Kevin Thompson
Graduate Student, Master of Science

E-mail:  kathomp@ufl.edu
Telephone:  352-392-9617 x241

Advisor:  Dr. Jeff Hill

Kevin is from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where he became an avid surfer and fisherman.  He attended The College of William and Mary in Virginia where he received a B.S in Biology in May 2005.  While in college he was an intern at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) in the fisheries genetics program where he contributed to a study of sandbar sharks.  Following graduation, he worked as a field technician at VIMS for the striped bass and bluefish seine surveys before applying to the University of Florida and beginning his Masters in Fall 2006.

Research:

Mosquitofish as Biotic Resistance to Invasion:  Predation on Two Exotic Poeciliids

Predators may reduce the invasibility of communities. Mosquitofish Gambusia spp. are extremely common in freshwater systems in the USA.  Previous studies have shown strong ecological effects from predation by mosquitofish on juvenile fishes.  Moreover, recent research shows that mosquitofish are not strictly gape-limited and can successfully prey upon fishes of their same size or larger. The ornamental aquaculture industry in Florida cultures a variety of small-bodied non-indigenous fishes, some of which have escaped captivity. Using mesocosm experiments, I will examine predation by eastern mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki on two common ornamental poeciliids-swordtail Xiphophorus hellerii and variable platyfish Xiphophorus variatus. I will perform three experiments on each species to test 1) effect of predator density on adult mortality following an introduction event, 2) effect of predator density on a stage-structured population, and 3) effect of habitat structural complexity on predation efficiency of mosquitofish. The results of these experiments will provide information on a potential mechanism limiting invasions of small-bodied freshwater fishes in Florida.