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Climate extreme triggers cold-water community rescue

Brendan Ebner , Jaye Lobegeiger, Jason Coe, Stephen Balcombe, Dainishi Latimer, Giselle Pickering, Jonathan Marshall

Abstract

Context. Mountain-top associated instream fauna with restricted ranges and limited dispersal capability are especially vulnerable to extinction under global warming and climate extremes. Aims. Rescue and housing of multiple cold-water taxa on short timelines in reaction to extreme drought. Methods. We undertook multispecies rescue (fishes: Gadopsis marmorata, n = 50, Galaxias olidus, n=150; and a crayfish Euastacus sulcatus, n = 50) from the headwaters of the Condamine-Balonne catchment, temporarily holding animals in small (200 L) and large (1000 L) aquaria in single and mixed species contexts, at below 23oC. Key results. Galaxias olidus was successfully kept in one of the small aquaria but did not survive in mixed species aquaria partly due to predation by other species. Euastacus sulcatus showed decreased survivorship at moulting (predation). Large Gadopsis marmorata [>100 mm total length (TL)] were aggressive, whereas, maintaining smaller individuals and using large aquaria served to dampen overall aggression levels. Conclusions. Holding mixed taxa following field rescues requires attention to detail including developmental stage combinations within and across species, enclosure volume and availability of structure. Implications. The simultaneous rescue of multiple co-occurring endemic taxa represents a promising aspect of research and adaptive management in the era of global climate change.

MF24046  Accepted 29 August 2024

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