The designation of geographical entities in this book, and the presentation of the material, do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN or any of the funding organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of IUCN.
Published by: IUCN/SSC Reintroduction Specialist Group & Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi
Copyright: © 2018 IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
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Citation: Soorae, P. S. (ed.) (2018). Global Reintroduction Perspectives: 2018. Case studies from around the globe. IUCN/SSC Reintroduction Specialist Group, Gland, Switzerland and Environment Agency, Abu Dhabi, UAE. xiv + 286pp.
6th Edition
ISBN: 978-2-8317-1901-6 (PDF) 978-2-8317-1902-3 (print edition)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.CH.2018.08.en
Cover photo: Clockwise starting from top-left: I. Reticulated python, Singapore © ACRES II. Trout cod, Australia © Gunther Schmida (Murray-Darling Basin Authority) III. Yellow-spotted mountain newt, Iran © M. Sharifi IV. Scimitar-horned oryx, Chad © Justin Chuven V. Oregon silverspot butterfly, USA © U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service VI. Two-colored cymbidium orchid, Singapore © Tim Wing Yam VII. Mauritius fody, Mauritius © Jacques de Spéville
Cover design & layout by: Pritpal S. Soorae, IUCN/SSC Reintroduction Specialist Group
Printed by: Arafah Printing Press LLC, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Download at: www.iucnsscrsg.org www.iucn.org/resources/publications
ii Fishes
Conservation introductions of the Running River rainbowfish into Deception and Puzzle Creeks, Australia
Karl G. Moy1, Jason Schaffer2, Mark Lintermans1 & Peter J. Unmack1
1 - Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra ACT 2617, Australia [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] 2 - Tropwater, James Cook University Canberra QLD 4811 4811, Australia [email protected]
Introduction Running River rainbowfish (Melanotaenia sp.) (RRR) was recently identified as a unique taxon by Unmack and Hammer (2016) and is confined to a 13 km stretch of Running River between two gorges. Running River is a perennial tributary of the Burdekin River in northeastern Queensland, Australia and alternates between a broad valley with a sand based channel and deep gorges with cascades and deep pools. An introduced population of the widespread eastern rainbowfish (Melanotaenia splendida) was detected above the uppermost gorge and subsequent sampling confirmed they had moved downstream and were hybridizing with RRR. Thus hybridization is the key threatening process for RRR. Although it has been identified as unique, RRR is not yet taxonomically described and as a result is ineligible for Australian federal conservation listing. However, the Australian Society for Fish Biology listed the species as critically endangered in 2016, following IUCN criteria.
Puzzle and Deception creeks are tributaries of Running River with permanent water which lacked rainbowfish (two other native species were present). They were identified as key introduction sites because they are in the same catchment as RRR, large waterfalls prevent upstream colonization of introduced rainbowfish and they are on land managed by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy.
Goals Goal 1: Establishment of two wild, self-sustaining populations secured against introgressive hybridization with other rainbowfish. Goal 2: Allelic diversity of new populations represents allelic diversity of broodstock. Goal 3: Establish a large captive-breeding group to conserve genetic diversity. Goal 4: To demonstrate that conservation actions for smaller species do not require large budgets and that interest groups in the aquarium hobby can substantially contribute to successful conservation actions.
Success Indicators Indicator 1: Fish introduced into Deception and Puzzle Creeks survive in sufficient numbers to maintain the genetic diversity that was present within the brood stock. Indicator 2: Introduced fish survive to maturity and successfully spawn.
34 Fishes