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Analyzing Invasion Success Of The Mayan Cichlid (Cichlasoma Urophthalmus; Günther) In Southern Florida, Elizabeth Harrison

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Invasive species have caused billions of dollars in damages to their introduced environment through direct effects on wildlife and by altering their introduced habitats. For a species to be considered invasive, it must successfully navigate the stages of invasion: it must be introduced, become established, spread, and have a quantifiable impact on its introduced environment. The numbers of introductions and individuals released affects the genetic diversity of nonnative populations which, in turn, can affect their invasion success.

The Mayan Cichlid (Cichlasoma urophthalmus) is endemic to the Atlantic coast of Mexico and Central America. It was first detected in …