Nonindigenous Aquatic and Selected Terrestrial Species of Florida Status, Pathway and Time of Introduction, Present Distribution, and Significant Ecological and Economic Effects James A. McCann LoriN. Arkin James D. Williams National Biological Service Southeastern Biological Science Center 7920 N.W. 71st Street Gainesville, Florida 32653 1 United States Department of the Interior NATIONAL BIOLOGICAL StlRVE:~ SERVICE November 28, 1995 MEMORANDUM To: Victor Ramey, IFAS, University of Florida From: Center Director, SBSC Subject: Publication of McCann report on Aquatic Nonindigenous Species of Florida Dr. McCann has prepared a very good compilation of information on aquatic nonindigenous species of Florida. The Florida report has gone through an in house peer review process for publication. Due to budget cuts we will not be able to publish it in house. Anyone who can publish this is free to do so. Contents Preface ......... ~........................................ ...... ............. 4 Abstract ..................................................................... 5 Definitions of Terms ............................. .... ....................... 7 Introductions and Survival of Nonindigenous Species in Freshwater Systems ........... 9 Subtropical Climate ................... ................................. 10 Pathways of Introduction ........................................ ........ 10 Industries that Import Nonindigenous Species ................................ 12 Human Population Growth ............................................... 12 Human Interaction with Pests .................. ............ ........... 12 Nonindigenous Diseases and Parasites in Freshwater Systems ....................... 13 N onindigenous Diseases of Plants . 13 N onindigenous Diseases and Parasites of Fishes .............. .. ............... 13 Nonindigenous Diseases of Humans ........................................ 21 Nonindigenous Aquatic and Semi-Aquatic Plants in Freshwater Systems ............. 27 Nonindigenous Aquatic Plants ........ .............. .. ........ ........... 27 Nonindigenous Semi-Aquatic Plants ............................. .... ..... 46 Significant Effects By Nonindigenous Aquatic Plants .......................... 51 Nonbiological Control ofNuisance Plants ................................... 53 Biological Control Agents Other Than Insects .... ........................... 54 Cost ofNonbiological Control of Aquatic Nuisance Plants .. .. ... ... ............ 55 Nonindigenous Aquatic Mollusks ............................................... 59 Nonindigenous Aquatic Insects in Freshwater Systems ............................. 66 Imported Insects for Biological Control Agents of Aquatic Nonindigenous Plant Species ............................... ... .......... 73 Nonindigenous Nonaquatic Insects of Special Interest .......................... 81 Nonindigenous Fishes in Freshwater Systems .................. .. ................. 85 International Trade ofNonindigenous Fish ................. ................. 85 National Trade ofNonindigenous Fishes ................. .... ............. 86 Potential Effects ofNonindigenous Fishes ................................... 87 Tropical Fish Industry in Florida ........................................... 87 Established Nonindigenous Fish Species in Florida ... ........................ 91 Nonindigenous Amphibians and Reptiles .............. ........................ 116 N onindigenous Aquatic Birds ..................... .. ........ ...... ............ 120 Importation ofNonindigenous Birds .......... .. ........................... 120 2 Pathways of Introduction ................................................ 120 Nonindigenous Nonaquatic Birds of Special Interest .......................... 123 Nonindigenous Aquatic Mammals in Freshwater Systems ......................... 126 Nonindigenous Nonaquatic Mammals of High Visibility ........................... 128 Introductions and Survival ofNonindigenous Species in the Marine Environment ..... 132 Nonindigenous Diseases in the Marine Environment .......................... 133 Nonindigenous Euryhaline Plants ......................................... 135 Nonindigenous Euryhaline Invertebrates .................................... 135 Nonindigenous Euryhaline Fishes ......................................... 139 Regulations for the Import of Fishes, Wildlife, Plants, and Insects .................. 142 Nuisance-Plant Regulations .............................................. 142 Regulations for the Control of Fishes and Wildlife ............................ 145 Regulations for the Use of Insects as Biological Control Agents ................. 146 Conclusions ................................................................ 148 Acknowledgments .......................................................... 149 Tables .................................................................... 150 Figures . 181 Cited Literature ............................................................ 183 3 Preface Under the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-646, 104 STAT. 4671, 16 U.S.C. 4701-4741 approved Nov. 29, 1990), the Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force was instructed to conduct biological studies of the identification, pathways, and significant effects of the introduced nonindigenous aquatic species in the United States. This, a literature review, is one of the two biological studies that the task force initiated and funded in 1993. We concentrated on the nonindigenous aquatic species of Florida that were revealed by a literature review during September 1993-January 1994. Limited additional1995 references were added to the text during the review and editoring stages. Some information is on high-profile nonaquatic species. When experts were available, unpublished information about some groups of species was also obtained. However, resources were not available to gather new or unpublished information on all species. Recent published reviews were available of fishes (Courtenay et al. 1984, 1986, 1991), plants (Schardt and Schmitz 1990), and insects (Frank and McCoy 1992, 1993). We depended on the reviews and are indebted to W. R. Courtenay Jr., J. H. Frank, and D. C. Schmitz for assistance. No effort was made to include data on insects that immigrated (migrated on their own accord or were unintentionally introduced by humans) into Florida before 1970 because much of the information is scattered, not well documented, open to speculation, and beyond the scope of this study. Gathering and updating information on most ofthe other groups was impossible because of shortness of time and lack of sufficient resources. We hope that the updating of the information on the status of nonindigenous species in Florida will be continued and that similar documents will be prepared for other states. Knowledge of the pathways of introduction is critical for the development of methods to stop the introduction and establishment of nonindigenous nuisance species while allowing the wise use of beneficial nonindigenous species. 4 Abstract A literature review of the nonindigenous aquatic species introduced into Florida determined that at least 19 plant, 6 mollusk, 38 insect (including species that were imported as biological control agents), 83 fish, 2 amphibian, 1 reptile, 3 bird, 1 mammal, and 1 crab species and an unknown number of pathogens and parasites have been introduced into Florida. Nineteen species of exotic aquatic plants are established in Florida. Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticilata), water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), and alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) are the major problem species, requiring significant annual expenditures for control. The Asian Clam (Corbicula) is among the 6 species of freshwater mollusks that were introduced and are established in Florida. There have been 12 migrations or unintentional introductions of aquatic insects into Florida and 27 importations of insects for evaluation as biological control agents of aquatic nuisance species. Of these, 14 species have been released and 4 are still under evaluation. Twenty-three exotic tropical fish species and 1 temperate exotic fish species have become established. The populations of 11 are expanding, and populations of 12 are locally established. The blue tilapia (Tilapia aurea), walking catfish (Clarias batrachus), black acara (Cichlasoma bimaculatum), and blackchin tilapia (Tilopia melanopleura) are the most widely spread exotic fish species. The marine toad (Bufo marinus), and Cuban treefrog ( Osteopilus septentrionalis), spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus), muscovy duck (Cairina moschata), and the nutria (Myocastor coypus) were released or escaped and became established. The culture of tropical, exotic plants and animals supports a large aquaculture industry in Florida, which has historically been responsible for the release of many species into the wild. However, the rate of introductions through this pathway has been reduced in recent years. The harmful and beneficial ecological and economic effects of these introductions are not well documented. The major pathways of unofficial introductions of fishes include escape or release from fish farms, intentional release of species to support established populations for a sport or commercial fishery, and disposal of unwanted pet aquarium fishes. Only two fish species, the peacock cichlid (Cichla ocellaris) and the speckled pavon (Cichla temensis), were studied before being officially released