studies on carp effects on such ecosystems are scarce. This is in spite of demands to prioritise management and control of carp for the rehabilitation of habitats across the Murray–Darling Basin. A 2-year, large-scale field experiment in a terminal wetland of the lower River Murray (South Australia) evaluated the effects of free-ranging carp on water transparency, aquatic macrophytes (biomass and cover), zooplankton density, benthic invertebrates (density, richness and diversity) as well as native fish. Within 1 year since artificial inundation, transparency sharply decreased and this was accompanied by a decrease in aquatic macrophyte biomass and cover, a fluctuation in zooplankton density, and a decrease in benthic invertebrate richness and diversity. Also, the decreases in transparency and benthic invertebrate richness were significantly related to carp biomass, which averaged 68.0 kg ha–1 and induced a shift from clear- to turbid-water state. Following a flood event, increased connectivity caused carp to further access the newly inundated areas.
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Morgan, David L., and Howard S. Gill. "Fish fauna in inland waters of the Pilbara (Indian Ocean) Drainage Division of Western Australia evidence for three subprovinces." Zootaxa 636, no. 1 (September 12, 2004): 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.636.1.1.
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This paper describes the distribution of fishes in inland waters of the Pilbara (Indian Ocean) Drainage Division of Western Australia. 48 842 fish representing 29 species (including one undescribed plotosid catfish) were recorded from 148 of the 171 sites sampled in 21 river systems throughout the Pilbara Drainage Division, i.e. from the Irwin River in the south to the DeGrey River in the north. Of these, 26 844 were from 13 native freshwater species (this total includes the catadromous Indian short-finned eel Anguilla bicolor McClelland 1844 and an undescribed plotosid catfish), 3 099 were from 12 marine/estuarine species and a further 18 899 were from four introduced species. In addition, the Pilbara Drainage Division contains two endemic cave fishes in the North West Cape (Humphreys & Adams 1991; Allen et al. 2002). The results of this study suggest that the Pilbara Drainage Division can be divided into three subprovinces, one for the westwards flowing rivers, i.e. from the Greenough to Lyndon (Southern Pilbara Subprovince), another for the northwards flowing rivers, i.e. from the Yannarie to the DeGrey (Northern Pilbara Subprovince), and a third for the subterranean waters of North West Cape (North West Cape Subprovince).
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Coleman, R. A., T. A. Raadik, V. Pettigrove, and A. A. Hoffmann. "Taking advantage of adaptations when managing threatened species within variable environments: the case of the dwarf galaxias, Galaxiella pusilla (Teleostei, Galaxiidae)." Marine and Freshwater Research 68, no. 1 (2017): 175. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/mf15332.
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Native fish are threatened globally by invasive species, and management actions largely focus on detecting and eradicating invaders before they become established. However, once established, invaders might also be controlled by taking advantage of adaptations of threatened species to local conditions. This strategy was explored in dwarf galaxias (Galaxiella pusilla) a freshwater-dependent species of national conservation significance in Australia, threatened by invasive eastern gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki). Most habitats occupied by G. pusilla experience a seasonally variable and unpredictable hydrologic regime, where water levels substantially contract during dry periods and expand during wet periods. It was hypothesised that they are likely to have developed adaptations to surviving in these habitats by persisting without surface water. In contrast to G. holbrooki, we found that G. pusilla could withstand longer periods without surface water, including air breathing and higher respiration rates in air, than could G. holbrooki. We showed, within a single G. pusilla population, large inter-annual variability in fish densities linked to natural wetting and drying regimes. These findings indicate that periodic drying provides a way of protecting G. pusilla in water bodies where G. holbrooki has invaded, representing a strategy that takes advantage of local adaptation and metapopulation structure of G. pusilla.
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Bradshaw, Corey J. A., Iain C. Field, David M. J. S. Bowman, Chris Haynes, and Barry W. Brook. "Current and future threats from non-indigenous animal species in northern Australia: a spotlight on World Heritage Area Kakadu National Park." Wildlife Research 34, no. 6 (2007): 419. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr06056.
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Non-indigenous animal species threaten biodiversity and ecosystem stability by damaging or transforming habitats, killing or out-competing native species and spreading disease. We use World Heritage Area Kakadu National Park, northern Australia, as a focal region to illustrate the current and potential threats posed by non-indigenous animal species to internationally and nationally recognised natural and cultural values. Available evidence suggests that large feral herbivores such as Asian swamp buffalo, pigs and horses are the most ecologically threatening species in this region. This may reflect the inherent research bias, because these species are highly visible and impact primary production; consequently, their control has attracted the strongest research and management efforts. Burgeoning threats, such as the already established cane toad and crazy ant, and potentially non-indigenous freshwater fish, marine invertebrates and pathogens, may cause severe problems for native biodiversity. To counter these threats, management agencies must apply an ongoing, planned and practical approach using scientifically based and well funded control measures; however, many stakeholders require direct evidence of the damage caused by non-indigenous species before agreeing to implement control. To demonstrate the increasing priority of non-indigenous species research in Australia and to quantify taxonomic and habitat biases in research focus, we compiled an extensive biography of peer-reviewed articles published between 1950 and 2005. Approximately 1000 scientific papers have been published on the impact and control of exotic animals in Australia, with a strong bias towards terrestrial systems and mammals. Despite the sheer quantity of research on non-indigenous species and their effects, management responses remain largely ad hoc and poorly evaluated, especially in northern Australia and in high-value areas such as Kakadu National Park. We argue that improved management in relatively isolated and susceptible tropical regions requires (1) robust quantification of density–damage relationships, and (2) the delivery of research findings that stimulate land managers to develop cost-effective control and monitoring programs.
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Anderson, T. A., L. R. Bennett, M. A. Conlon, and P. C. Owens. "Immunoreactive and receptor-active insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding protein in blood plasma from the freshwater fish Macquaria ambigua (golden perch)." Journal of Endocrinology 136, no. 2 (February 1993): 191–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1677/joe.0.1360191.
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ABSTRACT The presence of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I)-related molecules and IGF-binding factors in blood from golden perch, Macquaria ambigua, an Australian native freshwater fish, was investigated. Serum was acidified to dissociate IGF and IGF-binding protein complexes that might be present, and fractionated by size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography at pH 2·8. Fractions were neutralized and their activities assessed by (i) an immunoassay for mammalian IGF-I which also detects chicken IGF-I but in which all known forms of IGF-II react very poorly, (ii) a receptor assay for IGF-II in which all known forms of IGF-I react poorly, and (iii) a type-I IGF receptor assay in which mammalian IGF-I and IGF-II polypeptides are almost equivalent. No IGF-II-like activity was detected. Three peaks of IGF-I-like activity were detected by IGF-I immunoassay and type-I IGF receptor assay. The major peak of activity was similar in molecular size to human IGF-binding protein-3, 45–55 kDa ('large IGF'), and a minor peak of activity which was similar in size to mammalian IGFs, 7·5 kDa. A third peak of activity was observed eluting at a time which indicates that it is a smaller molecule than any previously described IGF. The large IGF was temperature-sensitive, but was not a binding protein for 125I-labelled human IGF-I (hIGF-I). This material therefore was able to bind to anti-hIGF-I antibodies and to human type-I IGF receptors, and may represent the fish equivalent of mammalian prepro-IGFs. The two smallest forms of IGF activity identified by IGF-I radioimmunoassay and type-I radioreceptor assay following acidic size-exclusion chromatography were able to stimulate protein synthesis by L-6 myoblasts in culture, although large IGF did not. When fresh (but not frozen and thawed) golden perch serum was incubated with 125I-labelled hIGF-I and then fractionated by size-exclusion liquid chromatography at pH 7·4 through Sephadex G-100, the radioactivity became associated with a complex, intermediate in size between free IGF-I and the major IGF-binding protein in human serum. The association of 125I-labelled hIGF-I with the complex was inhibited by the presence of unlabelled hIGF-I in the incubation. These studies show that receptor-active, immunoreactive and bioactive IGF-I-like activity is present in golden perch serum, and demonstrate the presence of an IGF-I-binding factor in this species. Journal of Endocrinology (1993) 136, 191–198
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Shuster, Jeremiah, Maria A. D. Rea, Bhanu Nidumolu, and Anupama Kumar. "Toxicity assessment of gold ions and gold nanoparticles to golden perch larvae (Macquaria ambigua)." Mineralogical Magazine 85, no. 1 (February 2021): 94–104. http://dx.doi.org/10.1180/mgm.2021.14.
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AbstractGolden perch (Macquaria ambigua) is a freshwater game-fish native to central and southeast Australia. Larvae of this fish species were used in two different types of experiments to evaluate the effects of short-term exposures (up to 6 days) to aqueous gold, 5 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), or 50 nm AuNPs. Relative to the control, increased gold concentrations corresponded with yolk-sac edema (swelling). Larvae exposed to 50 μM of 5 nm AuNPs had yolk-sacs that were ~1.5 times larger resulting in the appearance of bent notochords. After two days of exposure, 100% mortality was observed. Total mortalities were <25% in the other larvae–gold systems, suggesting that these larvae can quickly adapt to the presence of gold. In terms of an oxidative stress response, the larvae from all systems did not express high enzymatic activity. The state of the gold determined how much could be taken up (or immobilised) by a larva. Aqueous gold and 5 nm AuNPs easily pass through cells; therefore, larvae exposed to these forms of gold contained the highest concentrations. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that cells comprising the epithelium and fins contained AuNPs. Aqueous gold was reduced to nanometre-scale particles within cells. Comparatively, 5 nm AuNPs appeared to be aggregated within cells forming clusters hundreds of nanometres in size. On the contrary, 50 nm AuNPs were not observed within cells but were detected within larvae by (single particle) inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy, suggesting that these AuNPs were probably taken up through the mouth or gills. The results of the present study demonstrate that exposure to AuNPs had adverse effects on developing golden perch larvae. Additionally, these effects were dependent on the size of the AuNPs.
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Wilson, Claire E., Stephen J. Darbyshire, and Rosita Jones. "The Biology of Invasive Alien Plants in Canada. 7. Cabomba caroliniana A. Gray." Canadian Journal of Plant Science 87, no. 3 (July 1, 2007): 615–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.4141/p06-068.
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The freshwater aquatic plant Cabomba caroliniana, or fanwort, was recently reported in a lake northeast of Peterborough, Ontario, where it has successfully established and survived winter conditions since at least 1991. This is the first documented occurrence of fanwort becoming naturalized in Canada. Fanwort is a popular aquarium plant that is native to South America and possibly the southeastern United States and has been introduced in several Asian, Pacific and European countries through the discarding or deliberate planting of aquarium plants in natural waterways. It is particularly invasive in China, Japan and Australia, and in parts of the United States, where its range is spreading. Fanwort grows rapidly and forms dense stands that clog waterways, impeding flow, obstructing navigation, altering fish habitat and excluding other vegetation. It does not produce mature seed in the northern parts of its North American range, but can multiply clonally and spread quickly by stem fragmentation. It produces turion-like stems at the end of the growing season, which assist in over-wintering under adverse conditions. Fanwort is difficult to control with herbicides and is resistant to mechanical management techniques as populations can quickly re-establish from plant fragments. Populations near the Trent-Severn Waterway in Canada are extensively established and management tools are not available to attempt eradication. An integrated management plan that focuses on early detection and rapid response in surrounding water bodies may succeed in mitigating the economic and environmental impacts and limiting the spread of fanwort. Key words: Cabomba caroliniana, fanwort, cabomba de Caroline, CABCA, aquatic plant, weed biology, invasive alien
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Xiong, Wen, Xiaoyun Sui, Shih-Hisung Liang, and Yifeng Chen. "Non-native freshwater fish species in China." Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 25, no. 4 (September 22, 2015): 651–87. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11160-015-9396-8.
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Pino-del-Carpio, Andrea, Rafael Miranda, and Jordi Puig. "Non-native freshwater fish management in Biosphere Reserves." Management of Biological Invasions 1, no. 1 (2010): 13–33. http://dx.doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2010.1.1.04.
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