Fishes of the Abacoa Greenway Revisited

FISHES OF THE ABACOA GREENWAY REVISITED

Brock Pearson

A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of

The Wilkes Honors College in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of

Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences

with a Concentration in Biology

Wilkes Honors College of

Florida Atlantic University

Jupiter, Florida

May 2019

FISHES OF THE ABACOA GREENWAY REVISITED

by Brock Pearson

This thesis was prepared under the direction of the candidate’s thesis advisor, Dr. Jon Moore, and has been approved by the members of his supervisory committee. It was submitted to the faculty of The Honors College and was accepted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences.

SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE:

______Dr. Jon A. Moore

______Dr. William O’Brien

______Dean Ellen S. Goldey, Wilkes Honors College

______Date

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Dr. Jon Moore for all of his support and guidance in the field and laboratory throughout my research; allowing me to conduct this research, aiding me in acquiring the appropriate permits, and proving me with information about the Abacoa

Greenway and the aquatic fish that live there. I would also like to thank Tiffany Snow for conducting her research in 2008 on the fishes of the Abacoa Greenway, allowing me to have a comparison for my research now. I would also like to thank my family for supporting me throughout my research and Elizabeth Cohen for going out in the field and helping me.

iii

ABSTRACT

Author: Brock Pearson

Title: Fishes of The Abacoa Greenway Revisited

Institution: Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic University

Thesis Advisor: Dr. Jon Moore

Degree: Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences

Concentration: Biology

Year: 2019

The Abacoa Greenway includes a constructed artificial water system designed in the late 1990’s that contains many fishes and aquatic organisms. A survey was conducted in 2008 by Tiffany Snow, sampling the species of fishes in the area. The goal of this study is to act as a 10 year follow up to the research done in 2008. A lot can be learned from comparing the data of native and exotic fish species in the area over a 10 year span. The flora and plant growth around the Greenway has changed quite drastically in that time. The sampling was conducted between December of 2018 and April of 2019, when a total of 14 species had been identified. Five of these species have been classified as exotic, and nine as naturally occurring in Florida.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Tables ……………………………………………………………………...……..vi

List of Figures ………………………………………………………………...... vii

Introduction ……………………………………………………………………………….1

Materials and Methods ……………………………………………………………………4

Study Area ………………………………………………………………………..4

Collections Sites ………………………………………………………………….4

Collection Methods ……………………………………………………………….5

Results …………………………………………………………………………………….5

Discussion ………………………………………………………………………………...7

Species Accounts ……………………………………………………...... 8

Tables ……………………………………………………………………………………15

Figures …………………………………………………………………………………...17

Field Notes ………………………………………………………………………………26

References ……………………………………………………………………………….28

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1. Proposed species list …………………………………………………………...15

Table 2. Number of individuals collected in this study ……………………………...... 15

Table 3. Number of individuals collected in Tiffany Snow’s research (2008) ………….16

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure 1. Map of the Abacoa Greenway ………………………………………………...17

Figure 2. Map of Abacoa fish sampling sites for this study …………………………….18

Figure 3. Small interconnecting canal at Range IV……………………………………...19

Figure 4. Range IV pond ………………………………………………………………...19

Figure 5. Range V pond …………………………………………………………………20

Figure 6. Pond near Donald Ross Road ………………………………...…………….....20

Figure 7. Small concrete pond near Frederick Small Road. …………………………….21

Figure 8. Mayan Cichlid, Mayaheros urophtalmus ……………………………………..21

Figure 9. Spotted Tilapia, Pelmatolapia mariae……………………………...………….22

Figure 10. Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus …………………………………………22

Figure 11. Blue Tilapia, Oreochromis aureus ……………….………………………….23

Figure 12. Swamp Darter, Etheostoma fusiforme ………………………….……………23

Figure 13. Florida Gar, Lepisosteus platyrhincus ……………………………………….23

Figure 14. Least Killifish, Heterandria formosa ……………………………….…….…24

Figure 15. Bluefin Killifish, Lucania goodie ……………………………………………24

Figure 16. Eastern Mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki …………………………..……..24

Figure 17. Sailfin Molly, Peocilia latipinna ……………………………...……………..25

Figure 18. Redear Sunfish, Lepomis microlophus ………………………….…………...25

Figure 19. Bluegill Sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus …...... 25

Figure 20. Largemouth Bass, Micropteris salmoides …………………………………...26

Figure 21. Orinoco Sailfin Catfish, Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus ……….…………...26

vii

INTRODUCTION

The Abacoa Greenway includes an artificial water system designed in the late

1990’s. It contains many fishes and aquatic organisms throughout the entire system. The ponds within the Greenway were originally dug in 1998 and filled with water and plantings of native aquatic vegetation by 1999 (Maietta 2003).

“In partnership with the Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District, the

Conservation Fund, collaborating with ecologists, planners, and engineers, developed an innovative Greenway master plan for the new 2,000 acre town of Abacoa. At the heart of the community, the greenway is a 267-acre multipurpose preserve that provides habitat for gopher tortoises and creates a network of lakes doubling as a stormwater management system” (CFNO, 2007). The Abacoa Greenway consists of an artificial water system that allows introduced stormwater to percolate down to the bottom of the system, and form an artificial water table. This allows the plants and vegetation in the Greenway to be supplied with water and nutrients (Collins, 1999).

Greenways are corridors of relatively intact natural vegetation through otherwise disturbed habitats that typically connect larger protected natural areas. These “networks of green” are extremely beneficial components of today’s urban landscape for several reasons (Little 1990). They provide sanctuaries for plants and animals that would otherwise have no habitat within urban regions (Blublaugh 2006). The ability to preserve

Florida’s natural ecosystems is an amazing benefit of the Abacoa Greenway. These ecosystems are home to a large variety of aquatic and terrestrial flora and fauna. Another attribute of the Greenway is its ability to provide stormwater management for the entire

1 community of Abacoa (CFNO, 2007). In times of drought, the Abacoa water system faces lower water levels that confine the aquatic fauna to certain depressions. This was observed at the beginning of my research, certain small canals were nearly dried up. This resulted in the confinement of the aquatic fauna to certain deeper ponds, as well as the death of much shallow aquatic vegetation. The loss of aquatic vegetation can often have a great impact on the water system, as many organisms depend on the vegetation for survival.

Species are considered to be native only if they originated in their location naturally and without the involvement of human activity or intervention. Often this means that those species evolved and are adapted to living in that particular environment.

A species introduced with human help to a new place or new type of habitat where it was not previously found is non-native. Some non-native species are introduced to new places, but they cannot reproduce or spread readily without continued human help.

“Invasive species are defined as non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration, and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health” (NRCS).

It is now known that 36 freshwater exotic fishes (i.e., fishes from other countries) are known to reproduce in aquatic habitats of Florida (Robins et al. 2018). Robins et al.

(2018) also list an additional 12 introduced fish species in Florida that came from elsewhere in the U.S. and another 74 species of non-native fishes that have been found in

Florida’s fresh waters, but are not established and reproducing, yet. Scientists have evidence that the invasive fish are pushing out natives by competing for food and space, and sometimes eating other natives. This can have a great impact on the aquatic

2 ecosystem as they also take up valuable spawning space, which can result in a huge loss of native species. In 1993, the U.S. Congress Office of Technology Assessment reported that, of 613 listed threatened and endangered (both plant and animal) species in the

United States, 213 are listed due to losses caused by exotic species. These exotic species have taken a devastating hold and continue to spread at an alarming rate; with over 26% of animals found in Florida being exotic (Ferriter et. al., 2005).

In a study in 2010, Martin et al. looked at the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), an exotic species found in the Greenway, and how it affected native sunfishes.

“In subsequent interspecific competition experiments, agonistic tilapia displaced sunfish from their preferred structured habitats. When a piscivore (Largemouth Bass) was present in the tank with both species, the survival of sunfish decreased. Based on these findings, if left unchecked, we predict that the proliferation of tilapia (and perhaps other aggressive aquaculture fishes) will have important detrimental effects on the structure of native food webs in shallow, structured coastal habitats” (Martin et. al., 2010).

The goal of this study is to resurvey the fishes of the Abacoa Greenway located in southeastern Florida. The previous data for fish collection by Tiffany Snow in 2008 provided a foundation for this research. Using her species list, this study was able to identify new additional species, both exotic and native, and identify the seeming loss of some native species in just a 10-year time period. Using the data this study collected, a ratio of native to exotic species can be composed. The Abacoa Greenway, being a fairly new flood-control water system of South Florida, provides a great comparison for other waterways nearby and may give evidence for accumulation of exotic species. This

3 allows this research to give insight into the plague of exotic fish species that are inhabiting Jupiter, and the surrounding region.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Study Area

The study sites are within three ponds and the interconnecting channels in Range

IV and V of the Abacoa Greenway (Figure 3, 4, and 5). They lie east of Central Blvd., south of Fredrick Small Road, and just west of Military Trail in Jupiter, Florida (Figure

2). These ponds were selected because they are at the headwaters of the artificial system and are the largest bodies of water, containing the most fish. In 2008, these ponds in

Range IV and V were the most seemingly pristine 10 years after their initial construction of these ponds in 1998. Two small concrete pools on the upstream and downstream ends of a culvert that passed under Frederick Small Road (Figure 7) were also sampled in

Range VIa. The FAU pond just north of Donald Ross Road and east of Parkside Drive was also sampled (Figure 6).

Collection Sites

This study replicated Snow’s collection sites, as well as collecting at more sites to ensure a more thorough investigation of fish species. Range IV and V were surveyed extensively, around the entire shore of each pond and connecting canals between

November 2018 and April 2019. Figure 2 shows where the collecting sites for the present study were located.

Collecting Methods

A 30-foot seine net, a D-loop dip net, and hook and line using a variety of lures and earth worms were used to collect the fish. Visual observations of fishes not caught were also included in the data. A select group of fishes that were necessary to identify in the lab, were preserved on site and photographed as soon as they were caught. The fishes were photographed before they lost coloration (after anesthetization or preservation) which was helpful in the identification process. The fish were euthanized with Tricaine-S

(MS-222). Ten percent formalin was used to preserve the fish, and after fixing they were transferred to 70% ethanol for permanent storage. All fishes were collected and those that were euthanized were done so under FAU IACUC protocol A18-34 and FWC scientific permits S-18-11 and S-19-04. The fish were then affirmatively identified in the laboratory at Florida Atlantic University’s MacArthur Campus in Jupiter, Florida. Fishes in the Fresh Waters of Florida by Robins et al. (2018) was used for identification of all the species collected.

RESULTS

A total of 14 species were identified during this study of the Abacoa Greenway

(Table 1). Of the 14 species identified, five of them were identified as exotic species:

Mayan Cichlid (Cichlasoma urophthalmus), Spotted Tiliapia (Pelmatolapia mariae), Nile

Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), Blue Tilapia (Oreochromis aureus), and Orinoco Sailfin

Catfish (Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus). Gambusia holbrooki, Eastern Mosquitofish and

Lepomis macrochirus, Bluegill Sunfish were the most prominent species seen at every collection site. The Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides) were also very prevalent

5 and easy to identify from the shore of the ponds. Several largemouth bass were caught on artificial lures and released shortly after.

Of the five exotic species, the Mayan Cichlid (Cichlasoma urophthalmus),

Spotted Tiliapia (Pelmatolapia mariae), and Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were collected and seen in great numbers at a majority of collections sites. The Mayan

Cichlids were in visible schools near shore and were easily caught on hook and line using worms as bait. The Spotted Tilapia behaved very similarly and were caught in the same way. The Nile Tilapia were seen on dish-shaped nests they made near the shore; they were very wary of hook and line and difficult to catch. Their very pale breeding coloration and distinct features (Figure 10) made them easy to identify from shore. The other two exotic species, Blue Tilapia (Oreochromis aureus), and Orinoco Sailfin Catfish

(Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus) were not seen as regularly. The Orinoco Sailfin Catfish was only observed in one pond of Range IV, seen grazing on algae on near shore vegetation.

Tiffany Snow’s research in 2008 showed accounts of Golden Topminnow

(Fundulus chrysotus), and Dollar Sunfish (Lepomis marginatus), this study did not identify either of these species. Snow’s research did also not include six species identified in this study: Nile Tilapia, Spotted Tilapia, Blue Tilapia, Redear Sunfish

(Lepomis microlophus), Florida Gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus), and Orinoco Sailfin

Catfish. Snow also claimed past sightings of Walking Catfish (Clarias batrachus), during high rainfall (based on live individuals seen on the FAU campus and skeletons found on the shoreline in the greenway). Snow’s research did not collect any Waking Catfish, and the present study did not as well.

The most successful collecting method was the 30-foot seine net, because of its massive area it covered in the water and small mesh size, it was able to capture a large number of fishes very quickly. It excelled in shallower areas where it could be used most efficiently, where aquatic vegetation or debris did not get in the way. The smaller species as well as juveniles, were captured almost exclusively by the 30-foot seine net. The D- loop net was a successful way of sampling smaller fishes in the nearshore vegetation in some of the ponds, although it only caught a few individuals with each sweep. Hook and line fishing was the most frequently used method, and was also very successful. The majority of the larger fish species, especially Largemouth Bass, were caught almost exclusively by hook and line.

DISCUSSION

Despite the changing conditions in weather and water levels over the five months the research was conducted, the sampling yielded relatively the same amount of species at each collection site. This means that the fish collected in this study are well established, reproducing, and in fair number. The ability for the exotic species to adapt to a changing stressful environment, allows them to thrive and possibly take over the waters of the Abacoa Greenway.

Thirty-six freshwater exotic fishes are known to be reproducing in Florida, and they change the aquatic ecosystem dynamics drastically. These fishes can severely harm the native species of fishes in Florida. The invasive cichlid species found in the

Greenway have become very abundant. Snow’s research in 2008 saw the Mayan Cichlid

(Cichlasoma urophtalmus) and Spotted Tilapia (Pelmatolapia mariae), but they were not very abundant nor widespread. Now just ten years later, those species were seen in even greater numbers, and two new cichlid species, Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and

Blue Tilapia (Oreochromis aureus) have become established in the Abacoa Greenway.

SPECIES ACCOUNTS

Mayaheros urophtalmus, the Mayan Cichlid is moderately compressed with a pointed snout and 6-8 blue-black bars, often with narrow white to pale gray borders, on a brownish to olive background (Figure 8). The dorsal fin frequently has a red edge. A white to metallic blue-edged bar is present on the middle caudal fin base. Habitat: The

Mayan Cichlid inhabits borrow-pit lakes, canals, drainage ditches, and wet prairies. It is found in open water and in dense vegetation (Robins et. al 2018). Notes: This species was seen very frequently as a few individuals in the shallow interconnecting canals of the

Abacoa Greenway in Range IV and V. It was often in schools of twenty or so individuals near vegetation near the shore of the ponds.

Pelmatolapia mariae, the Spotted Tilapia has a moderately deep, compressed, oval body. Adults are olivaceous to golden with 4-6 dark gray to black blotches along the side of the body (Figure 9). Large adults have a pink breast and side. Fins are generally dusky but may be streaked with yellow or suffused with pink. Habitat: The

Spotted Tilapia inhabits roadside ditches, canals, wet prairies, rivers, and creeks (Robins et. al 2018). Notes: This species was very common often found next to or near a school of Mayan cichlids in the interconnecting canals of the Abacoa Greenway in Range IV and

V. It was also apparently nesting near the shoreline in the Range IV pond near the wooden overlook.

Oreochromis aureus, the Blue Tilapia is deep-bodied, compressed, and olive to bluish-gray dorsally, yellow-olive to silver laterally, and white ventrally (Figure 10). A series of dusky black bars along the side of the body may be expanded into midlateral blotches on juveniles. Fins are clear to yellow with dusky black spots. Habitat: The Blue

Tilapia inhabits a wide variety of aquatic habitats, including roadside ditches, canals, springs, wet prairies, creeks, rivers, and lakes with vegetation (Robins et. al 2018). Notes:

This species was not seen as often as the Nile Tilapia, but it was located in similar spots, in shallow interconnecting canals in both Range IV and V near the shore often on a nest.

Oreochromis niloticus, the Nile Tilapia is deep-bodied, compressed, bronze to brownish- gray dorsally and laterally, and white ventrally (Figure 11). A series of dusky black bars along the side of the body may be expanded into midlateral blotches on juveniles. Fins are clear to yellowish with dusky black spots. The truncated caudal fin has many thin black bands and a pinkish-red posterior margin. Habitat: The Nile Tilapia inhabits canals, creeks, rivers and lakes usually with aquatic vegetation (Robins et. al

2018). Notes: This species was frequently seen in both Range IV and V very close to the shore of the pond on a visible nest. They would swim back and forth over the nest guarding it from predatory fish.

Etheostoma fusiforme, the Swamp Darter has an elongated, compressed body with an incomplete lateral line that is strongly arched anteriorly with 28 or fewer pores. The body is green to tan on the back and upper side with small dark saddles, dark green and brown mottling, 10-12 dark squares along the side, many black and brown specks on the

9 lower side and belly (Figure 12). Habitat: The Swamp Darter lives in pools and backwaters, usually near vegetation or woody debris, of creeks, small to medium rivers, lakes, ditches, and canals (Robins et. al 2018). Notes: This species was only seen in select D-loop netting of aquatic vegetation of both Range IV and V. It was often deep within the aquatic vegetation, often caught with grass shrimp in the net.

Lepisosteus platyrhincus, the Florida Gar has many large olive-brown to black spots on the head, body, and all fins (Figure 13). The snout is moderately long with the upper jaw slightly longer than the rest of the head. The upper jaw has 1 row of teeth.

Bony plates are absent on the underside of the throat. Habitat: The Florida Gar inhabits lakes and pools of quiet lowland streams. It is usually found near woody debris or vegetation and occasionally enters brackish water (Robins et. al 2018). Notes: This species was actually not caught, but was positively identified several different times in both Range IV and V. It was easy to observe in very clear shallow water, either not moving or swimming very slowly.

Heterandria formosa, the Least Killifish has a flattened head, a small strongly upturned mouth, a large eye, and a black spot surrounded by red anteriorly on the dorsal fin (Figure 14). Females have a black spot on the anterior part of the anal fin. The back side of the body are olive with a black to dusky stripe and a series of black bars along the side of the body, and a black spot on the caudal fin base. Habitat: The Least Killifish inhabits vegetated areas of lakes, ponds, sloughs, ditches, swamps, and backwaters and pools of streams. It is sometimes found in brackish water (Robins et. al 2018). Notes:

This species was found quite prominently in the near shore vegetation of both Range IV

10 and V and the FAU pond, but not as often as the Eastern Mosquitofish. The two species were often caught in the same D-loop net dip.

Lucania goodei, the Bluefin Killifish has a slender, compressed body, a small upturned mouth, and the dorsal fin origin far in front of the anal fin origin (Figure 15).

The back and side of the body are olive-brown with dark-edged scales. There is a bold zigzag black stripe from the tip of the snout to the caudal fin base. Habitat: The Bluefin

Killifish inhabits vegetated sloughs, ditches, ponds, lakes, and pools and backwaters of creeks and small to medium rivers. It is sometimes common in spring effluents (Robins et. al 2018). Notes: This species was found in only one location that was not surveyed in

Snow’s research. It was found in near shore vegetation in the FAU pond closest to

Donald Ross Rd.

Gambusia holbrooki, the Eastern Mosquitofish has a flattened head, a small strongly upturned mouth and a small dorsal fin with its origin behind the anal fin origin.

The scales on the olive-gray to yellowish back and side of the body are darkly outlined, producing a crosshatched appearance (Figure16). There is a large dusky to black teardrop, a dusky stripe along the middle of the back form the head to the dorsal fin.

Habitat: The Eastern Mosquitofish inhabits lakes, ponds, sloughs, swamps, and backwaters and pools of streams. It sometimes is found in brackish water. The eastern mosquitofish is the most common freshwater fish in Florida (Robins et. al 2018). Notes:

This species was by far the most abundant in all of the Abacoa Greenway, practically all near shore vegetation in Range IV and V contained small schools of Eastern

Mosquitofish.

Peocilia latipinna, the Sailfin Molly has a deep body, an extremely deep caudal peduncle, a flattened head that it triangular when viewed in profile, and an upturned mouth. The back and side of the body are all olive to green with 5-7 rows of dark brown spots and iridescent yellow flecks on the side, and brown black spots on the dorsal and caudal fins (Figure 17). Habitat: The Sailfin Molly inhabits lakes, ponds, sloughs, pools and backwaters of creeks and small rivers. It is found in fresh and brackish water and is sometimes common in spring effluents (Robins et. al 2018). Notes: This species was found in only one specific location of Range VIa, a pair of very small concrete scour prevention pools on the upstream and downstream ends of the culvert under Frederick

Small Road. These pools were thick with aquatic vegetation and debris. The mollies were in great numbers, very densely populated in with only one other species, the Eastern

Mosquitofish.

Lepomis microlophus, the Redear Sunfish has a deep compressed silver green body with dark gray bars on the side and a bright red margin on the black ear flap (Figure

18). The second dorsal fin often has dusky black wavy lines; other fins are clear to dusky.

The snout is pointed, and the mouth is small with the upper jaw not extending to below the pupil of the eye. Habitat: The Redear Sunfish inhabits swamps, lakes, ponds, and pools of small to medium rivers (Robins et. al 2018). Notes: This species was found in both Ranges IV and V, often in conjunction with Bluegill Sunfish. They were not caught as commonly as Bluegill Sunfish, eating a worm off hook and line.

Lepomis macrochirus, the Bluegill Sunfish has dark bars, thin and chainlike on small individuals, on a light olive to silver-blue deep, compressed body. There is a large black spot near the posterior end of the dorsal fin base and often a dusky spot near the

12 posterior end of the anal fin base (Figure 19). Fins are clear to dusky red. Habitat: The

Bluegill inhabits pools of creeks and small to large rivers, lakes, and ponds (Robins et. al

2018). Notes: This species was caught very frequently on hook and line in Ranges IV and

V and the FAU ponds. Several juveniles were caught using the seine net in near shore vegetation in the Range V pond.

Micropteris salmoides, the Largemouth Bass has an elongate body and a large mouth with the upper jaw extending past the eye in the adult. The first dorsal fin is high at the middle and low at the rear, with the first and second dorsal fins barely joined at the base. The body varies from silver white to brassy green to light brown in dark water with dark olive molting in the back and upper side, a broad black stripe (often broken into a series of blotches) along the side, the scattered black specks on the lower side, and a dusky black edge on a clear to dusky caudal fin (Figure 20). Habitat: The Largemouth

Bass inhabits lakes, ponds, and pools of creeks and small to large rivers (Robins et. al

2018). Notes: This species was very abundant in Ranges IV and V, juveniles often seen in the shallow waters near aquatic vegetation and in canals. Several larger adult specimens were caught on hook and line from the ponds.

Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus, the Orinoco Sailfin Catfish have a very large dorsal fin with one spine and 10-14 branched rays. They have relatively small, discrete black spots on the head and body, including the underside, and fins (Figure 21). Habitat:

The Orinoco Sailfin Catfish inhabit canals, creeks, small rivers, springs, and lakes. They are often found near vegetation and woody debris (Robins et. al 2018). Notes: This species was only seen in Range IV pond, and was not caught. It was positively identified

13 several times by different specimens. It was easy to identify the species because of their proximity to shore when feeding on algae, they presented their underside prominently.

In comparison to Snow’s Research in 2008, this species list (Table 1 & 2) contains 3 more species then hers (Table 3). This would suggest an increase in biodiversity of the Abacoa Greenway in just a ten year span. Three new species being invasive, shows that even a small water system like the Abacoa Greenway is not safe from the invasive fishes so prominent now in south Florida. The decrease of vegetation in some segments of the Abacoa Greenway waterways also had a big effect on the aquatic organisms of the water system. The growth of trees shading much of the shore of the ponds, completely shaded the small interconnecting canals. This shading does not allow the aquatic vegetation to grow, which acts as habitat for many aquatic organisms and smaller fishes. In the small canals of the Abacoa Greenway, there was almost no sign of life, the water was stagnant and barren. In Tiffany Snow’s research these canals were full of small fishes and aquatic vegetation, this shows the effect that tree growth shading has on a small water system. Some of Snow’s collecting sites in the canal east of the Range V pond used to have several species of killifishes and mosquitofish in abundance, now with the overshading and loss of aquatic vegetation, those same sites had no small fishes at all.

Table 1. Proposed species list for the Abacoa Greenway.

Common Name Scientific Name Mayan Cichlid Mayaheros urophtalmus Spotted Tilapia Pelmatolapia mariae Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus Blue Tilapia Oreochromis aureus Swamp Darter Etheostoma fusiforme Florida Gar Lepisosteus platyrhincus Least Killifish Heterandria Formosa Bluefin Killifish Lucania goodei Eastern Mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki Sailfin Molly Peocilia latipinna Redear Sunfish Lepomis microlophus Bluegill Sunfish Lepomis macrochirus Largemouth Bass Micropteris salmoides Orinoco Sailfin Catfish Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus

Table 2. Numbers of individuals collected in this study.

Species of Fish Number of Fish Native or Exotic Mayan Cichlid 7 Exotic Mayaheros urophtalmus Spotted Tilapia 6 Exotic Pelmatolapia mariae Nile Tilapia 1 Exotic Oreochromis niloticus Blue Tilapia 1 Exotic Oreochromis aureus Swamp Darter 6 Native Etheostoma fusiforme Florida Gar Observed Native Lepisosteus platyrhincus Least Killifish 16 Native Heterandria Formosa Bluefin Killifish 6 Native Lucania goodei Eastern Mosquitofish 42 Native Gambusia holbrooki Sailfin Molly 521* Native Peocilia latipinna Redear Sunfish 3 Native Lepomis microlophus Bluegill Sunfish 112 Native Lepomis macrochirus Largemouth Bass 16 Native Micropteris salmoides Orinoco Sailfin Catfish Observed Exotic Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus

* This number is very high because of the incredibly high population density in a very small pond. The 30 foot seine net was able to cover the entire pond, resulting in a great catch.

Table 3. Number of individuals in Tiffany Snow’s research in 2008

Species of Fish Number of Fish Native or Exotic Mayan Cichlid 5 Exotic Mayaheros urophtalmus Spotted Tilapia 7 Exotic Pelmatolapia mariae Swamp Darter 3 Native Etheostoma fusiforme Least Killifish 7 Native Heterandria Formosa Bluefin Killifish 21 Native Lucania goodei Eastern Mosquitofish 31 Native Gambusia holbrooki Sailfin Molly 2 Native Peocilia latipinna Dollar Sunfish 1 Native Lepomis marginatus Bluegill Sunfish 20 Native Lepomis macrochirus Largemouth Bass 3 Native Micropteris salmoides Golden Topminnow 5 Native Fundulus chryotus

Figure 1. Map of the Abacoa Greenway

Figure 2. Map of Abacoa fish sampling sites for this study

Figure 3. Small interconnecting canal at Range IV, just north of Central Blvd and immediately east of Morning Dew Circle

Figure 4. Range IV pond south of University Blvd. and east of E. Indian Crossing Circle.

Figure 5. Range V pond east of Central Blvd. and south of Frederick Small Rd.

Figure 6. FAU pond near Donald Ross Rd and east of Parkside Dr.

Figure 7. Small concrete pond near Frederick Small Rd. at Range VIa.

Figure 8. Mayan Cichlid, Mayaheros urophtalmus

Figure 9. Spotted Tilapia, Pelmatolapia mariae

Figure 10. Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. Photo from (Robins et. al 2018)

Figure 11. Blue Tilapia, Oreochromis aureus

Figure 12. Swamp Darter, Etheostoma fusiforme

Figure 13. Florida Gar, Lepisosteus platyrhincus. Photo from (Robins et. al 2018)

Figure 14. Least Killifish, Heterandria Formosa. Photo from (Robins et. al 2018)

Figure 15. Bluefin Killifish, Lucania goodie

Figure 16. Eastern Mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki

Figure 17. Sailfin Molly, Peocilia latipinna

Figure 18. Redear Sunfish, Lepomis microlophus

Figure 19. Juvenile Bluegill Sunfish, Lepomis macrochirus

Figure 20. Largemouth Bass, Micropteris salmoides

Figure 21. Orinoco Sailfin Catfish, Pterygoplichthys multiradiatus. Photo by Pawel Cisela (commons.wikimedia.org)

FIELD NOTES 19 December 2018. Range V. Water levels low in the Greenway, 2-3 feet of sand bank exposed around pond, canals very low. Collector- Brock Pearson. a. Sampled all around the Range V pond, using small net and D-loop net. Several Eastern Mosquitofish were caught, and a few Least killifish. b. Had fishing rod, using artificial lures to target Largemouth bass. 2 specimens were caught and released. c. Observed a small school of Bluegill Sunfish by some aquatic vegetation, unable to catch them with net. 20 December 2018. Range V. Same conditions in the Greenway as the previous day. Collector- Brock Pearson. a. Using hook and line with worms as bait, caught several Bluegill Sunfish. 31 December 2018. Range IV. Water levels still 2-3 feet lower than usual. This pond still had a good amount of aquatic vegetation. Collector- Brock Pearson. a. Sampled aquatic vegetation near bridge at pond in Range IV, used hook and line with worms. Caught several Spotted Tilapia and Mayan Cichlids. b. Also observed a large Nile Tilapia, and some Bluegill Sunfish. 01 January 2019. Range V. Conditions the same as previous day. Collector- Brock Pearson. a. Netted some more Eastern Mosquitofish in near shore aquatic vegetation. b. Also first time catching Least killifish, small school mixed in with the Eastern Mosquitofish. 25 January 2019. Range IV and V. Water levels now up to normal after significant rainfall. Near shore aquatic vegetation already seems a little more prominent. Collectors- Brock Pearson and Dr. Jon Moore. a. Hook and line with worms as bait catches more Bluegill Sunfish. The first Redear Sunfish was caught. b. The D-loop net in near shore aquatic vegetation caught a few Swamp Darters and more Eastern Mosquitofish. 02 February 2019. Range V. Water level still normal. Collector- Brock Pearson. a. Blue Tilapia was caught on hook and line using an artificial lure. It seemed agitated when placed near it’s bed and hit the lure. 24 February 2019. Range IV & V. Water levels slightly lower but still normal. Collectors Brock Pearson and Dr. Jon Moore. a. Redear Sunfish and Bluegill Sunfish caught on hook and line using worms. b. More Eastern Mosquitofish caught in D-Loop net. c. Used 30-foot seine net in Range V pond where it converges into canal. Caught several juvenile Bluegill, and a few Largemouth Bass. 15 March 2019. Range V. Water levels very high from recent rainfall. Collectors- Brock Pearson. a. A couple of Largemouth bass caught on hook and line using lures. b. Observed a Florida Gar clearly in the shallows of the pond. c. Observed several Orinoco Sailfin Catfish feeding on algae on the aquatic vegetation.

17 March 2019. Range IV, V and VIa. Small concrete pond near Frederick Small Rd. FAU pond close to Donald Ross Rd. Water levels still high. Collectors- Brock Pearson and Dr. Jon Moore. a. Used 30-foot seine net in small concrete ponds on upstream and downstream culvert aprons in Range VIa and caught hundreds of Sailfin Molly. This was the only location they had been seen. A decent number of Eastern Mosquitofish were inhabiting the pond as well. Thick aquatic vegetation made it difficult to use the seine, but still got a huge population of fish. b. Went to the FAU pond close to Donald Ross Rd. caught a few Bluegill Sunfish on hook and line. Used D-loop net to catch Eastern Mosquitofish, and caught first samples of Bluefin Killifish. 06 April 2019. Range IV and V. Water levels normal. Collector- Brock Pearson. a. Attempted to catch fish on hook and line with bait but was unsuccessful. b. Caught Largemouth Bass on hook and line using a lure.

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