Rainbow smelt population responses to species invasions and change in environmental condition

Invasive species can cause major disruptions in native food webs, yet the impact of introductions and whether they will become invasive appears to be context-dependent. Rainbow smelt alewife co-exist as Laurentian Great Lakes on Atlantic coast North America, but Lake Champlain rainbow is dominant forage fish are invasive. Alewife became abundant by 2007, providing an opportunity explore dynamics these two a system where only one We used data from 28-year survey compare demographics populations three basins with different volumes, nutrient levels, predator abundances. catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) remained constant large, deep Main before after invaded, decreased smaller basins. Declines were primarily result increased age-0 age-1 mortality. Predation top piscivores, productivity, competition for resources alone could not explain patterns CPUE across The mechanisms that allow related volume oxythermal habitat availability, may why do negatively affect each other Lakes. Summer hypoxia force individuals into volumes higher densities competitors cannibalistic adult smelt. Habitat availability mediate