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University of Wollongong Research Online University of Wollongong Thesis Collection 2017+ University of Wollongong Thesis Collections 2017 The context-dependency of predator-prey and competitive interactions between the invasive eastern mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki, and native Australian freshwater fauna Laura Kate Lopez UnivFollowersity this of and Wollongong additional works at: https://ro.uow.edu.au/theses1 University of Wollongong Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorise you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. You are reminded of the following: This work is copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part of this work may be reproduced by any process, nor may any other exclusive right be exercised, without the permission of the author. Copyright owners are entitled to take legal action against persons who infringe their copyright. A reproduction of material that is protected by copyright may be a copyright infringement. A court may impose penalties and award damages in relation to offences and infringements relating to copyright material. Higher penalties may apply, and higher damages may be awarded, for offences and infringements involving the conversion of material into digital or electronic form. Unless otherwise indicated, the views expressed in this thesis are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the University of Wollongong. Recommended Citation Lopez, Laura Kate, The context-dependency of predator-prey and competitive interactions between the invasive eastern mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki, and native Australian freshwater fauna, Doctor of Philosophy thesis, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, 2017. https://ro.uow.edu.au/ theses1/106 Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong. For further information contact the UOW Library: [email protected] School of Biological Sciences The context-dependency of predator-prey and competitive interactions between the invasive eastern mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki, and native Australian freshwater fauna Laura Kate Lopez This thesis is presented as part of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Wollongong June 2017 ii iii PUBLICATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS The following publications, presentations and workshop facilitation were completed during the course of my candidature: Publications Lopez L.K., Wong M.Y.L. and A.R. Davis (2016). The effects of diel cycle and the density of an invasive predator on predation risk and prey response. Animal Behaviour, 117:87-95. Lopez, L.K., Couture P., Maher W.A., Krikowa F., Jolley D.F. and A.R. Davis. (2014). Response of the hairy mussel Trichomya hirsuta to sediment-metal contamination in the presence of a bioturbator. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 88 (1-2): 180-187. Conference and workshop presentations Lopez L.K. (2016). Applications of behavioural ecology to aquatic conservation Endangered species research in Aquatic Ecosystems workshop. Wollongong, Australia. Lopez L.K., Wong M.Y.L. and A.R. Davis (2016). Into the danger zone: temporal and density mediated effects of an invasive predator. Australasian Society for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASSAB).Annual Meeting, Katoomba, Australia. Lopez L.K., Davis A.R. and M.Y.L. Wong. (2015). Hostile Waters: The effect of multiple stressors on aggression in freshwater fish. Animal Behaviour Society (ABS). Annual Meeting, Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.A. iv Lopez L.K., Davis A.R. and M.Y.L. Wong. (2015). Antagonistic interactions between temperature and salinity mediate interference competition between invasive and native fish. International Ethology Conference (EIC). Cairns, Australia. Lopez L.K., Davis A.R. and M.Y.L. Wong. (2015). Negative behavioural interactions between the invasive eastern mosquitofish and Australian bass. Australian Society for Fish Biology (ASFB). Annual meeting, Sydney, Australia. Lopez L.K. (2015). Fish wars: the Bass strike back. University of Wollongong Postgraduate Conference, Kioloa, Australia. (Winner Best Whole Organism Biology presentation). Facilitated Workshops Davis A.R., Lopez L.K. and M.Y.L. Wong. (2016). Endangered Species Research in Aquatic Ecosystems. University of Wollongong. v ABSTRACT Invasive species can exert significant deleterious effects on native individuals, populations and communities. Freshwater ecosystems are especially vulnerable to invasion, due to their close association with anthropogenic activity and limited biogeographic connectivity. Understanding the behavioural mechanisms which underlie predator-prey and competitive interactions between invasive and native species is critical when predicting the impacts of invasive species on freshwater habitats. However, due to the predominance of indirect experimental methods, these mechanisms are seldom identified. Furthermore, behavioural mechanisms, and subsequently, invasive-native species interactions may be mediated by environmental and individual-level context. Here I used both direct and indirect methods to determine whether and how predator-prey and competitive interactions between the invasive eastern mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki and native Australian freshwater fauna are mediated by environmental variables. Throughout, I also assessed how individual-level morphological variables, specifically size and sex, modulate behavioural interactions depending on environmental context. In the first section of this thesis, I investigated whether the consumptive and non-consumptive effects of predator-prey interactions between G. holbrooki and the glass shrimp, Paratya australiensis, are mediated by the invader’s density and the diel cycle. In the next section, I determined how the density of G. holbrooki influenced its competitive interactions with juvenile Australian bass, Macquaria novemaculeata, in the laboratory and field. Finally, I tested whether the intensity of interference competition between G. holbrooki and M. novemaculeata was dependent on a combination of temperature and salinity stress. While I found a positive relationship between G. holbrooki density and the frequency of its direct interactions with P. australiensis and M. novemaculeata, this did not translate into reduced survivorship or growth of the native species. Temperature and salinity interacted in a non-additive manner on inter-specific vi aggression, highlighting the importance of considering multiple stressor effects. The responses of both P. australiensis and M. novemaculeata to predation and interference competition were modulated by interactions between body size and environmental context. In contrast, sex-specific aggression in G. holbrooki was shown to be dependent on its density. These results demonstrate the importance of considering the complex interplay between environmental and individual-level variables when predicting the strength and outcome of interactions between G. holbrooki, native prey and competitors. vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS There are many people to blame (ahem, thank) for helping me create this thesis (to quote Andy Davis). First of all I thank Phil Byrne, Kris French, Sharon Robinson, Todd Minchinton, Ben Gooden and James Wallman for giving me the opportunity to help teach their ecology courses. With the exception of 9 beautiful months in 2015 I have not have scholarship support and so I have relied a lot on teaching jobs, which have also been great fun. I also thank Tim Marchant and SMAH Research for their support and for helping me attend the ABS conference in Alaska. I am grateful to the NSW Department of Primary Industries which supported my research with a Saltwater and Freshwater Trust Fund grant, as well as Boral Sand and Soil who provided a safe and friendly environment in which to conduct a field experiment. Many thanks to our resident fish gurus, Neil from Aquablue Seafoods and Barry from BC aquarium, for helping me keep our fish happy and healthy. I wish to thank the amazing volunteers and research support staff who took time out from what were undoubtedly more exciting ventures to help me clean tanks and collect fish- Corinne de Mestre, Susan Rhind, Joy Williams, Stephen Poon, Matthew Chard, Driellie Florencio de Melo, Thiego Hurbath da Silva, Carol Cordonis and Peter Garside. I am especially grateful to Daniel Swadling and Paul Gordon for their amazing work in the field- thanks for putting up with all the snakes and my episode of mild hypothermia! I thank the many poor souls who have put up with me for the past few years. To my unofficial parents-in-law Jenny and Kevin King- thank you for welcoming me into your home and giving me an excuse to watch the Bachelorette. I also thank the other postgrad students (of whom there are too many to name), but particularly my sisters from other misters, Amy-Marie Gilpin and Leesa Keough for your amazing support and friendship. i Like any self-respecting millennial, I have adopted a semi-parasitic lifestyle and there is no way I would have been able to do this thesis without my parents, Maria and Michael. There are no words that can sufficiently express the gratitude for the financial and emotional support that you have provided. This PhD is a wonderful gift that you have given me and one day I will repay you by buying Dad a Porsche and Mum a French chateau (you will have
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