Spotted Mangrove Cichlids in Australia
It is believed that spotted mangrove cichlids got to Australia through a series of events. First it is thought that all Tilapia populations derived from the importation of small numbers of individuals for the freshwater aquarium industry from Singapore or Indonesia. Captive individuals were then dispersed throughout Australia by the industry of fish fanciers. Then, some spotted mangrove cichlids escaped or were released and self-sustaining populations arose. The expansion of the spotted mangrove cichlid species in Australia has potential adverse effects on the native fish faunas that currently exist in Australia. Since they tend to become the dominant fish where they live, their expansion into Australia could be harmful to the other existing fish populations. Another way in which spotted mangrove cichlids have become a pest in Australia is that they have been found living in the cooling pondage of the Hazelwood power station in Victoria, Australia as well as in the creek just below the pondage. The water temperature in Victoria is far too low for them to survive outside this habitat they have created, however it is a nuisance for the power station that they live here.
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