PhD proposal
Addressing the impacts of invasive fishes on Colombia’s native fauna
Carlos Garcia de Leaniz
c.garciadeleaniz@swansea.ac.uk
Swansea University, College of Science,
Department of BioSciences, Swansea SA2 8PP
Project Outline
There are an estimated 38 species of non-native fishes introduced to Colombia (FishBase 2012),
most of which are freshwater species introduced for aquaculture or sport fishing, such as tilapia and
rainbow trout. The impacts of these on native fish fauna are largely unknown, despite the fact that
these include some of the most invasive and damaging aquatic invasive species (AIS) in the world.
There is clearly a need to address this issue. Building on our experience in addressing the impacts
of invasive species in other South American countries (Chile, Falklands; see selected references
below), we propose to use a similar multidisciplinary approach to address their impacts in
Colombia. Specifically, we propose to monitor the distribution and spread of selected invasive
species using a range of complementary methods (demographic, isotopic, molecular) and assess
their impacts by examining the extent of resource overlap and the direct and indirect impacts of
predation (using stable isotopes, and behavioural screening)
The student would be based at Swansea, Department of BioSciences but would carry out his/her
field work in Colombia. We would expect a student with a 1st class degree in Biological Sciences or
equivalent, and a good command of the English language. A background in invasion biology, fish
ecology, and some experience on molecular methods (microsatellites, DNA barcoding) and stable
isotopes (C, N) are desirable but not essential as full training will be provided.
Selected references
Vanhaecke, D., Garcia de Leaniz, C., Gajardo, G., Young, K., Sanzana, J., Orellana, G., Fowler, D., Howes, P.,
Monzon-Arguello, C. & Consuegra, S. (2012) DNA barcoding and microsatellites help species delimitation and
hybrid identification in endangered galaxiid fishes. PLoS ONE, 7, e32939.
Vanhaecke, D., Garcia de Leaniz, C., Gajardo, G., Thomas, C. J. & Consuegra, S. (2012) Metapopulation dynamics of a
diadromous galaxiid fish and potential effects of salmonid aquaculture. Freshwater Biology, 57, 1241-1252.
Consuegra, S., Philllips, N., Gajardo, G. & Garcia de Leaniz, C. (2011) Winning the invasion roulette: escapes from
fish farms increase admixture and facilitate establishment of non-native rainbow trout. Evolutionary
Applications, 4, 660-671.
Roberts, L. J. & Garcia de Leaniz, C. (2011) Something smells fishy: predator-naïve salmon use diet cues, not
kairomones, to recognise a sympatric mammalian predator. Animal Behaviour, 82, 619-625.
Schröder, V. & Garcia de Leaniz, C. (2011) Discrimination between farmed and free-living invasive salmonids in
Chilean Patagonia using stable isotope analysis. Biological Invasions, 13, 203-213.
Vanhaecke, D., Allainguillaume, J., Croxford, A., Garcia de Leaniz, C. & Consuegra, S. (2011) Development of 13
microsatellite markers for the threatened galaxiid fish Aplochiton zebra (Jenyns, 1842). Molecular Ecology
Resources, 11, 219-222.
Garcia de Leaniz, C., Gajardo, G. & Consuegra, S. (2010) From Best to Pest: changing perspectives on the impact of
exotic salmonids in the Southern Hemisphere. Systematics and Biodiversity, 8, 447-459.
Young, K. A., Dunham, J. B., Stephenson, J. F., Terreau, A., Thailly, A. F., Gajardo, G. & Garcia de Leaniz, C. (2010)
A trial of two trouts: comparing the impacts of rainbow and brown trout on a native galaxiid. Animal
Conservation, 13, 399-410.
Young, K. A., Stephenson, J., Terreau, A., Thailly, A. F., Gajardo, G. & Garcia de Leaniz, C. (2009) The diversity of
juvenile salmonids does not affect their competitive impact on a native galaxiid . Biological Invasions, 11, 19551961.