Do altered coastal habitats promote non-native fish invasions into the Charlotte Harbor Estuary?

Abstract

Fishes in the family Cichlidae contribute more invasive species to North America than any other fish family, especially in Florida, where 13 of 18 invasive fishes are cichlids. A recent alarming development across the Gulf of Mexico is the occurrence of cichlid species in commercially and recreationally valuable estuarine habitats. The environmental plasticity of cichlids makes them especially able-bodies invaders. This paper reports the discovery and continuing occurrence of the exotic Mayan cichlid, in mangrove creeks of Charlotte Harbor, Florida, with estimates of size structures and persistence.