Geology topics

Kristen Reaver

Publications and source records attributed to Kristen Reaver.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2023

Assessing risk communication in the pet and aquarium trade: An analysis of outreach and engagement efforts

The international pet and aquarium trade, and intentional or unintentional release of those pets by individuals, has contributed to the establishment of many species to areas where they are not native, resulting in detrimental consequences to local ecosystems, economies, and livelihoods. A number of outreach campaigns across the United States aim to communicate the risk of non-native pet release through education and the offering of alternative solutions to pet owners who are no longer able to care for their pets. Through semi-structured interviews with campaign managers, content analysis of campaign materials, and an analysis of relevant online search results, our project aims to assess the scope of these outreach strategies to understand whether they are effectively intervening in an individual’s decision-making process to release a non-native pet. Ultimately, this project’s outcomes will ensure that economic and human resources invested in risk communication campaigns are using effective and inclusive techniques.

Report↗

USGS2021

Invasion frustration: Can biotic resistance explain the small geographic range of non-native croaking gourami Trichopsis vittata (Cuvier, 1831) in Florida, USA?

Croaking gourami Trichopsis vittata is a non-native fish species that has maintained a reproducing population in Florida, USA, since at least the 1970s. However, unlike most other non-native fishes in Florida, T. vittata has not spread beyond its very small (ca. 5 km²) range. We suspected the inability of T. vittata to colonize new habitats may be due to biotic resistance by the native eastern mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki. In laboratory experiments, we show that G. holbrooki causes physical damage to T. vittata and that T. vittata’s growth is reduced in the presence of G. holbrooki. While the effects of G. holbrooki on T. vittata were sub-lethal, they were severe enough to hamper its growth and could affect recruitment in the wild. These results support the hypothesis that small non-native fishes may be excluded from establishment or may only establish small ranges due to pressure from G. holbrooki. Biotic resistance may reduce invasion success and thus consideration of species interactions is useful for natural resource managers trying to evaluate the potential risk of new invaders.

Florida↗

USGS2019

A comparison of the Trojan Y Chromosome strategy to harvesting models for eradication of nonnative species

The Trojan Y Chromosome strategy (TYC) is a promising eradication method for biological control of nonnative species. The strategy works by manipulating the sex ratio of a population through the introduction of supermales that guarantee male offspring. In the current study, we compare the TYC method with a pure harvesting strategy. We also analyze a hybrid harvesting model that mirrors the TYC strategy. The dynamic analysis leads to results on stability of solutions and bifurcations of the model. Several conclusions about the different strategies are established via optimal control methods. In particular, the results affirm that either a pure harvesting or hybrid strategy may work better than the TYC method at controlling a nonnative species population. Recommendations for resource managers Where harvesting is feasible, it is as effective if not more effective than the classical TYC method. Therein managers may attempt harvesting female fish while stocking males or harvesting both male and female fishes. Managers may attempt linear harvesting, saturating density‐dependent harvesting, and unbounded density‐dependent harvesting. Linear harvesting is seen to be the most effective. We caution against the outright use of harvesting due to various density‐dependent effects that may arise. To this end hybrid models that involve a combination of harvesting and TYC‐type methods might be a better strategy. One may also use harvesting as a tool in mesocosm settings to predict the efficacy of the TYC strategy in the wild.

Natural Resource Modeling↗