Life history strategies differentiate established from failed non-native freshwater fish in peninsular Florida

Aim Non‐native fishes threaten native biodiversity worldwide. Life history traits have been used to predict the risk of establishment for non‐native fish in several regions of the world and parts of the United States, but not yet for Florida despite the elevated risk of establishment in the state due to many invasion pathways and favourable climate. Our goal was to identify which life history traits may be useful for predicting which non‐native freshwater fishes might successfully establish populations in Peninsular Florida. Location Peninsular Florida, USA. Methods We conducted a factor analysis to evaluate 21 life history traits for 125 fishes in three different groups: native fishes, non‐native fish species currently established in Florida and introduced fishes that failed to establish in Florida. We also modelled overall life history traits of those fishes according to the triangular model by Winemiller and Rose to compare overall strategies among the three different groups and tested for significant trait differences between failed and established fishes. Results Our analyses of life history traits showed that successful species have a high investment in their offspring and tend to be larger bodied. Parental care was particularly important, with only one of the established species lacking parental care. Triangular life history model results showed that most successfully established species such as those in the family Cichlidae are equilibrium strategists with a high degree of parental care, low‐to‐intermediate fecundity and a larger maturation size. Main conclusions Understanding the life history strategies and traits that aid in the prediction of non‐native fish invasiveness is key for effective risk assessment and management. Further analysis of these traits as predictors of establishment and invasion success is needed, and regional risk assessments of non‐native fishes will benefit from inclusion of several traits highlighted in this study.