N.A.T.O. Collaborative Linkage Network

Life-history traits as predictors in assessing risks of non-native fishes

Network lead:
Salmon & Freshwater Team
Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science (Cefas)
Lowestoft, Suffolk
NR33 0HT, UK

Historical background

Initiated with financial support from the Collaborative Linkage Grant scheme of the N.A.T.O. Science Programme (Ref. LST.CLG 979499), this network continues to function through the national and international funding sources of its participants. The network consists of partners from both Europe and North America, with participation in projects varying from bi-lateral research projects to multi-national consortium bids.

The initial theme addressed by the Network with N.A.T.O. support is summarized here below:

Risks associated with the translocation of fish species between NATO countries, an activity undertaken for numerous decades, have received increased attention in recent years. Prediction of which species could be translocated, either intentionally or not, is central to risk assessment. These predictions have relied upon analysis of life history, physiological, and behavioural traits as well as assessments of transmission pathways and past establishment success. Life history traits are amongst the most variable but also most useful indicators to identify potentially invasive fish species. The main aims of the Collaborative Linkage Network (CLN) are to: 1) enhance the quality and transferability of national research projects and associated post-graduate training, especially those of Partner countries, by increasing their international dimension, and 2) determine which life-history traits can be used as predictors in the assessment of risks associated with the introduction of non-native fishes. We propose a combination of coordinated and independent exchange visits between research teams to achieve our specific scientific objectives, which are to: 1) assess variability of life-history traits in selected North American fish species established in Europe and European species established in North America; 2) identify and/or develop life-history indices of use in predicting establishment success; and 3) test the predictive power of these indices within a risk assessment context.

The original Network partners were:

Cefas, UK (CLN co-coordinator: Prof. Gordon H. Copp)
Comenius University, Slovakia (CLN co-coordinator: Dr. Vladimír Kováč)
Trent University, Canada (Contact: Prof. Michael G. Fox)
University of Girona, Spain (Contact: Prof. Ramon Moreno-Amich)
Fisheries Research Institute, Slovenia (Contact: Dr. Meta Povž)
Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal (Contact: Prof. Teresa Ferreira)
CEH-Dorset, UK (Contact: Dr. Rodolphe E. Gozlan)

The range of topics now addressed by the CLN has broadened considerably from the original topic, including work on non-native invertebrates as well as a wider examination of non-native fish impacts. As such, the collaborative activities and outcomes of the Network encompass the environmental biology of non-native fishes and invertebrates, as well as their relevance to predicting and assessing biological invasions and their impacts. The network still places particular emphasis on life-history variations, in particular with regard to the potential influence of climate change factors, principally temperature and hydrological variability.

Subsequent and present network participants

The participating institutions, including both the initial partners and those that subsequently became affiliated with the Network, are indicated here below, with the participating scientists indicated in parenthesis:

Balaton Limnological Research Institute, Hungary (Dr. Tibor Erős)
Bargerveen Foundation-Radboud University, The Netherlands (Dr. Hein van Kleef)
Bedwell Fisheries Services, UK (Mr. Keith J. Wesley)
Bournemouth University, UK (Dr. Rodolphe E. Gozlan, Dr. J. Robert Britton, Dr. Julien Cucherousset)
Cefas-Lowestoft, UK (Prof. Gordon H. Copp, Mr. Michael G. Godard, Mr. Nathan Edmonds, Dr. Grzegorz Zięba) (former team members: Dr. Saulius Stakėnas, Dr. Kathleen Beyer, Dr. Julien Cucherousset)
Comenius University, Slovakia (Dr. Vladimír Kováč, Dr. Eva Zahorská, Mgr. Andrea Novomeská, Mgr. Slavka Siryová)
Copernicus University, Poland (Dr. Tomasz Kakareko)
EBRA, Logatec, Slovenia (Mgr. Suzana Šumer)
INRA-Rennes, France (Dr. Jean-Marc Roussel)
Institute UMBRA, Slovenia (Dr. Meta Povž)
Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania (Dr. Saulius Stakėnas)
Muğla University, Turkey (Dr. Ali Serhan Tarkan)
Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre, Mildura, Australia (Dr. Lorenzo Vilizzi)
Research Institute for Nature & Forest, Groenendaal - Hoeilaart, Belgium (Dr. Hugo Verreycken)
Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal (Prof. Teresa Ferreira)
Trent University, Canada (Prof. Michael G. Fox, Miss Emily Fobert)(former participants: Miss Melissa Robillard, Mr. François Villeneuve)
University of Agricultural Sciences & Veterinary Medicine, Cluj Napoca, Romania (Mr. Istvan Falka)
Université Claude Bernard-Lyon I, France (Prof. Pierre Marmonier, Dr. Christophe Piscart)
University of Florence, Italy (Dr. Francesca Gherardi, Dr. Elena Tricarico)
University of Girona, Spain (Prof. Ramon Moreno-Amich, Dr. Emili García-Berthou, Dr. Anna Vila-Gispert)
Uniwersytet Łódzki, Poland (Dr. Mirosław Pryzbylski, Dr. Joanna Grabowska)
Université de Metz, France (Dr. Gérard Masson)
University of Navarra, Spain (Dr. Rafael Miranda)
Università di Perugia, Italy (Dr. Massimo Lorenzoni, Mr. Giovanni Pedicillo, Miss Laura Pompei)
Zoological Institute RAS, St-Petersburg, Russia (Dr. Nina G. Bogutskaya, Alex M. Naseka)

Network activities

Following the initial phase of Network activity (2003-2005), which was funded by a N.A.T.O. Collaborative Linkage Grant, original and new Network partners participated in a number of bi-lateral and consortium-based initiatives funded by national and international sources.

Current projects:

French national agency for water and aquatic environments (ONEMA) contract: 'Influence de la température sur le potentiel invasif d'une espèce exotique : application au changement global' (2009-2011) based at the Université Paul Verlaine (Metz, France) but involving close collaboration with Cefas-Lowestoft, Trent Unversity and the Bargerveen Foundation-Radboud University.
Catalan Ministry of Universities, Research and Information Society postdoctoral grant, based at Girona University but involving collaborators from Trent University.
Defra contract: SF0248 'Predicting the risks and impacts of non-native fishes under conditions of climate change' - A research contract based at Cefas-Lowestoft (01/04/2007 to 31/03/2012) but involving collaboration with Bournemouth University, Trent University, the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre and the University of Łódź, INRA-Rennes, the Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University, EBRA-Logatec, Bedwell Fisheries Services, and the Research Institute for Nature & Forest.
European Commission Marie Curie contract: PIEF-GA-2008-219707 'Modelling of non-native fish species responses to climate change (AlienFish&ClimChange)' - A Marie Curie post-doctoral fellowship awarded to Dr. Grzegorz Zięba (University of Łódź) for tenure at Cefas-Lowestoft (04/04/2008 to 03/04/2010), with co-direction from Trent University, Bournemouth University and the Université de Metz.
European Food Safety Authority contract No. NP/EFSA/GMO/2008/01, 'Defining environmental risk assessment criteria for genetically modified fish to be placed on the EU market'. - A research contract involving staff from, among others, Bournemouth University and Cefas-Lowestoft (01/05/2009 to 28/02/2010).
Fisheries Society of the British Isles grant: 'A preliminary study of on-native species impacts: how do clandestine introductions of goldfish impact pond ecosystems? - A small research grant awarded to Prof. G.H. Copp, involving staff from Cefas-Lowestoft, Muğla University and Bedwell Fisheries Services.
French Agency for Water and Aquatic Ecosystems (ONEMA) contract 'Biological invasion threat to aquatic biodiversity: the invasive crayfish Procambarus clarkii in the Brière marsh, France'. A research and development contract based at INRA-Rennes (2010-2012) and involving collaboration with the 'Université de Rennes' and the 'Parc Régional de Brière'.
National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery Grant 'Life history variation in fish populations'. - A research grant based at Trent University (01/05/2007 to 30/04/2012) and involving collaborators from Girona University, the Technical University of Lisbon and Cefas-Lowestoft.
Slovak Scientific Grant Agency contract: 1/0226/08 'Invasive fishes in the Danube catchment: from morphology, ontogeny and epigenesis towards ecology and evolution, 2008-2011'. - A research contract based at Comenius University (01/01/2008 to 31/12/2011) that involves research exchanges with Cefas-Lowestoft and Trent University.

Previous projects:

British Council grant 'Understanding the threat of invasive fish species to native biota: a comparative study of growth and reproduction of native and non-native species of the genus Carassius'. - A collaborative exchange grant involving staff from Cefas-Lowestoft, Muğla University and Bedwell Fisheries Services.
EC Coordinated Action (SSP8) No. 044132 'Environmental IMPacts of Alien SpecieS in aquaculturE (IMPASSE)'. - An EC Coordination Action Project involving, among others, staff from Cefas-Lowestoft, Bournemouth University and the University of Florence.
Spanish government-funded project (Min. Education & Science) 'Invasive success of mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki: ecological plasticity'. - A research contract based at Girona University and involving staff from Cefas-Lowestoft.
Defra contract: SF0238 'The impact of introduced fish species on aquatic ecosystems'. - A research contract based at Cefas-Lowestoft (01/04/2002 to 31/03/2007) but involving staff from CEH-Dorset, the Murray-Darling Freshwater Research Centre, the Bargerveen Foundation-Radboud University, INRA-Rennes, the Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University, Bedwell Fisheries Services and the Research Institute for Nature & Forest.
National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada Discovery Grant 'Life history variation in fish populations'. - A research grant based at Trent University (01/05/2002 to 30/04/2007) and involving collaborators from Girona University, the Technical University of Lisbon and Cefas-Lowestoft.
NERC project No. NE/B502436/1: 'Alien (non-native) fish species and their potential to invade new freshwater systems via estuarine saline-bridges'. A research contract based at the University of Exeter (01/09/2004 to 31/07/2007) involving staff from Cefas-Lowestoft and the Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University.
Defra contract: CR0239 'Development of standard methodology to assess the risks posed by non-native species to the environment'. - A Research contract (01/01/2004 to 15/02/2005) involving staff, among others, from Cefas-Lowestoft and CEH-Dorset.
Slovak Scientific Grant Agency contract: 1/2341/05 'Epigenetical and ecomorphological analysis of invasive species of fish in the Danube catchment'. - A research contract based at Comenius University (01/01/2005 to 31/12/2007) that involved international collaborators from Cefas-Lowestoft.
EC Integrated Project No. 506675 'Assessing LArge scale environmental Risks for biodiversity with tested Methods (ALARM)'. - An EC Coordinated Action (01/01/2005 to 31/31/2006) involving staff from CEH-Dorset, the Technical University of Lisbon, Cefas-Lowestoft, and the Zoological Institute RAS.
English Nature Contract: VT0313 'Audit of non-native species in England'. A research contract (15/01/2005 to 15/07/2005) involving staff from Cefas-Lowestoft and Bournemouth University.
EC MC contract: MEIF-CT-2003-501750 'Assessing the risk and understanding the processes of invasion by non-native fish species within and between river catchments (AlienFishMigrations)'.- A Marie Curie post-doctoral fellowship awarded to Dr. S. Stakėnas (Institute of Ecology of Vilnius University) for tenure at Cefas-Lowesoft (09/01/2004 to 08/01/2006), with co-direction from CEH-Dorset and collaborators from Trent University.
Slovak Scientific Grant Agency contract: 1/9113/02 'Ecology and ecomorphology of invasive and threatened species of fish in Slovakia'. - A research contract based at Comenius University (01/01/2002 to 31/12/2004) that involved collaborators from Cefas-Lowestoft.

Network outputs

Beyer, K., Copp, G.H. & Gozlan, R.E. 2007. Microhabitat use and interspecific associations of introduced topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva and native fishes in a small stream. Journal of Fish Biology 71 (Supplement D), 224-238.

Beyer, K., Miranda, R., Copp, G.H. & Gozlan, R.E. 2006. Biometric relationships between body and bone size of two invasive non-native fish species in the UK: topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva and sunbleak Leucaspius delineatus. Folia Zoologica 55, 287-292. (http://www.ivb.cz/folia/pdf_obsah.htm)

Bhagat, Y., Fox, M.G., Ferreira, M.T. (2006) Morphological differentiation in introduced pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus (L.) occupying different habitat zones in Portuguese reservoirs. Journal of Fish Biology 69 (Supplement), 79-94.

Copp, G.H., Bianco, P.G., Bogutskaya, N., Erős, T., Falka, I., Ferreira, M.T., Fox, M.G., Freyhof, J., Gozlan, R.E., Grabowska, J., Kováč, V., Moreno-Amich, R., Naseka, A.M., Peňáz, M., Povž, M., Przybylski, M., Robillard, M., Russell, I.C., Stakėnas, S., Šumer, S., Vila-Gispert, A. & Wiesner, C. 2005a. To be, or not to be, a non-native freshwater fish? Journal of Applied Ichthyology 21, 242-262.

Copp, G.H., Britton, J.R., Cucherousset, J., García-Berthou, E., Kirk, R., Peeler, E.J. & Stakėnas, S. 2009. Voracious invader or benign feline? A review of the environmental biology of European catfish Silurus glanis in its native and introduced range. Fish and Fisheries (online: DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-2979.2008.00321.x)

Copp, G.H., Carter, M.G., England, J. & Britton, J.R. 2006. Re-occurrence of the white sucker Catostomus commersoni in the River Gade (Hertfordshire). The London Naturalist 85, 115-119.

Copp, G.H., England, J., Tyner, R., Carter, M.G., Przybylski, M. & Wesley, K.J. 2007. Growth and condition of dace Leuciscus leuciscus in the River Lee (Hertfordshire) relative to selected populations elsewhere in Europe. The London Naturalist 86, 71-85.

Copp, G.H., Fox, M.G. & Kováč, V. 2002. Growth, morphology and life history traits of a coolwater European population of pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 155, 585-614.

Copp, G.H., Fox, M.G., Przybylski, M., Godinho, F. & Vila-Gispert, A. 2004. Life-time growth patterns of pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus introduced to Europe relative to native North American populations. Folia Zoologica 53, 237-254. (http://www.ivb.cz/folia/pdf_obsah.htm)

Copp, G.H., Garthwaite, R. & Gozlan, R.E. 2005b. Risk identification and assessment of non-native freshwater fishes: concepts and perspectives on protocols for the UK. Cefas Science Technical Report No. 129, Cefas, Lowestoft. 32 pp. A PDF copy of this report is available for free download at: www.cefas.co.uk/publications/techrep/tech129.pdf

Copp, G.H., Garthwaite, R. & Gozlan, R.E. 2005c. Risk identification and assessment of non-native freshwater fishes: a summary of concepts and perspectives on protocols for the UK. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 21, 371-373.Copp, G.H., Stakėnas, S. & Davison, P. 2006. The incidence of non-native fishes in water courses: example of the United Kingdom. Aquatic Invasions 1, 72-75. (http://www.aquaticinvasions.ru/2006/AI_2006_1_2_Copp.pdf)

Copp, G.H., Stakėnas, S. & Cucherousset, J. 2009. Aliens vs. the natives: interactions between introduced Lepomis gibbosus and indigenous Salmo trutta in small streams of southern England. In: K.B. Gido & D. Jackson (eds.) Community Ecology of Stream Fishes: Concepts, Approaches and Techniques. American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, Maryland.

Copp, G.H., Templeton, M. & Gozlan, R.E. 2007a. Propagule pressure and the invasion risks of non-native freshwater fishes in Europe: a case study of England. Journal of Fish Biology 71 (Supplement D), 148-159.

Copp, G.H., Vilizzi, L., Mumford, J., Fenwick, G.V., Godard, M.J. & Gozlan, R.E. 2008a. Calibration of FISK, an invasive-ness screening tool for non-native freshwater fishes. Risk Analysis 29, 457-467.

Copp, G.H., Wesley, K.J, Kováč, V., Ives, M. & Carter, M.G. 2003. Introduction and establishment of the pikeperch Stizostedion lucioperca (L.) in Stanborough Lake (Hertfordshire) and its dispersal in the Thames catchment. The London Naturalist 82, 139-153.

Copp, G.H., Wesley, K.J., Verreycken, H. & Russell, I.C. 2007b. When an 'invasive' fish species fails to invade! Example of the topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva. Aquatic Invasions 2, 107-112. (http://www.aquaticinvasions.ru/2007/AI_2007_2_2_Copp_etal.pdf)

Copp, G.H., Wesley, K.J. & Vilizzi, L. 2005d. Pathways of ornamental and aquarium fish introductions into urban ponds of Epping Forest (London, England): the human vector. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 21, 263-274.

Copp, G.H., Zweimüller, I., Kováč, V., Dias, A., Nascimento, M. & Ľavrinčíková, M. 2008b. Preliminary study of dietary interactions between invading Ponto-Caspian gobies and some native fish species in the River Danube near Bratislava (Slovakia). Aquatic Invasions 3, 193-200.

Cucherousset, J., Copp, G.H., Fox, M.G., Sterud, E., van Kleef, H.H., Verreycken, H. & Záhorská, E. 2009. Life-history traits and potential invasiveness of introduced pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus populations in northwestern Europe. Biological Invasions (DOI: 10.1007/s10530-009-9493-5)

Edmonds-Brown, V., Copp, G.H. & Majecki, J. 2004. Diel patterns of drift by macroinvertebrates in the River Lee (Hertfordshire) during low discharge. The London Naturalist 83, 145-157.

Fox, M.G., Vila-Gispert, A. & Copp, G.H. 2007. Life history traits of introduced Iberian pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) relative to native populations: Can differences explain colonization success? Journal of Fish Biology 71 (Supplement D), 56-69.

Kováč, V., Copp, G.H. & Sousa, R.P. 2009. Life-history traits of invasive bighead goby Neogobius kessleri from the middle Danube with a prediction of who will win the goby competition. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 25, 33-37.

Miranda, R., Copp, G.H., Williams, J., Beyer, K. & Gozlan, R.E. 2008. Do Eurasian otters Lutra lutra (L.) in the Somerset Levels prey preferentially on non-native species? Fundamental & Applied Limnology 172, 339-347.

Piscart, C., Manach, A., Marmonier, P. & Copp, G.H. 2007. Distribution and microhabitat of native and non-native gammarids (Amphipoda, Crustacea) in Brittany, with particular reference to the endangered endemic species Gammarus duebeni celticus. Journal of Biogeography 34, 524-533.

Stakėnas, S., Copp, G.H. & Scott, D.M. 2008. Tagging effects on three non-native fish species in England (Lepomis gibbosus, Pseudorasbora parva, Sander lucioperca) and of native Salmo trutta. Ecology of Freshwater Fish 18, 167-176.

Šumer, S., Kováč, V., Povž, M. & Slatner, M. 2005. External morphology of a Slovenian population of pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus (L.) from a habitat with extreme thermal conditions. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 21, 306-311.

Tarkan, A.S., Copp, G.H., Zieba, G., Godard, M. & Cucherousset, J. 2009. Growth and reproduction of threatened native crucian carp Carassius carassius in small ponds of Epping Forest, southeast England. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. (DOI: 10.1002/aqc.1028)

Tomeček, J., Kováč, V. & Katina, S. 2005. Ontogenetic variability in external morphology of native (Canadian) and non-native (Slovak) populations of pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus (Linnaeus 1758). Journal of Applied Ichthyology 21, 335-344.

Tricarico, E., Vilizzi, L., Gherardi, F. & Copp, G.H. 2009. Calibration of FI-ISK, an invasiveness screening tool for non-native freshwater invertebrates. Risk Analysis (DOI: 10.1111/j.1539-6924.2009.01255.x)

Vila-Gispert, A., Fox, M.G., Zamora, L. & Moreno-Amich, R. 2007. Morphological variation in non-native pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) introduced into Iberian lakes and reservoirs; adaptations to diet and lake morphometry? Journal of Fish Biology 71, 163-181.

Vilizzi, L. & Copp, G.H. 2008. Diel densities of young-of-the-year fishes in the River Lee (Hertfordshire) over a 24-h period in late summer. The London Naturalist 87, 113-117.

Vilizzi, L., Copp, G.H., & Roussel, J.-M. 2005. Assessing temporal variation and autocorrelation in fish habitat use. Folia Zoologica 54, 432-442.

Villeneuve, F., Copp, G.H., Fox, M.G. & Stakėnas, S. 2005. Interpopulaton variation in the growth and life history traits of the introduced sunfish, pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus, in Southern England. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 21, 275-281.

Záhorská, E., Kováč, V., Falka, I., Beyer, K., Katina, S., Copp, G.H. & Gozlan, R.E. 2009. Morphological variability of the Asiatic cyprinid, topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva, in its introduced European range. Journal of Fish Biology 74, 167-185.

Manuscripts submitted for peer review:

Balážová, M., Kováč, V. & Copp, G.H. Age-specific growth and maturity in a recently established invasive population of round goby Neogobius melanostomus from the middle Danube: a reflection within an epigenetic context.

Copp, G.H., Vilizzi, L. & Gozlan, R.E. The demography of introduction pathways, propagule pressure and non-native freshwater fishes occurrences in England.

Copp, G.H., Vilizzi, L. & Gozlan, R.E. Fish movements: the introduction pathway for topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva and other non-native fishes in the UK.

Copp, G.H., Tarkan, A.S., Godard, M.J., Edmonds, N. & Wesley, K.J. The impact of feral goldfish Carassius auratus populations introduced to ponds, with particular reference to native crucian carp Carassius carassius.

Fox, M.G., Villeneuve, F. & Copp G.H. Seasonal reproductive allocation and influence of productivity on growth and life history traits of introduced pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) in Southern England.

Piscart C, Roussel J-M., Dick J.T.A., Grosbois G., Marmonier P.. Do changes in microdistribution of co-occurring native and non-native amphipods have consequences on their diet?

Stakėnas, S., Vilizzi, L. & Copp, G.H. Microhabitat use of introduced pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus and native brown trout Salmo trutta in a small stream of Southern England, using radio telemetry.

Tarkan, A.S., Cucherousset, J., Zięba, G., Godard, M.J. & Copp, G.H. Growth and reproduction of introduced goldfish Carassius auratus in small ponds of southeast England.