Could ecological release buffer suppression efforts for non-native lake trout (,I>Salvelinus namaycush in Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park?

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
By: , and 

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Abstract

Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park, USA, has the longest ongoing suppression program for non-native lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in the western USA. Harvest data from the suppression program, along with data from an assessment program initiated in 2011, was used to estimate lake trout abundance and mortality rates. Abundance and biomass estimates were used to estimate stock–recruitment dynamics, which were inputs to a simulation model forecasting responses to continued suppression. Abundance increased during 1998–2012 when total annual mortality exceeded 0.59 and declined thereafter. The fishing mortality rate required to reduce abundance was 67% greater than predicted by models that used prerecruit survival estimates from the lake trout’s native range. Prerecruit survival in Yellowstone Lake was estimated at four to six times greater than native range survival rates. Simulated abundance continued to decline if recent suppression efforts were maintained. High prerecruit survival in Yellowstone Lake likely illustrates ecological release for an invasive species in an ecosystem containing few predators or competitors and demonstrates the potential pitfalls of assuming equal demographic rates for native and non-native populations.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Could ecological release buffer suppression efforts for non-native lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park?
Series title Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
DOI 10.1139/cjfas-2019-0306
Volume 77
Issue 6
Year Published 2021
Language English
Publisher Canadian Science Publishing
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Seattle
Description 16 p.
First page 1010
Last page 1025
Country United States
State Wyoming
Other Geospatial Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park
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