Pumpkinseed Sunfish

Pumpkinseed Sunfish Lepomis gibbosus (Linnaeus) discovered in the

Upper Columbia River

"The Pumpkinseed Sunfish is native to southeastern Canada where it prefers weedy lake shore waters. The origin of the Pumpkinseed Sunfish in British Columbia is unknown, but its distribution seems to follow that of the Smallmouth Bass; it seems likely that these two species were introduced to British Columbia together in the early 1900s."

Pumpkinseed Sunfish are currently established in small lakes in Victoria area, the lower Columbia, lower Kootenay, Kettle and Okanagan systems below Cascade and Okanagan falls and now with this record the Upper Columbia River.

The introduction of exotic fish species into natural waterways can lead to a reduction in native fish numbers. Exotic fish affect native fish through direct competition for food and space, predation, habitat alteration and the introduction of exotic diseases and parasites.

"The proportion of endemic fish species found in the Columbia Basin in British Columbia sets the Columbia Basin apart from other large drainage basins in North America. At present, the Columbia Basin contains 43 fish species, of which 27 are native (9 endemic), and 16 are introduced 'exotic' species. The Columbia Basin presently houses over half (43 of 84 species) of British Columbia's freshwater fish fauna, making it the parent drainage for freshwater fish diversity in British Columbia." Living Landscapes, Royal BC Museum

What this Blog is About

Columbia Wetlands Blog are short notes with photos about the natural and human history of the Columbia Wetlands of the upper Columbia Valley, British Columbia, Canada. Plus stories about the activities of the Columbia Wetland Stewardship Partners.

Columbia Wetland Stewardship Partners

A group of individuals from First Nations, federal, provincial, regional and municipal governments plus, non government environmental organizations, industry, recreation, corporations, educational institutes and private landowners met in March 2007 at Radium Hot Springs. They came together because of their concern for the health and long term viability of the Columbia Valley Wetlands and a desire to develop an Environmental Stewardship Management partnership for these internationally significant wetlands.

“Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) looks at all the links among living and non-living resources, rather than considering single issues in isolation . . . Instead of developing a management plan for one issue . . ., EMB focuses on the multiple activities occurring within specific areas that are defined by ecosystem, rather than political, boundaries."

For more info go to http://www.cwsp.ca/