Quantifying the ecological impacts of rainbow trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) escapes

Freshwater environments have been identified as more vulnerable to invasive species compared to marine or terrestrial environments, and invasive fish species have been frequently implicated in freshwater ecosystem impacts, with species of the Salmonidae the most widely introduced. Rainbow trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) ranks among the most widely introduced fishes worldwide due to an extensive history of introductions which continue to occur on a dramatic scale due to accidental escapes from aquaculture and deliberate releases for recreational fishing.

Despite the continued high propagule pressure of rainbow trout into many European waters, establishment of reproducing, self-sustaining populations of rainbow trout is relatively rare, prompting research into the potential reasons for the limited establishment of this widespread species. Rainbow trout may also still have ecological impacts, even in early stages of invasion, and many impacts have been observed globally for established populations.