Low rate of population establishment of a freshwater invertebrate (Gammarus lacustris) in experimental conservation translocations

Author:

Fitzpatrick Megan J.1ORCID,Anteau Michael J.2ORCID,Isaacson Carl W.3,Carleen Jake D.3,Keith Breanna R.3,Thoele Barry4,Bieganek Michael5,Taylor Alaina A.36ORCID,Larson Danelle M.17ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Wetland Wildlife Population and Research Group 102 23rd Street NE Bemidji MN 56601 U.S.A.

2. U.S. Geological Survey Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center 8711 27th Street SE Jamestown ND 58401 U.S.A.

3. Department of Environmental Studies Bemidji State University Sattgast Hall 109 Bemidji MN 56601 U.S.A.

4. Lincoln Bait, LCC 48301 County 21 Staples MN U.S.A.

5. Department of Biology Augsburg University 2211 Riverside Avenue Minneapolis MN 55454 U.S.A.

6. WSP Canada 3300‐237 4th Avenue SW Calgary AB T2P 4K3 Canada

7. U.S. Geological Survey Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center 2630 Fanta Reed Road La Crosse WI 54603 U.S.A.

Abstract

Conservation translocations may be a useful tool for the restoration of declining freshwater invertebrates, but they are poorly represented in the literature. We conducted a before‐after/control‐impact (BACI) experiment to test the efficacy of conservation translocation for re‐establishing abundant populations of the amphipod Gammarus lacustris, a declining species and wildlife food resource in depressional wetlands in the upper Midwest of the United States of America. Each study site (n = 19) contained at least one treatment wetland receiving translocated G. lacustris from a local donor and one control wetland. We selected study wetlands based on a suite of wetland characteristics and randomly assigned recipient versus control treatment. Gammarus lacustris was detected post‐translocation at only 2 of 22 recipient wetlands (1 of 19 sites). Overall, there was a statistical increase in G. lacustris density in recipient wetlands compared to controls; however, the results were of minimal biological significance due to being driven by a single site with low G. lacustris densities. Accordingly, our results suggest that future conservation translocations of amphipods might be successful if limited to recently restored wetlands or informed by a more complex habitat suitability model to differentiate dispersal limitations from habitat limitations. To develop such a model would involve identifying the fewest, most influential physical and biological factors (e.g. wetland size/structure, fish, aquatic vegetation, and water chemistry) from the numerous inter‐related factors that correlate with the abundance of naturally occurring G. lacustris; candidate wetlands to receive amphipods would be those for which the model predicts abundant G. lacustris but in which they do not presently occur.

Funder

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Minnesota Space Grant Consortium

Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund

Publisher

Wiley

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