About

Quenton Tuckett is an Assistant Professor specializing in Aquatic Ecology and Non-Native Species at the School of Forest, Fisheries, and Geomatics Sciences within the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida. His research began in 2013 at the Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory in Ruskin, where he focused on non-native species. Prior to his current appointment, he completed his Ph.D. at the University of Maine, with dissertation research examining the relationship between eutrophication and the invasion of non-native White Perch (Morone americana), focusing on the ecological causes and consequences of trait divergence in invasive species. His research interests include ecological and evolutionary factors influencing the persistence and establishment of non-native fishes, such as Green Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii), Southern Platyfish (Xiphophorus maculatus), and Pike Killifish (Belonesox belizanus), as model organisms in invasion dynamics. He assesses risks associated with the trade of aquatic organisms and aims to reduce the environmental impact of aquaculture by examining Best Management Practices for non-native species. Quenton's work also involves examining the ecological implications of disturbance, eutrophication, harvest, and wildfire on aquatic ecosystems, as well as eco-evolutionary dynamics and ecological stoichiometry theory. In addition to his research, Quenton mentors undergraduate and graduate students and supports the ornamental aquaculture industry by informing aquaculture practices, supporting research, and raising awareness about the industry.

Research topics

• Biology
• Ecology
• Fishery
• Environmental science
• Geography
• Cartography
• Oceanography
• Geology
• Environmental resource management

Selected publications

• Stage-based biotic resistance to a non-native species

  NeoBiota · 2026-01-07

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Biotic resistance theory posits a negative relationship between diversity and invasibility. The mechanisms behind this can be variable, but studies are often focused on competition between many resident and introduced species. However, individual species may interact more strongly in communities, some of which may be effective predators and, thus, could offer stronger biotic resistance, broadening biotic resistance theory beyond diversity. In species with complex life histories, biotic resistance may be stage-specific, with resisting species affecting select life stages. The relationship between native eastern mosquitofish ( Gambusia holbrooki ) and the non-native tropical clawed frog ( Xenopus tropicalis ; TCF), provides a model system to investigate stage-specific biotic resistance. Preliminary observations suggest TCFs in their introduced range in Florida, USA are more likely to occupy ponds without fish and we hypothesise that mosquitofish provide predatory biotic resistance to early TCF life stages. We tested the hypothesis that the strength of predatory biotic resistance to species with complex life histories would be based on life stage. We also examined how the strength of predatory biotic resistance can be mitigated by predator density, cannibalism by adult life stages and habitat complexity. Hypotheses were tested using wild-caught and lab-reared individuals in controlled laboratory experiments. Early TCF life stages, lacking defensive traits, suffer near-total mortality due to predation and harassment, with vulnerability decreasing during and after metamorphosis. Mosquitofish density and habitat complexity had minimal effects, while the combination of adult frogs and mosquitofish resulted in facilitation between the two predators, increasing tadpole predation. This study underscores the need for thorough testing of the biotic resistance hypothesis across life stages and shows promise for the control of TCFs in Florida. Mosquitofish could be used as a biological control to reduce the recruitment of TCFs by eliminating the larval stage.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Semi-automated Detection of Seagrass Scars in Tampa Bay from Aerial Imagery: An Application for ArcGIS Pro Deep Learning

  Estuaries and Coasts · 2025-09-01

  articleOpen accessSenior author

  Abstract Seagrasses are of critical importance as they provide food and structure for many species from larval to adult stages, stabilize sediments, and sequester carbon and nutrients. Seagrass restoration is expensive and not always possible; therefore, prevention of seagrass loss is key to its management. Seagrass scarring, the mechanical removal of seagrass and sediments by the boat propeller and hull, is a contributor to seagrass loss in shallow coastal areas. Identifying the location and abundance of seagrass scarring can assist management by directing and evaluating interventions, but quantifying scars has largely relied on manual digitization, which is time-consuming and inconsistent. Deep learning is a new tool for object detection, yet it is computationally intensive and can be inaccessible to natural resource managers. We show that ArcGIS Deep Learning tools are effective for object detection from remotely sensed data by developing a model to detect seagrass scars in Tampa Bay, FL, USA. The model detected 23,488 seagrass scars across areas of continuous seagrass in Tampa Bay, and model precision was 0.80, which is within the typical range for related applications. As seagrass abundance, distribution, and scarring change year to year, a deep learning model such as the one developed in the present study could be applied year after year to new imagery to monitor seagrass disturbance and recovery.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Cold tolerance estimates for the Rio Cauca Caecilian (Typhlonectes natans), a novel amphibian invader in the USA

  Aquatic Invasions · 2025-11-12

  articleOpen access1st authorCorresponding

  Thermal tolerance can reveal the risk of establishment and spread for non-native tropical species introduced to more subtropical regions. These data are particularly important for novel introductions such as the Rio Cauca Caecilian ( Typhlonectes natans ), a species of amphibian established in Miami, Florida, United States of America (USA). To estimate its thermal tolerance T. natans individuals were captured with baited traps, transported to the laboratory, and acclimated to 25°C. We used chronic lethal methodology to estimate three cold tolerance endpoints: cessation of feeding, loss of equilibrium, and death. This methodology utilizes a 1°C per day temperature change which allows for stepwise reacclimation. Endpoints were 18.61°C ± 0.91, 17.08–20.56 (mean ± SD, range) for cessation of feeding, 13.61°C ± 0.81, 12.68–14.98 for loss of equilibrium and 12.45°C ± 0.49, 11.72–13.84 for death. The chronic lethal minimum temperature is relatively high for an established aquatic species in Florida, suggesting water temperature may limit its northward spread. Thermal tolerance attributes are one aspect of the risk of spread, and some information gaps remain, including salinity and desiccation tolerance, attributes that could allow movement between coastal watersheds and persistence in seasonal wetlands.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Increased Cold Tolerance of a Tropical Fish Species at the Northern Edge of Its Expanded Range

  Estuaries and Coasts · 2025-01-03 · 5 citations

  article
  PublisherDOI

• How body size and salinity affects thermal tolerance of a range-expanding fish

  Marine and Coastal Fisheries · 2025-07-01 · 2 citations

  articleOpen access

  ABSTRACT Objective We investigated the influence of body size and salinity on the thermal tolerance of Common Snook Centropomus undecimalis (hereafter, “snook”). Methods Juvenile snook (small = 59–156 mm standard length, large = 188–341 mm standard length) were collected from Tampa Bay, Florida. Snook were acclimated in a recirculating aquaculture system, where they underwent a quarantine period at 25°C with gradual salinity adjustments to either 3, 15, or 30‰ for large juveniles and 3‰ for small juveniles. Snook were then randomly selected for chronic lethal minimum trials during which temperature was decreased by 1°C per day. Temperatures at which the fish ceased feeding, lost equilibrium, and died were recorded. Results In the chronic lethal minimum trials, small juvenile snook exhibited greater cold tolerance for two end points—cessation of feeding and death—compared with larger juveniles at 3‰. For large juveniles, death occurred at lower temperatures in both the low- and high-salinity trials (9.2°C) than in the midsalinity trials (10.1°C) (i.e., fish were less hardy at midsalinity). In the low-salinity trial for large juveniles, cessation of feeding (16.1°C) occurred before the other salinity trials for large juveniles as water temperatures were lowered, but loss of equilibrium occurred after (10.1°C). Conclusions Juvenile snook undergo complex ontogenetic changes resulting in reduced cold tolerance in larger individuals. Salinity differences further modify cold tolerance. At the onset of a cold event, juvenile snook occupying waters of low salinity (i.e., rivers) are less likely to lose equilibrium, while those occupying waters of midsalinity are more likely to die if they cannot find adequate refuge from cold water. These observations likely apply to adult snook; thus, information on cold tolerance at various salinities, combined with knowledge of fish behavior, provides insights into factors affecting overwintering and snook resilience to climate variability, particularly as the species continues to expand its range north.

  PublisherDOI

• Comparison of Behavioral Traits and Invasion Success Between Two Global Freshwater Fish Invaders—Gambusia holbrooki and Gambusia affinis

  Fishes · 2025-08-21

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  In the early 1900s, eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) and western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) were deliberately and globally introduced for the biological control of mosquito larvae. Subsequently, both species developed a reputation for causing impacts on native small-bodied fish, amphibian larvae, and other aquatic species. This led to both species being considered some of the world’s worst invasive species. Due to morphological similarities, organizations worldwide often consider these species jointly when discussing their introduction and impacts. Recent studies suggest these species differ in fundamental ways, which could affect invasion success. Our goal was to compare eastern and western mosquitofish behavior and invasion success. Replicate populations were collected from the U.S. states of Florida (eastern mosquitofish) and Louisiana (western mosquitofish) to assess variation in aggression, boldness, and sociability. Mesocosm trials were used to compare invasion success between species following introduction to an ecosystem occupied by another small-bodied poeciliid. Eastern mosquitofish caused more damage to similar-sized heterospecifics and western mosquitofish exhibited greater boldness. No differences were found in sociability between the two species. In mesocosms, impacts were observed for both mosquitofish species but were greatest for heterospecifics with eastern mosquitofish. This suggests that two invasive species, even with similar life history and morphology, can differ in traits related to invasion success and ecological impacts. It is important to correctly identify mosquitofish species when evaluating their invasion.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Using digestive physiology to develop larval culture protocols for the Blackbanded Sunfish, a threatened centrarchid native to the United States

  North American Journal of Aquaculture · 2024-01-25 · 8 citations

  article

  Abstract Objective The Blackbanded Sunfish Enneacanthus chaetodon is a small centrarchid that is endemic to slow-moving waters from New Jersey to central Florida, United States. The distribution of this species has been increasingly fragmented, primarily due to habitat degradation. The development of larval culture protocols is essential to produce this species for the aquarium trade and for potential restoration efforts. To streamline the production process, larvae should be transitioned from live feeds to inert diets as early as possible without sacrificing larval growth or survival. Methods A developmental trial was conducted to determine the timing of digestive tract maturation, which indicates the ability of larvae to better digest inert microdiets (MDs). Blackbanded Sunfish larvae were sampled 12 times from 2 days posthatch (dph; notochord length [mean ± SD] = 4.38 ± 0.22 mm) to 50 dph (total length [TL] = 9.89 ± 1.64 mm) for subsequent analysis of digestive enzyme activity (via microplate assays) and digestive system morphology (via histology). A dietetics trial was conducted to determine the most appropriate commercial MD for this species at early life stages by testing the efficacy of three different MDs against a reference diet of brine shrimp Artemia nauplii. Lastly, a weaning trial was conducted to determine the earliest time point at which MDs should be introduced during the larval period. Result Blackbanded Sunfish larvae transitioned from agastric to gastric digestion at approximately 40 dph (7.95 ± 0.86 mm TL), as determined by the presence of gastric glands and pepsin activity. In the dietetics trial, certain MDs yielded higher survival than others; however, all diets performed equally when considering the TL of the larvae. In the weaning trial, the highest survival was found when larvae were fed Artemia nauplii exclusively or when an MD was introduced at 48 dph (10.62 ± 1.88 mm TL). Conclusion Larval Blackbanded Sunfish may require up to 48 days of live feeds before introducing MDs but can be successfully transitioned to MDs after 48 dph without significantly affecting survival or growth.

  PublisherDOI

• Vertebrates in trade that pose high invasion risk to the United States

  Biological Conservation · 2024-12-24 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  The United States imports thousands of live vertebrate species annually as part of legal trade. Escapes and releases from captivity are major pathways of invasion, however, the risk posed by the thousands of imported vertebrate species has not been systematically assessed. We conducted a horizon scan that used a data-driven climate match to filter a list of nearly 15,000 taxa drawn from across the globe of imported fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals for rapid assessment by taxonomic experts. Experts evaluated 840 species and identified 32 (22 reptiles and 10 fishes) as having the highest risk for establishment, spread, and negative impacts. Of those high-risk species, the majority have the capacity to disrupt ecosystem processes via their role as top predators or the unique ecological niches that they occupy, while several of the snake species pose a threat to human health. High-risk species were often scored with high confidence while in contrast, low scores were attributed to a combination of ecological redundancy, low propagule pressure, or low climate match while low confidence arose from a lack of information in the literature (i.e., data deficiency). Our study therefore highlights legally imported species likely to cause the greatest harm with the recognition that many other species could also become invasive in the United States. The ranked list of vertebrate threats can be used to prioritize watchlists and inform the development of targeted regulations for importation can be applied to regions to provide a rapid, preliminary screening for large pools of potential invaders.

  PublisherDOI

• Climate match fails to explain variation in establishment success of non-native freshwater fishes in a warm climate region

  Aquatic Invasions · 2024-02-07 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  For non-native species, climate can act as a primary filter limiting establishment. Numerous studies examining climate similarity between native and introduced regions have been completed for temperate areas, however we know little about how well climate matching performs for warmer regions. For non-native freshwater fish introduced to warm regions, one potential problem with climate matching is that fish from both temperate and tropical source regions could establish. Our goal was to examine whether climate matching can predict the establishment of non-native freshwater fish for a warm climate region. We used CLIMATCH, a widely applied climate matching program, to analyze climate similarity between source and target regions for 37 successfully established species and 36 species that have failed to establish. CLIMATCH was calculated in two ways for successfully established species, with Florida records included ( post hoc ) and without Florida records ( a priori ). The mean post hoc score for successful species was higher than that of failed species; however, the mean a priori score for successful species did not significantly differ from failed species. On average, post hoc scores were inflated 1.5 times over a priori scores. The post hoc result is tautological—the scores are high because the species is successful, and the species is successful because the scores are high. These results highlight two issues for climate matching: (1) as commonly done post hoc , degree of climate match and predictive power may be overestimated and (2) a priori applications may lack predictive power. We recommend consideration of these issues in the use and interpretation of CLIMATCH for prediction. Additional research into regional importance of climate variables (temperature and precipitation) is warranted, especially in warm climate regions.

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Thermal tolerance for the tropical clawed frog, Xenopus tropicalis with comments on comparative methods for amphibian studies

  Journal of Thermal Biology · 2024-06-13 · 4 citations

  article1st authorCorresponding
  PublisherDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Jeffrey E. Hill

  University of Florida

  45 shared

• Katelyn M. Lawson

  University of Florida

  18 shared

• Jared L. Ritch

  Auburn University

  17 shared

• Timothy J. Lyons

  13 shared

• Larry L. Lawson

  Auburn University

  10 shared

• Craig A. Watson

  University of Florida

  9 shared

• Joshua T. Patterson

  8 shared

• Taylor N. Lipscomb

  University of Florida

  6 shared