Abiotic and biotic associations between the round goby
            
              Neogobius melanostomus
            
            and tubenose goby
            
              Proterorhinus marmoratus
            
            with the endangered northern madtom
            
              Noturus stigmosus
            
            in Canada

Rapid expansion of round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) and western tubenose goby (Proterorhinus semilunaris) beyond their native ranges calls for urgent management action, particularly in localities with high introduction possibility of the species. We used a comparative functional response (FR) approach to forecast invader ecological impact. We compared their foraging efficiency in three habitat structures: sand, coarse gravel, and coarse gravel with an artificial plant. Both Neogobius melanostomus and Proterorhinus semilunaris showed type II FR in all habitats. Interspecific comparison showed similar handling times in both the gravel and gravel with artificial plant habitats, suggesting similar per capita impact. Intraspecific comparison showed significantly lower handling times of both predators on gravel substrates. Therefore, their ecological impact in such an environment could be higher. Neogobius melanostomus showed higher attack rates on sandy substrates compared with Proterorhinus semilunaris, while no significant differences were observed on other substrates. Our results highlight the importance of interacting factors in management of ecosystems with multiple invaders, as the elimination of invasive Neogobius melanostomus may lead to utilization of the empty niche by alien Proterorhinus semilunaris with similar ecological impact.

Download Full-text

Shelter competition between mature non-indigenous western tubenose goby (Proterorhinus semilunaris) and immature invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) for plants and rocks

Biological Invasions ◽

10.1007/s10530-019-02006-9 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 21 (8) ◽

pp. 2723-2734

Author(s):

Allison Cartwright ◽

Radek Gebauer ◽

Tatyana Vanina ◽

Vlastimil Stejskal ◽

Bořek Drozd

Keyword(s):

Round Goby ◽

Neogobius Melanostomus ◽

Tubenose Goby ◽

Proterorhinus Semilunaris

Download Full-text

Morphometric variability in round goby Neogobius melanostomus (Perciformes: Gobiidae) from the Sea of Azov

Zoosystematica Rossica ◽

10.31610/zsr/2017.26.2.392 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 392-405 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

O.A. Diripasko ◽

T.A. Zabroda

Keyword(s):

Round Goby ◽

Joint Effect ◽

Neogobius Melanostomus ◽

Sea Of Azov ◽

Morphometric Characters ◽

One Dimensional ◽

The Sea Of Azov ◽

Size Dependent ◽

Size Variability ◽

Males And Females

A total of 38 morphometric characters of the round goby Neogobius melanostomus melanostomus (Pallas, 1814) were studied in its native range in the Sea of Azov. The aim was to assess joint effect of sexual dimorphism and size variability on overall variability within groups of samples (populations) using appropriate methods of traditional statistical analysis (one-dimensional and multivariate statistics). Sex and size-dependent variability was studied based on model samples of males and females of different size. Most of the studied morphometric characters of round goby from the Sea of Azov demonstrated statistically significant sex- and size-dependent in-group variability. The pattern of the variability suggests that, for a comparison of round goby from different sea regions and between populations, separate samples of males and females within the range 9–13 cm SL should be examined in order to minimise the effect of the size and sex factors. The approach of searching for the most informative size range could be useful not only for further studies of infraspecific variation but for comparisons between morphologically close gobiin species.

Download Full-text

Feeding activity and diet composition of round goby (Neogobius melanostomus, Pallas 1814) in the coastal waters of SE Baltic Sea

Oceanological and Hydrobiological Studies ◽

10.1515/ohs-2015-0048 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 44 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Artūras Skabeikis ◽

Jūratė Lesutienė

Keyword(s):

Baltic Sea ◽

Coastal Waters ◽

Diet Composition ◽

Feeding Activity ◽

Macoma Balthica ◽

Round Goby ◽

Benthic Fauna ◽

Neogobius Melanostomus ◽

The Body ◽

Gut Contents

AbstractFeeding activity and diet composition of round goby were investigated in the south-eastern Baltic Sea, the Lithuanian coastal waters during May-October 2012 in order to determine main feeding objects and seasonal periods when native fauna could be most affected by predation of this highly invasive species. In total, prey represented by 18 taxa was found in the gut contents of dissected fish. Feeding activity of round goby varied depending on the body size, sex and stage of the reproduction period. The gut contents of < 50 mm specimens were dominated by zooplanktonic and meiobenthic organisms, whereas larger individuals (50–99 mm) shifted to amphipods and mollusks. Individuals of the intermediate 100-200 mm length had a variable diet, changing depending on the season; in spring they mostly preyed on Macoma balthica, in summer − on polychaetes, while in autumn the contribution of Mytilus trossulus and fish considerably increased in their diet. Diet composition of individuals ≥ 200 mm was relatively constant in the course of the study with substantial preference to M. balthica. These findings imply that benthic fauna, particularly a newly settled generation of epibenthic mollusks in autumn is under strong predatory pressure of the round goby.

Download Full-text