Summary of a Survey of Aquarium Owners in Canada 1 1 2 D. Marson , B. Cudmore , D.A.R. Drake , and 1 N.E. Mandrak 1 Central and Arctic Region Fisheries and Oceans Canada Burlington, ON L7R 4A6 2 University of Toronto 2009 Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2905 . +. Canada Fisheriesand Oceans Peches etOceans Canada Canada Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Manuscript reports contain scientific and technical information that contributes to existing knowledge but which deals with national or regional problems. Distribution is restricted to institutions or individuals located in particular regions of Canada. However, no restriction is placed on subject matter, and the series reflects the broad interests and policies of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, namely, fisheries and aquatic sciences. Manuscript reports may be cited as full publications. The correct citation appears above the abstract of each report. 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Canadian Manuscript Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2905 2009 Summary of a Survey of Aquarium Owners in Canada by D. Marson1, B. Cudmore1, D.A.R. Drake2, and N.E. Mandrak1 1Fisheries and Oceans Canada Centre of Expertise for Aquatic Risk Assessment P.O. Box 5050, 867 Lakeshore Road Burlington, Ontario L7R 4A6 2University of Toronto ii © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2009. Cat. No. Fs 97-4/2905E ISSN 0706-6473 Correct citation for this publication: Marson, D., B. Cudmore, D.A.R. Drake, and N.E. Mandrak. 2009. Summary of a survey of aquarium owners in Canada. Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2905: iv + 20 p. ii i TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT/RÉSUMÉ.................................................................................................……………..v INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................1 MATERIALS AND METHODS.........................................................................................................1 RESULTS........................................................................................................................................2 NUMBER OF SURVEYS COMPLETED.......................................................................................2 SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF AQUARIA.............................................................................................3 ORIGIN AND TYPE OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS USED IN AQUARIA........................................3 TRANSFER DISTANCE OF PLANTS FROM PURCHASE LOCATION TO RESPONDENTS' AQUARIA......................................................................................................................................4 DISCUSSION...................................................................................................................................5 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS................................................................................................................7 REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………………………………...7 iv LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Aquatic plants and animals listed as AIS in Ontario..........................................................9 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Total number of aquariums owned by respondents (n).................................................10 Figure 2. Total size of aquariums owned by respondents (n).......................................................10 Figure 3. Plants added to aquariums by respondents (n).............................................................11 Figure 4. Where did respondents acquire their aquarium plants (n).............................................11 Figure 5. What is done with unwanted aquarium plants (n)..........................................................12 Figure 6. What fish and animals were added to the aquariums by respondents (n).....................12 Figure 7. Where did respondents acquire their aquarium animals. ..............................................13 Figure 8. What is done with the unwanted aquarium animals (n).................................................13 Figure 9. Aquarium plant origins and plant destinations...............................................................14 Figure 10. Movement of survey respondents between plant origins and destinations...................15 Figure 11. Box plot of Euclidean distance traveled by respondents following plant purchase......16 Figure 12. Frequency of Euclidean distance traveled from aquarium plant purchase locations to respondents’ aquarium locations..................................................................................17 LIST OF APPENDICES Appendix 1. The Great Canadian Aquarium Survey......................................................................18 v ABSTRACT Marson, D., B. Cudmore, D.A.R. Drake, and N.E. Mandrak. 2009. Summary of a survey of aquarium owners in Canada. Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2905: iv + 20 p. The “Great Canadian Aquarium Survey” was led by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH), along with partner organizations, both as an online and paper questionnaire to determine the origin and fate of aquatic invasive species (AIS) in the aquarium trade. A total of 917 surveys were completed, of which 794 (86%) respondents indicated they had an aquarium. Results from the survey indicated the use of eight aquatic invasive plant species, by multiple respondents, and three aquatic invasive fish species, each of which were owned by at least one respondent. Analyses of the purchase locations and aquarium locations indicated relatively small mean travel distances (mean Euclidean distance was 89.61 km), but were notable for high variability and extreme positive skewness signifying rare, long-distance travel distances. The survey results indicate that the aquarium trade should not be overlooked as a vector for aquatic invasive species into Canadian freshwaters. RÉSUMÉ Marson, D., B. Cudmore, D.A.R. Drake and N.E. Mandrak. 2009. Summary of a survey of aquarium owners in Canada. Can. Manuscr. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2905: iv + 20 p. Afin de déterminer l’origine et le sort des espèces aquatiques envahissantes (EAE) dans le commerce des espèces destinées aux aquariums, la Fédération ontarienne des pêcheurs à la ligne et des chasseurs (Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters – OFAH), de pair avec d’autres organismes partenaires, a mené un grand sondage canadien sur les aquariums à l’aide d’un questionnaire en ligne et sur papier. Sur un total de 917 répondants, 794 (86 %) ont indiqué qu’ils avaient un aquarium. Les résultats du sondage révèlent qu’un nombre important de répondants possèdent huit espèces végétales aquatiques envahissantes et que chaque répondant a au moins une des trois espèces animales envahissantes recensées. Les analyses des données sur le lieu d’achat et l’emplacement des aquariums indiquent des distances moyennes de parcours relativement faibles (distance euclidienne moyenne de 89,61 km). Ces analyses révèlent cependant une grande variabilité et une asymétrie positive élevée, ce qui signifie que les espèces végétales et animales en cause sont parfois transportées sur de longues distances. Les résultats du sondage démontrent que le commerce lié aux aquariums ne devrait pas être sous-estimé en tant que porte d’entrée des espèces aquatiques envahissantes dans les eaux douces canadiennes. v i 1 INTRODUCTION Aquatic invasive species (AIS) have been, and will continue to be, introduced into Canadian freshwaters through various vectors including stocking (authorized and unauthorized), canals and diversions, ballast water, baitfish use, live fish markets, pet stores, and garden centres. An understanding of the relative risk of each of these vectors is essential in prioritizing and directing prevention efforts. Data exist for stocking (OMNR, unpubl. data), canals and diversions (Emery 1981), ballast water (Ricciardi and Rasmussen 1998), and live fish markets (Cudmore and Mandrak 2004, Goodchild 1999 and Rixon et al. 2005), but are poor for baitfish (Goodchild 1999b, Litvak and Mandrak 1993), and pet stores (Rixon et al. 2005), due to limited sample sizes, and are totally lacking for garden centres. To determine the origin and fate of aquatic invasive species in various live trade pathways, surveys were conducted by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, along with partner organizations (Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and others), with Fisheries and Oceans Canada providing scientific information. A survey was produced, in both paper and online formats, and marketed to individuals during trade show events most likely to result in the congregation of the targeted market (such as the All About Pets Show, Canada Blooms, and the Spring Fishing Show). Three surveys were developed and specifically directed to aquarium owners, the users of baitfish, and water garden owners. The results of these surveys will be used to contribute information to the risk assessment being currently undertaken on live trade pathways. The “Great Canadian Aquarium Survey” was developed to determine the origin and fate of aquatic invasive species in the aquarium trade. The survey included questions regarding the specific plant and fish species added to the respondent’s aquarium, where they were purchased, and what was done with them when no longer wanted. A question regarding the selection of plants and animals used by respondents included a list of common aquarium fish and plant species, including eight aquatic invasive plant species: Brazilian waterweed (Egeria densa), Eurasian water milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum), fanwort (Cabomba caroliniana), hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata), parrot's feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum), water fern (Salvinia minima), water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes); and two aquatic invasive fish species Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) and Goldfish (Carrasius auratus). Surveys were limited to 15 questions (an additional survey of 10 questions was provided to respondents for updating plants/animals added to the aquarium). MATERIALS AND METHODS The “Great Canadian Aquarium Survey” was produced as an online and paper questionnaire. Both forms of the survey were made available during trade shows and the online version of the survey was developed using SurveyMonkey (www.surveymonkey.com). The survey was comprised of 15 questions, most of which were of multiple choice format (see Appendix 1 for the complete survey). The survey 2 consisted of questions regarding the number and size of aquaria, types of plants and animals added, where they were purchased (or collected), and how they were disposed of. The intention was to create a survey that was succinct so that individuals would complete it, while providing as much relevant detail as possible for informing the risk assessment. Each survey required approximately 10 minutes to complete. The survey was first distributed to Ontario recipients at the “All About Pets Show”, April 6-9, 2006. Both paper and online versions of the survey were provided in a trade show booth designed specifically for survey respondents. Individuals who were unable to complete the survey at the trade show booth were provided with information on how to access the website (promotional material including magnets, mouse pads, and pens that advertised the survey and included the website address), and paper copies were distributed to those preferring that format. Completed paper copies of the survey were subsequently entered into the online database for analysis. Following the “All About Pets Show”, the survey was advertised at additional trade shows, in several magazines, at aquarium retailers, and online through various partner organizations involved in the aquarium trade. RESULTS NUMBER OF SURVEYS COMPLETED A total of 917 online and paper surveys were completed. Of those completed, 794 respondents (86%) indicated that they had at least one aquarium, and 20 respondents repeated the questions a second time according to the addition of plants and animals to their aquariums. While many of the questions were mandatory to complete in order to proceed to the next question in the survey, several were not properly completed; therefore, the sample size varies between questions. Of the 917 surveys taken by respondents with aquaria, 799 (87%) were answered to completion, however, a total of 125 respondents (14% of those surveyed) did not own an aquarium, eliminating further response throughout the bulk of the survey. In addition, a large percentage of respondents failed to provide responses to certain questions, including 490 respondents who skipped answering both how large and how many aquaria they owned. Many of the questions had multiple answers from the respondents (i.e. plants/animals purchased from multiple locations) leading to cumulative totals of answers being greater than the total number of respondents for some questions. The survey results provide information on a variety of aquarium-related questions, including the number and size of aquaria owned, the types of plants and animals added, where the plants and animals were acquired, and what was done with the plants and animals when they were no longer wanted.