Predation by the Plague Minnow (Gambusia holbrooki) - key threatening process

Conservation status in NSW: Key Threatening Process

Description

Predation by Gambusia holbrooki (Plague Minnow) was listed as a KEY THREATENING PROCESS on Schedule 3 of the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 [29 January 1999].

Gambusia holbrooki Girard (Plague Minnow, also known as Mosquito Fish), is a small freshwater fish originally introduced into Australia in the 1920s. The fish was imported as an aquarium fish but some were released into creeks around Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. Gambusia holbrooki is now widespread in NSW and is an aggressive and voracious predator of native fauna, particularly threatened frogs. There are also potential effects of predation by the plague minnow on non-threatened frog species, freshwater fishes and other aquatic organisms such as macro-invertebrates.

Presence of Gambusia holbrooki has been linked to the decline of the Green and Golden Bell Frog, the New England Bell Frog, Southern Bell Frog, and the Southern Tablelands Bell Frog. Breeding by the Green and Golden Bell Frog is almost completely restricted to water bodies lacking Gambusia holbrooki.

Threat abatement - priority actions

A number of priority actions have been identified for this key threatening process. Priority actions are the specific, practical things that must be done to tackle a key threatening process. They have been grouped into 9 overarching threat abatement strategies.

See all threat abatement strategies and priority actions for this key threatening process.