Cichlasoma dimerus was only recently discovered in Florida and little is known of its dispersal abilities and potential impacts. Many factors likely contribute to the variability in establishment and spread of non-native fishes in Florida, including biotic (e.g., predation and competition) and abiotic variables (e.g., cold tolerance, low-oxygen tolerance). Of the abiotic variables, cold tolerance is an important regulator of non-native fish geographic ranges in Florida. Its tolerance to cold temperatures is experimentally evaluated and available information on its biology and ecology was synthesized. In the cold-temperature tolerance experiment, temperature was lowered from 24 C by increments of 1 C per hour, mimicking a typical cold weather front. Fish lost equilibrium at a mean temperature of 7.8 C and died at 4.7 C.

The Black Acara, Cichlasoma bimaculatum (Linnaeus 1758), first reported as introduced to Florida in 1965, is distributed throughout Florida’s southern peninsula. Examination of live and preserved museum specimens of acara reveal a second species, the Chanchita, Cichlasoma dimerus (Heckel 1840) present in Florida since at least July 2000. A review of the relevant literature coupled with an examination of acara collected in Florida show the Black Acara and the Chanchita are most easily distinguished by number of anal fin spines, body and fin color, caudal fin pattern, and degree of pigment on the rim of the scales of the head and nape. The presence of Cichlasoma dimerus in central Florida springs habitat and the substantial spread of this previously unreported introduced species throughout multiple watersheds should be of potential concern to natural resource managers.

The Black Acara, Cichlasoma bimaculatum (Linnaeus 1758), first reported as introduced to Florida in 1965, is distributed throughout Florida’s southern peninsula. Examination of live and preserved museum specimens of acara reveal a second species, the Chanchita, Cichlasoma dimerus (Heckel 1840) present in Florida since at least July 2000. A review of the relevant literature coupled with an examination of acara collected in Florida show the Black Acara and the Chanchita are most easily distinguished by number of anal fin spines, body and fin color, caudal fin pattern, and degree of pigment on the rim of the scales of the head and nape. The presence of Cichlasoma dimerus in central Florida springs habitat and the substantial spread of this previously unreported introduced species throughout multiple watersheds should be of potential concern to natural resource managers.

The proliferation of non-native fishes in Florida is a serious problem, and new species continue to be introduced to the State. Herein we report the eradication of two species of non-native fishes in Miami, Florida (Giant Cichlid Petenia splendida and Blue Mbuna Labeotropheus fuelleborni; both Family: Cichlidae). We removed these fishes before they were observed in the extensive, interconnected canal system through which they may have been able to expand throughout south Florida and access protected areas such as Everglades National Park and Water Conservation Areas.

The proliferation of non-native fishes in Florida is a serious problem, and new species continue to be introduced to the State. Herein we report the eradication of two species of non-native fishes in Miami, Florida (Giant Cichlid Petenia splendida and Blue Mbuna Labeotropheus fuelleborni; both Family: Cichlidae). We removed these fishes before they were observed in the extensive, interconnected canal system through which they may have been able to expand throughout south Florida and access protected areas such as Everglades National Park and Water Conservation Areas.

CDFW conducts risk assessments and implements management actions for the commercial and recreational Dungeness crab fisheries at the fishing zone level. Latitudinal boundaries for each fishing zone are as follows. All fishing zones extend to 200 nautical miles offshore. Zone 1: From the California/Oregon border (42° N. latitude) to Cape Mendocino (40°10 N. latitude) Zone 2: From Cape Mendocino to the Sonoma/Mendocino county line (38°46.125 N. latitude) Zone 3: From Sonoma/Mendocino county line to Pigeon Point (37°11 N. latitude) Zone 4: From Pigeon Point to Lopez Point (36°N. latitude) Zone 5: From Lopez Point to Point Conception (34°27 N. latitude) Zone 6: From Point Conception to the U.S./Mexico Border Zone 7: “Pacific Leatherback Sea Turtle Foraging Area” from Point Arena (38°57.5 N. latitude) to Point Pinos (36°38.314 N. latitude)Attributes: Fishing Zone: Zone Number. Description: Latitudinal boundaries of each fishing zone.

Water bottle samples were collected from selected depths (variable with station) at 44 stations in the study area. Coulter counts in the 14 to 28 um size class were routinely determined for comparison with the microscope counts provided by other researchers on the cruise. At six stations, water samples were filtered through a 40 um Nytex mesh and centrifuged for 10 minutes at 1200 x g and then frozen to isolate Karenia brevis cells for subsequent analysis (pg cell-1) of cellular lipid, free amino acid, and protein. The biochemical determinations were performed within two weeks of collection at Kamykowski's laboratory at NCSU.

This dataset represents results from this study attributed to the Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 12 watershed boundaries. Human impacts occurring throughout the Northeast United StatesDOI Northeast Climate Science Center, including urbanization, agriculture, and dams, have multiple effects on the region’s streams which support economically valuable stream fishes. Changes in climate are expected to lead to additional impacts in stream habitats and fish assemblages in multiple ways, including changing stream water temperatures. To manage streams for current impacts and future changes, managers need region-wide information for decision-making and developing proactive management strategies. Our project met that need by integrating results of a current condition assessment of stream habitats based on fish response to human land use, water quality impairment, and fragmentation by dams with estimates of which stream habitats may change in the future. Results are available for all streams in the NE CSC region through a spatially-explicit, web-based viewer (FishTail). With this tool, managers can evaluate how streams of interest are currently impacted by land uses and assess if those habitats may change with climate. These results, available in a comparable way throughout the NE CSC, provide natural resource managers, decision-makers, and the public with a wealth of information to better protect and conserve stream fishes and their habitats. These data are integrated into a web-based decision support viewer (FishTail): 1) current condition of streams determined from disturbances limiting stream fishes, 2) future conditions resulting from changes in climate, and, 3) changes in water temperature for key locations resulting from climate changes for all streams of the NE CSC region. The report that documents these data is: Daniel, W., N. Sievert, D. Infante, J. Whittier, J. Stewart, C. Paukert, and K. Herreman. 2016. A decision support mapper for conserving stream fish habitats of the Northeast Climate Science Center region. Final Report to the US Geological Survey, Northeast Climate Science Center, Amherst, MA.

This dataset represents results from this study attributed to the Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) 12 watershed boundaries. Human impacts occurring throughout the Northeast United StatesDOI Northeast Climate Science Center, including urbanization, agriculture, and dams, have multiple effects on the region’s streams which support economically valuable stream fishes. Changes in climate are expected to lead to additional impacts in stream habitats and fish assemblages in multiple ways, including changing stream water temperatures. To manage streams for current impacts and future changes, managers need region-wide information for decision-making and developing proactive management strategies. Our project met that need by integrating results of a current condition assessment of stream habitats based on fish response to human land use, water quality impairment, and fragmentation by dams with estimates of which stream habitats may change in the future. Results are available for all streams in the NE CSC region through a spatially-explicit, web-based viewer (FishTail). With this tool, managers can evaluate how streams of interest are currently impacted by land uses and assess if those habitats may change with climate. These results, available in a comparable way throughout the NE CSC, provide natural resource managers, decision-makers, and the public with a wealth of information to better protect and conserve stream fishes and their habitats. These data are integrated into a web-based decision support viewer (FishTail): 1) current condition of streams determined from disturbances limiting stream fishes, 2) future conditions resulting from changes in climate, and, 3) changes in water temperature for key locations resulting from climate changes for all streams of the NE CSC region. The report that documents these data is: Daniel, W., N. Sievert, D. Infante, J. Whittier, J. Stewart, C. Paukert, and K. Herreman. 2016. A decision support mapper for conserving stream fish habitats of the Northeast Climate Science Center region. Final Report to the US Geological Survey, Northeast Climate Science Center, Amherst, MA.