On November 20, 2014, eight teams of fishery biologists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), U.S. National Park Service (NPS), and Florida International University (FIU) gathered for a one-day sampling event to collect non-native fishes from canals, ponds and ditches in Miami-Dade County, FL.
Non-native species have a long history in Florida. More than 145 non-native freshwater fish species have been recorded from Florida since the 1880s (USGS 2015). These range from species observed only once to species with established permanent populations in several locations across the state (FWC 2015, USGS 2015). South Florida has the greatest diversity of non-native fishes, with 46 species recorded from the Miami-Dade County area (USGS 2015), 17 of which have found their way into Everglades National Park (Kline et al. 2013). The status of non-native freshwater fish populations in the state, like the environments they inhabit, is continually in flux. It is important to know where these fishes are located to be able to study and manage them.
On November 20, 2014, eight teams of fishery biologists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), U.S. National Park Service (NPS), and Florida International University (FIU) gathered for a one-day sampling event to collect non-native fishes from canals, ponds and ditches in Miami-Dade County, FL. Teams used a combination of equipment and methods to capture fish, including minnow traps, dip nets, cast nets, and electrofishing with backpacks and from boats. The data collected provided a snapshot of the current status of non-native freshwater fish species in this area of south Florida.
Specific goals for the event were:
1) To sample some of the numerous waterbodies in Miami-Dade County not normally sampled by biologists to document their non-native fish fauna, and
2) To sample areas adjacent to sites where newly documented non-native fishes have been collected to determine if populations are established and/or spreading.
No new fishes unknown from south Florida were collected. Several species were found at new locations, the most notable being Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. This species is considered a reproducing, but not established species by FWC and according to the USGS-NAS database, the southernmost collection was from the Tamiami Canal (C-4) in 2011 (FWC 2015, USGS 2015). However, our team found it farther south in a Miami canal (C-100C).
All native species, along with two non-native species (grass carp and peacock bass), were returned alive. All data were entered into the Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database (USGS 2015).
The participants of the 2014 Fish Slam were: Jesse Blanchard (FIU), Ross Boucek (FIU), Mary Brown (CNTS), Matthew Cannister (USGS), Erin Crandall (NPS), Zachary Fratto (NPS), Pam Fuller (USGS), John Galvez (USFWS), Kelly Gestring (FWC), Denise Gregoire-Lucente (CNTS), Jeff Kline (NPS), Matthew Neilson (CNTS), Darren Pecora (CNTS), Pam Schofield (USGS), Jessica Shulte (CNTS), Murray Stanford (FWC), Vanessa Trujillo (FIU), Raul Urgelles (NPS) and Kevin Whelan (NPS).
Special thanks to Barron Moody, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, for assistance with permits for this sampling event.
REFERENCES
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) (2015) Nonnative Freshwater Fish. Available via http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/freshwater-fish/. Accessed 12 January 2015
Kline, J.L., W.F. Loftus, K. Kotun, J.C. Trexler, J.S. Rehage, J.L. Lorenz and M. Robinson (2013) Recent fish introductions into Everglades National Park: an unforeseen consequence of water management? Wetlands DOI 10.1007/s13157-012-0362-0
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (2015) Nonindigenous aquatic species database. Gainesville, Florida. Available via http://nas.er.usgs.gov/. Accessed 12 January 2015
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Fish Slam - November 2017
Spring Fish Slam 2017 – Big Cypress
Florida Non-Native Fish Action Alliance
Fish Slam - Fall 2016
Fish Slam - Spring 2016
Impacts of Non-Native Fishes in the Florida Everglades
Fish Slam 2015
- Overview
On November 20, 2014, eight teams of fishery biologists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), U.S. National Park Service (NPS), and Florida International University (FIU) gathered for a one-day sampling event to collect non-native fishes from canals, ponds and ditches in Miami-Dade County, FL.
Typical habitats sampled during the Fish Slam. Biologists are using electroshocking boats to sample fishes in canals and borrow ponds Non-native species have a long history in Florida. More than 145 non-native freshwater fish species have been recorded from Florida since the 1880s (USGS 2015). These range from species observed only once to species with established permanent populations in several locations across the state (FWC 2015, USGS 2015). South Florida has the greatest diversity of non-native fishes, with 46 species recorded from the Miami-Dade County area (USGS 2015), 17 of which have found their way into Everglades National Park (Kline et al. 2013). The status of non-native freshwater fish populations in the state, like the environments they inhabit, is continually in flux. It is important to know where these fishes are located to be able to study and manage them.
On November 20, 2014, eight teams of fishery biologists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), U.S. National Park Service (NPS), and Florida International University (FIU) gathered for a one-day sampling event to collect non-native fishes from canals, ponds and ditches in Miami-Dade County, FL. Teams used a combination of equipment and methods to capture fish, including minnow traps, dip nets, cast nets, and electrofishing with backpacks and from boats. The data collected provided a snapshot of the current status of non-native freshwater fish species in this area of south Florida.
At the end of the day, the teams gathered together to identify and preserve the fishes collected. Voucher samples were archived at the Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville Specific goals for the event were:
1) To sample some of the numerous waterbodies in Miami-Dade County not normally sampled by biologists to document their non-native fish fauna, and
2) To sample areas adjacent to sites where newly documented non-native fishes have been collected to determine if populations are established and/or spreading.
No new fishes unknown from south Florida were collected. Several species were found at new locations, the most notable being Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus. This species is considered a reproducing, but not established species by FWC and according to the USGS-NAS database, the southernmost collection was from the Tamiami Canal (C-4) in 2011 (FWC 2015, USGS 2015). However, our team found it farther south in a Miami canal (C-100C).
All native species, along with two non-native species (grass carp and peacock bass), were returned alive. All data were entered into the Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database (USGS 2015).
Sixteen species of non-native fishes and 19 species of native fishes were collected during the Fish Slam 2014 The participants of the 2014 Fish Slam were: Jesse Blanchard (FIU), Ross Boucek (FIU), Mary Brown (CNTS), Matthew Cannister (USGS), Erin Crandall (NPS), Zachary Fratto (NPS), Pam Fuller (USGS), John Galvez (USFWS), Kelly Gestring (FWC), Denise Gregoire-Lucente (CNTS), Jeff Kline (NPS), Matthew Neilson (CNTS), Darren Pecora (CNTS), Pam Schofield (USGS), Jessica Shulte (CNTS), Murray Stanford (FWC), Vanessa Trujillo (FIU), Raul Urgelles (NPS) and Kevin Whelan (NPS).
Special thanks to Barron Moody, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, for assistance with permits for this sampling event.
REFERENCES
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) (2015) Nonnative Freshwater Fish. Available via http://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/nonnatives/freshwater-fish/. Accessed 12 January 2015
Kline, J.L., W.F. Loftus, K. Kotun, J.C. Trexler, J.S. Rehage, J.L. Lorenz and M. Robinson (2013) Recent fish introductions into Everglades National Park: an unforeseen consequence of water management? Wetlands DOI 10.1007/s13157-012-0362-0
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (2015) Nonindigenous aquatic species database. Gainesville, Florida. Available via http://nas.er.usgs.gov/. Accessed 12 January 2015
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Fish Slam - November 2017
The Hunt For The Southernmost Snakehead. Thirty-one fishery biologists from eleven agencies participated in a two-day Fish Slam event. Thirty-five sites in Broward and Miami-Dade counties were sampled for non-native fishes.Spring Fish Slam 2017 – Big Cypress
22-23 March 2017 - Ten teams of fishery biologists sampled 28 sites amid unexpected wildfires in the Big Cypress National Preserve over the two day period. On the second day a reporter from the Miami Herald accompanied a ground crew team.Florida Non-Native Fish Action Alliance
The Florida Non-Native Fish Action Alliance brings together federal and state agencies, academic institutions, and non-governmental organizations to address the need for documenting and managing the non-native fishes introduced to the state's waters.Fish Slam - Fall 2016
November 1 - 2, 2016 – Eight teams of fishery biologists from the US Geological Survey (USGS), US Fish and Wildlife Service - Peninsular Florida Fisheries Office and Welaka National Fish Hatchery (USFWS), the National Park Service (NPS), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), Florida International University (FIU), and Zoo Miami sampled 20 sites for non-native fishes in Palm...Fish Slam - Spring 2016
May 23, 2016 – Five teams of fishery biologists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the National Park Service (NPS), Florida Museum of Natural History (FLMNH), University of Florida (UF), and Florida International University (FIU) sampled 12 sites for non-native fishes in Broward and Miami-Dade counties in southeastern Florida.Impacts of Non-Native Fishes in the Florida Everglades
The Florida Everglades is the largest wetland ecosystem in the United States and supports a diverse flora and fauna, including many rare species.Fish Slam 2015
November 3, 2015 – Five teams of fishery biologists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the National Park Service (NPS), and Florida International University (FIU) sampled for non-native fishes in canals, ponds and ditches in and around the Plantation/Davie area of Broward County, FL. - News
- Partners