Suppressing invasive brown trout networks

Only metapopulation-wide, multi-life-stage suppression quickly drove invasive brown trout toward quasi-extinction.

Source

Exploring metapopulation-scale suppression alternatives for a global invader in a river network experiencing climate change

Healy BD, Budy P, Yackulic CB, et al. · Conservation biology : the journal of the Society for Conservation Biology · 2023

doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13993 Read the full paper ↗3 citationscc by

Study at a glance

Design: Computational / modelling — Metapopulation PVA of invasive brown trout under removal and climate/reservoir scenarios
N: Simulation scenarios (18 under current climate); not an empirical sample-size study
Population: Modeled brown trout in Colorado River and Bright Angel Creek subpopulations
Outcome: Time and probability of quasi-extinction under multi-life-stage suppression

Structured fields used in claim comparison tables when every cited study has a complete layer.

What they did

Built a metapopulation PVA for invasive brown trout in Colorado River and Bright Angel Creek subpopulations, comparing electrofishing, harvest, redd destruction, mechanical removal, and climate/reservoir scenarios.

What they found

Best combos reached QE in 5.7–6.3 years; skipping age-0 methods dropped QE probability to 29%; warming can shrink the mainstem but tributaries persist.

The limits

What it doesn't show

Does not field-test that managers can actually hit those suppression rates every year.

Key terms

Quasi-extinction (QE): Abundance falling to 5% of carrying capacity.
Metapopulation: Linked subpopulations connected by dispersal.
PVA: Population viability analysis of extinction risk.
Mechanical removal (MR): Active capture targeting multiple life stages.
Lambda (λ): Finite population growth rate.
Brown trout: Invasive Salmo trutta in this river network.

Flashcards

1 / 11

Research intelligence for this paper

See its role on concept claims, tensions it is part of, placement history, and related discoveries.

Open paper intelligence

Quiz yourself

1 / 7

Invader:

Common questions

Invader?

Brown trout.

Fastest QE?

5.7 or 6.3 years.

Scenarios with 100% QE?

6 of 18 under current climate.

Without age-0 control?

QE probability 29%.