Bioinvasive species and the preservation of cutthroat trout in the western United States: ecological, social, and economic issues

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Abstract

The cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki) was the only endemic salmonid species across most of the western United States, and it has severely declined largely due to introduction and bioinvasion by non-native salmonid species. However, the ecological, social, and economic consequences of cutthroat trout declines and replacement by non-native salmonid species are relatively minor, and measurable affects on ecosystem function are rare. Restoration efforts for cutthroat trout involve removal or control of bioinvasive salmonid species, but such efforts are costly, ongoing, and resisted frequently by segments of society. Cutthroat trout declines are of little concern to much of the public because they are valued similarly to non-native salmonids, and non-native salmonid species frequently have higher recreational values. Due to the low values placed on cutthroat trout relative to non-native salmonid species, net economic benefits of preserving cutthroat trout are equal to or less than those for non-native salmonids. Cutthroat trout provide a classic case of the consequences of biological invasion; however, other native species are faced with similar issues. We suggest that management agencies establish realistic goals to preserve native species within the context of ecological, social, and economic issues.

Introduction

Human activities have greatly altered natural systems causing measurable and substantial declines in many fish species. Declines of birds and mammals resulting from human-induced disturbances have been documented at global and local scales (Master, 1990, Master, 1991, Richter et al., 1997), and imperilment rates for freshwater fishes, crayfishes, and mollusks have been described as eight times higher than those for terrestrial vertebrates (Master, 1990). Moyle and Leidy (1992) estimated that 20% of the world’s freshwater fishes are extinct or in serious decline and over half of the freshwater fishes in the US now receive some form of legal protection in a portion of their range (Johnson, 1987). Most of the federally listed endangered or threatened fish species are concentrated in the western US (Sheldon, 1988). For example, 63% of California’s fish species and subspecies are extinct, endangered, or declining (Moyle and Williams, 1990), and nearly all endemic fish species in the Colorado River system have experienced local extirpations and restricted distributions (Mueller and Marsh, 2002, Minckley et al., 2003). Similarly, many native fish species in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain regions have experienced substantial population and range reductions (Fausch and Bestgen, 1997, McMahon and Gardner, 2001, Behnke, 2002).

Bioinvasive fish species are a significant problem for the preservation of native fishes in the western US. Most non-native fish species were introduced to enhance recreational fisheries, and widespread habitat alterations and continual reintroductions have facilitated the spread of non-native fishes (Gido and Brown, 1999, Mueller and Marsh, 2002). Non-native fish species are regarded as a primary cause for most fish species declines and the most significant limitation to preservation efforts into the future (Sheldon, 1988, Miller et al., 1989, Minckley and Deacon, 1991, Richter et al., 1997, Wilcove et al., 1998, Sala et al., 2000). In the western US, non-native, bioinvasive fish species are considered the leading threat to preservation of native fishes (Minckley and Deacon, 1991, Richter et al., 1997).

Preserving native fishes is dependent on not only understanding ecological systems, but also social and economic issues. We use cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki) to illustrate the ecological, social, and economic issues associated with control of bioinvasive fish species in efforts to preserve native fishes in the western US. Cutthroat trout have declined due to introductions of exotic species and provide a model to illustrate issues facing other native fishes. We contend that arguments for conservation of cutthroat trout should be stronger for this species than for other native fishes of the western US because of their comparatively high social and economic values.

While ecological, social, and economic issues form the basis of our discussion, these issues are presented within the context of a conceptual framework (Fig. 1) that illustrates the positive and negative effects of bioinvasive species. We contend that the relative threats of bioinvasive salmonids may be viewed along two gradients: (1) threats to cutthroat trout as a species and (2) threats to ecosystem function. Additionally, economic effects of bioinvasive species may be positive or negative depending on the comparative social values associated with cutthroat trout or bioinvasive species. Thus, net economic effects of bioinvasion are largely independent of effects on cutthroat trout as a species or ecosystem function. Based on this logic, we evaluate the array of issues facing the preservation of cutthroat trout and other native fishes of the western US. Although our model and discussion focus on cutthroat trout, the arguments may be presented for most native species threatened by bioinvasion.

Section snippets

Cutthroat trout

Cutthroat trout had the broadest distribution of any trout species in North America (Behnke, 2002). Behnke (2002) recognized 14 subspecies of cutthroat trout, nearly all of which have been reduced to <5% of their distributions since settlement by Europeans (Kruse et al., 1997, Shepard et al., 1997, Dunham et al., 1999, Horan et al., 2000, Behnke, 2002). Two subspecies of cutthroat trout are extinct, two subspecies are federally listed as threatened, and several subspecies have been petitioned

Social issues

The value placed on preservation of native fishes has increased in importance among natural resource professionals, but public support of such activities generally differs from professionals (Muth et al., 1998). Thus, understanding public values related to cutthroat trout and bioinvasive salmonids is critical for obtaining support for preservation activities. Social values can be divided into four major categories: ethical, aesthetic, historical, and recreational.

Ethical values originate from

Economic issues

Social issues play an important role in the protection of cutthroat trout from non-native, bioinvasive salmonids and are directly related to economic issues. A common method for assessing the economics of natural resources is a supply and demand model, which illustrates that the price of a resource is based on both its supply and the demand by consumers (Mansfield, 1985, Rees, 1985, Tietenberg, 1996). Although a supply and demand framework may be considered an overly simple model, our purpose

Passive approaches

The decline of cutthroat trout has resulted in the widespread adoption of passive approaches to protect remaining cutthroat trout populations. Passive approaches require little or no monetary or labor inputs from management agencies. Passive approaches include changes to harvest regulations or stocking practices, but they have limited effectiveness due to resistance or non-compliance by anglers and the continued spread of naturalized, non-native salmonid species.

Sport fishing regulations have

Conclusions

Bioinvasive, non-native salmonids have had and are having a significant effect on cutthroat trout. Although brown trout and lake trout are a risk to cutthroat trout populations and ecosystem function in a few areas, the most significant threats to cutthroat trout as a species are rainbow trout and brook trout. Despite these threats, there is little or no social or economic justification for control of rainbow trout or brook trout. Because preservation of cutthroat trout becomes a cost to

Acknowledgements

We thank Wendy Stock and John Tschirhart for suggestions regarding the economic models. Discussions with Charles Anderson, Robert Behnke, Patricia Bigelow, Michael Bower, Dirk Miller, Darren Rhea, Hilda Sexauer, and Robert Wiley greatly enhanced our views on issues facing native species conservation. Helpful comments on a previous version of the manuscript were provided by Patricia Bigelow, Jason Dunham, Amy Harig, Daniel Isaak, Frank Rahel, Darren Rhea, and an anonymous reviewer. The Wyoming

Michael C. Quist is a Postdoctoral Research Associate with the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and the Department of Zoology and Physiology at the University of Wyoming. He has conducted various studies focusing on the management of native and exotic species in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. He received his PhD from Kansas State University.

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  • Cited by (0)

    Michael C. Quist is a Postdoctoral Research Associate with the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and the Department of Zoology and Physiology at the University of Wyoming. He has conducted various studies focusing on the management of native and exotic species in the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. He received his PhD from Kansas State University.

    Wayne A. Hubert has been the Assistant Leader of the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit since 1982 and serves as a fisheries biologist on the faculty at the University of Wyoming as a Professor in the Department of Zoology and Physiology. Previously he was Assistant Leader of the Iowa Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit and on the faculty of the Department of Animal Ecology at Iowa State University. He has also been an aquatic biologist with the Tennessee Valley Authority in Alabama and Tennessee. He received his PhD from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

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