Condition and morphometric changes in tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) after an eradication attempt in Southern Louisiana

By

Lorenz, Otto
Smith, Patrick
Coghill, Lyndon

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2014

Original Publication

NeoBiota : advancing research on alien species and biological invasions

Volume

20

Pages

49-59

Subjects

cichlid , eradication , Ivasive , Morphology , tilapia

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sophia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.20.5062

 

Abstract

A hybrid form of tilapia was introduced into Port Sulphur, Louisiana and was subsequently managed by treatment with rotenone and stocking of native predatory fishes. Measurements of tilapia from before this management event were compared to measurements of tilapia in the two years after the treatment. Post-management tilapia were consistently deeper in body and had greater weight per unit length (condition) when compared to pre-management fish. Procrustes generalized least squares data supported this by consistently finding post-management tilapia to be consistently deeper in body and head shape than pre-management fish. Although this could indicate the effectiveness of stocking native predators, several other factors, including two cold winters, seasonal effects, and less competition, may have contributed to this result.