Niche characteristics explain the reciprocal invasion success of stream salmonids in different continents.

ABSTRACT: An ability to understand and predict invasions is elemental for controlling the detrimental effects of introduced organisms on native biota. In eastern North America, European brown trout generally dominates over, and eventually replaces, the native brook trout. We show here that in northern Europe the pattern of replacement between these two species is reversed: when transferred to North European streams, brook trout spread extensively and partially replaced the native brown trout. The effect of brook trout on brown trout was habitat-specific: brook trout excluded the native species only in small tributary streams where the reproduction of brown trout was severely reduced, whereas in larger streams brown trout was largely unaffected. Thus, the pattern of coexistence among the two salmonid

SUBMITTER: Korsu K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1887588 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature