Simulations of YY Red Shiner Cyprinella lutrensis Introductions for Nuisance Population Mitigation in a Southwestern Stream

Authors: Chad Teal, Erin Landguth, Casey Day, Javan Bauder, Scott Bonar, Daniel Schill, Christopher Jenney, Heidi Blasius, Peter Reinthal

Year: 2024

Abstract

Red shiner Cyprinella lutrensis is a species of increasing management interest due to their invasive populations throughout North America and their negative impacts on fishes of high conservation concern. Multiple models have shown that releases of YY fishes can potentially eradicate invasive populations via skewing a population’s sex ratio towards 100% male. We are assessing the feasibility of YY Red Shiner as an eradication tool in Aravaipa Creek AZ using a spatially-explicit, metapopulation-based program called CDMetaPOP. Using a combination of capture data from Aravaipa creek and life history data, we have started testing simulations of YY-male and YY-female Red Shiner releases. Preliminary results from simulations using a subset of 7 Aravaipa Creek transects (1.4 km reach) suggest that eradication of female Red Shiner is achievable via 19 years of stocking 1000 YY-males in each transect annually. The time to eradication can be markedly reduced through YY-female releases with time to female extirpation taking 6 years by stocking 300-400 YY females in each transect annually. These preliminary results suggest that Red Shiner are highly susceptible to YY-female releases, which is likely due to their promiscuity and multiple spawning events throughout the year. Additional YY stocking strategies will be simulated, including adjustments of the stocking schedule, stocking locations, and the addition of mechanical suppression in combination with YY fish releases.