New FishME project publication on the effects of introduced fish on white-throated dipper in high-mountain lakes

Researchers from the FishME project document that introduced fish displace the white-throated dipper from high-mountain lakes.

Authors show that introduced fish negatively affected dipper occurrence, with lakes largely avoided when fish were present, while hydrological connectivity with streams emerged as a key factor facilitating dipper use of high-mountain lakes. Even though dippers can thrive in areas without high-mountain lakes, relying exclusively on riverine habitats, their association with pristine fishless lakes, together with their recognizability and public appeal, make them effective flagship species to stimulate broader discussion on the impacts of invasive species in mountain freshwater ecosystems and their consequences for native fauna.

Bello et al. (2026). Introduced fish displace the white-throated dipper (Cinclus cinclus) from high-mountain lakes. Biodiversity and Conservation 35:229