Male guarding behavior and brood predators of invasive Bluegill in a Japanese lake

The Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus, which utilizes colony spawning, has been introduced globally, and in Japan it is considered one of the worst invasive species. However, a detailed examination of the factors driving male guarding behavior and brood predation in the invaded habitat is lacking. The removal of guarding males, a common management technique in Japan, is thought to be effective in controlling Bluegill. However, the colony spawning strategy may influence the effectiveness of selective male removal through brood protection from neighbor males.