Piscivory by Non-Native Blue Tilapia (Oreochromis Aureus ) in Clark County, Nevada
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UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-2007 Piscivory by non-native blue tilapia (Oreochromis aureus ) in Clark County, Nevada Shawn C Goodchild University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Goodchild, Shawn C, "Piscivory by non-native blue tilapia (Oreochromis aureus ) in Clark County, Nevada" (2007). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 2235. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/sgam-v3b4 This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. PISCIVORY BY NON-NATIVE BLUE TILAPIA {OREOCHROMIS AUREUS) IN CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA by Shawn C. Goodchild Bachelor of Science Humboldt State University 1993 A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science Degree in Environmental Science Department of Environmental Studies Greenspun College of Urban Affairs Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas December 2007 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 1452246 Copyright 2008 by Goodchild, Shawn 0. All rights reserved. INFORMATION TO USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleed-through, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI UMI Microform 1452246 Copyright 2008 by ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 E. Eisenhower Parkway PC Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Thesis Approval UNTV The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas ft November 20;Q 7 The Thesis prepared by SHAWN C. GOODCHILD Entitled PISCIVORY BY NON-NATIVE BLUE TILAPIA fOREOCHROMIS AUREUS) IN CLARK COUNTY. NEVADA is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of M.S. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Examination Committee Chat Dean of the Graduate College Ejjçmtinatforr^m^ttee Member ..i- Examinatiofn^ Committee Member Graduate College Eaculty Representative 11 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT Piscivory by Non-native Blue Tilapia(Oreochromis aureus) in Clark County, Nevada by Shawn C. Goodchild Dr. Shawn Gerstenberger, Committee Chair Associate Professor University of Nevada, Las Vegas Fish communities that share an evolutionary history typieally have mechanisms to offset impacts presented by other species. Fish, especially non-game species, which are intermingled with non-native species for which they lack a shared history, are often poorly adapted to offset these impacts. Non-native fish affect native fish through predation, competition, displacement, and disease, affects which are often synergistic. Native fish within the Muddy River system (Clark County, Nevada) experienced a precipitous decline in numbers following an illegal introduetion of blue tilapia {Oreochromis aureus) during the 1990’s. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if tilapia were directly predating upon fish, which is a phenomenon not substantially reported in scientific literature but possible, for example, due to contemporary evolution. In addition, if piscivorous, various factors including gender, health, size, and habitat were examined to ascertain influence over predation. This information would inform management of the fisheries resources in the Muddy River and throughout Southern Nevada. Tilapia were collected at both the Nevada Power Reid 111 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Gardner generating facility and the Muddy River, and stomach contents were investigated. Blue tilapia were determined to be piscivorous, which was weakly related to gender, habitat, and body length. Muddy River populations, which were predominately male, more frequently had fish in their digestive systems than did tilapia from the Reid Gardner ponds. Body condition of tilapia was not related to piscivory. Due to the weakness of the relationships, additional study is warranted, including information on other habitat variables. This investigation underscores the importance of a tilapia removal program for waters in Southern Nevada. A management plan and invasion framework was proposed to address the problem. IV Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT..............................................................................................................................iii LIST OF FIGURES........................... vii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS..................................................................................................viii CHAPTER 1 DITRODUCTION............................................................................................1 History of Tilapia in Nevada.............................................................................................. 5 Purpose of the Study...........................................................................................................6 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................7 Overview of Effects of Non-native Fish ........................................................................... 7 Predation.........................................................................................................................7 Competition...................................................................................................................11 Displacement.................................................................................................................12 Parasites........................................................................................................................12 Combination of Effects ................................................................................................13 Reported Effects of Tilapia...............................................................................................14 Tilapia Life History........................................................................................................... 16 Taxonomy ....................................................................................................................16 Tilapia Distribution.....................................................................................................18 Ecology of Tilapia............................................................................................................. 19 Tilapia Anatomy Related to Feeding.............................................................................. 22 Gut Morphology................................................................................................................ 22 Other Factors Affecting Anatomy ...................................................................................23 Gender..........................................................................................................................23 Water Chemistry and Morphology ........................................................................... 24 Tilapia Dietary Considerations........................................................................................25 Natural Diet of Tilapia......................................................................................................26 Effects of Temperature on Diet........................................................................................26 Effects of Diet on Tilapia................................................................................................. 27 Dietary Requirements and Their Importance..................................................................28 Body Size and Energetics ..........................................................................................28 Protein..........................................................................................................................30 Lipids and Carbohydrates ........................ 33 Other Nutrients, Vitamins, and Minerals..................................................................35 Dietary Plasticity ............................................................................................................... 36 Food Quality and Availability .........................................................................................37