![]() ![]() This ecological problem is discussed from a European perspective providing examples from two study areas: the Pyrenees and the Western Italian Alps. In terms of individual species, those adapted to live in larger lakes have suffered a higher decrease in the size of their metapopulation. These strong effects raise concerns for the conservation of high mountain lakes. Fish predation produces a drastic reduction or elimination of autochthonous animal groups, such as amphibians and large macroinvertebrates in the littoral, and crustaceans in the plankton. Predation on native fauna by introduced fish involves profound ecological changes since fish occupy a higher trophic level that was previously inexistent. The extent of these introductions is general and substantial often involving many lakes over mountain ranges. High mountain lakes are originally fishless, although many have had introductions of non-native fish species, predominantly trout, and recently also minnows introduced by fishermen that use them as live bait.
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