Challenges to preserving native brown trout diversity in the Western Balkans
Journal
Management of Biological Invasions
Date Issued
2025
Author(s)
Simonović, Predrag
Sokolović, Vojislav
Marić, Ana
Rebok, Katarina
Nikolić, Vera
Radočaj, Tena
Špelić, Ivan
Kanjuh, Tamara
Vidović, Zoran
Vilizzi, Lorenzo
Piria, Marina
DOI
10.3391/mbi.2025.16.1.07
Abstract
In the Western Balkans, fishery management and legislation do not recognize the high
molecular diversity of native brown trout. For this reason, stocking of streams relies
on brown trout of non-native origin. In recent years, there have been new findings
about the life-history features, dispersal and molecular characterisation of nominal
taxa of brown trout in the Western Balkans. This has prompted to a re-evaluation of
their risk of invasiveness in the region. In this study, based on a screening of six
non-native lineages of brown trout, four lineages were ranked as high risk and two
as medium risk of invasiveness under current climate conditions, whereas one lineage
was ranked as high risk and the other five as medium risk under predicted global
warming scenarios. Variation in scores and risk outcomes were related to life-history
traits differing among lineages, with most pronounced differences in dispersal
mechanisms. The results of this study point to the need for improvement of relevant
legislation in several sectors of fishery management. Management strategies should
aim to mitigate the conflicts arising among stakeholders, which contribute to the
deterioration of the native traits of brown trout stocks throughout the Western Balkans.
molecular diversity of native brown trout. For this reason, stocking of streams relies
on brown trout of non-native origin. In recent years, there have been new findings
about the life-history features, dispersal and molecular characterisation of nominal
taxa of brown trout in the Western Balkans. This has prompted to a re-evaluation of
their risk of invasiveness in the region. In this study, based on a screening of six
non-native lineages of brown trout, four lineages were ranked as high risk and two
as medium risk of invasiveness under current climate conditions, whereas one lineage
was ranked as high risk and the other five as medium risk under predicted global
warming scenarios. Variation in scores and risk outcomes were related to life-history
traits differing among lineages, with most pronounced differences in dispersal
mechanisms. The results of this study point to the need for improvement of relevant
legislation in several sectors of fishery management. Management strategies should
aim to mitigate the conflicts arising among stakeholders, which contribute to the
deterioration of the native traits of brown trout stocks throughout the Western Balkans.
Subjects
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