Population characteristics and the suppression of nonnative Burbot

North American Journal of Fisheries Management
By: , and 

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Abstract

Burbot Lota lota were illegally introduced into the Green River, Wyoming, drainage and have since proliferated throughout the system. Burbot in the Green River pose a threat to native species and to socially, economically, and ecologically important recreational fisheries. Therefore, managers of the Green River are interested in implementing a suppression program for Burbot. We collected demographic data on Burbot in the Green River (summer and autumn 2013) and used the information to construct an age-based population model (female-based Leslie matrix) to simulate the population-level response of Burbot to the selective removal of different age-classes. Burbot in the Green River grew faster, matured at relatively young ages, and were highly fecund compared with other Burbot populations within the species’ native distribution. The age-structured population model, in conjunction with demographic information, indicated that the Burbot population in the Green River could be expected to increase under current conditions. The model also indicated that the Burbot population in the Green River would decline once total annual mortality reached 58%. The population growth of Burbot in the Green River was most sensitive to age-0 and age-1 mortality. The age-structured population model indicated that an increase in mortality, particularly for younger age-classes, would result in the effective suppression of the Burbot population in the Green River.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Population characteristics and the suppression of nonnative Burbot
Series title North American Journal of Fisheries Management
DOI 10.1080/02755947.2016.1173137
Volume 36
Issue 5
Year Published 2016
Language English
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Seattle
Description 12 p.
First page 1006
Last page 1017
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