scholarly journals Ecological responses to elevated water temperatures across invasive populations of the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in the Great Lakes basin

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heather Bauer Reid ◽  
Anthony Ricciardi
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
Climate Warming ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Round Goby ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
Acclimation Temperature ◽  
Feeding Rates ◽  
Western Basin ◽  
St Lawrence River

Climate warming is expected to alter the distribution, abundance, and impact of non-native species in aquatic ecosystems. In laboratory experiments, we measured the maximum feeding rate and critical thermal maximum (CTmax) of an invasive Eurasian fish, the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), acclimated to a range of temperatures (18–28°C) reflecting current and projected future thermal conditions for the nearshore Great Lakes. Fish were collected from four distinct populations along a latitudinal gradient from the western basin of Lake Erie to Hamilton Harbour (Lake Ontario) and the upper St. Lawrence River. Thermal tolerance increased with acclimation temperature for populations in lakes Erie and Ontario. However, the St. Lawrence River populations had lower acclimation capacity and exhibited an unexpected decline in CTmax at the highest acclimation temperature. Maximum feeding rates peaked at 18–24°C and declined with temperatures above 24°C. Northern populations in the basin appear poorly adapted to elevated temperatures such that their performance and impact could be reduced by climate warming. Thermal response data from latitudinally distributed populations are needed to inform invasive species risk assessment.

Impacts of the Eurasian round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) on benthic communities in the upper St. Lawrence River

2012 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 469-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebekah Kipp ◽  
Anthony Ricciardi
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
Benthic Communities ◽  
Round Goby ◽  
River System ◽  
Benthic Algae ◽  
Large River ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
Benthivorous Fish ◽  
Ecosystem Impacts ◽  
St Lawrence River

An invasive benthivorous fish, the Eurasian round goby ( Neogobius melanostomus ) is abundant throughout the lower Great Lakes – St. Lawrence River system. We examined the round goby’s potential to alter benthic communities on cobble substrates in the upper St. Lawrence River. During the summers of 2008 and 2009, macroinvertebrates and benthic algae were sampled across sites with varying goby densities. Archived data from various sites in 2004–2006 (prior to invasion) were available for comparison. Macroinvertebrate community composition varied significantly among samples grouped into categories based on goby density and time since invasion. Macroinvertebrate diversity and dominance by large-bodied taxa declined with increasing goby density. Surprisingly, dreissenid biomass did not vary consistently with goby density, in contrast to studies in the Great Lakes. The biomass of all non-dreissenid taxa was negatively correlated with increasing goby density across sites and over time at three of four sites. Negative effects were most pronounced on the biomass of gastropods. Benthic algal biomass increased with goby density across sites, suggesting a trophic cascade driven by the impacts of gobies on gastropods and other algivores. Our study highlights the potential ecosystem impacts of an expanding goby population in a large river.

Forecasting the distribution of the invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in Wisconsin tributaries to Lake Michigan

2010 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 553-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew S. Kornis ◽  
M. Jake Vander Zanden
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Great Lakes ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Lake Michigan ◽  
Round Goby ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
Small Streams ◽  
Large Populations ◽  
Round Gobies ◽  
Watershed Slope

The Laurentian Great Lakes host more than 180 non-native species, including several that have resulted in major economic and ecological effects. This list includes the round goby ( Neogobius melanostomus ), an aggressive, benthic Ponto-Caspian fish that has established large populations in coastal Great Lakes habitats. Here, we document the inland dispersal of round gobies into Wisconsin tributaries of Lake Michigan. Round gobies were detected in 26 of 73 streams (36%) and found >10 km upstream of Lake Michigan in nine watersheds. Round goby presence–absence was modeled using landscape-scale data from these invaded streams. We forecasted the future spread of round goby within Wisconsin’s Lake Michigan basin using our best model (80% accuracy), which included watershed area, stream gradient, and watershed slope as predictors. Round gobies were predicted to invade 1369 km of stream habitat up to the first stream barrier, and 8878 km of stream was identified as suitable looking beyond barriers at the broader Lake Michigan watershed (Wisconsin only). Our results depict the Great Lakes as a springboard for invasive species to disperse into inland ecosystems and, because round gobies are not usually reported in small streams in their native range, emphasize the utility of data from invaded regions when forecasting invasive species distributions.

Muskellunge Management: Fifty Years of Cooperation Among Anglers, Scientists, and Fisheries Biologists

2017 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Size Structure ◽  
Population Decline ◽  
Round Goby ◽  
Management Plan ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Catch Rates ◽  
Survival Studies ◽  
St Lawrence River

<em>Abstract</em>.— Long-term research indicates a significant and ongoing decline within the upper St. Lawrence River Muskellunge <em>Esox masquinongy </em>population. Index surveys show a sharp reduction in catch of both spawning adults and age-0 Muskellunge, and catch rates by anglers have similarly declined while harvest remains low. Other changes associated with population decline include presence of fewer female adult Muskellunge and a change in adult Muskellunge size structure (increase in proportion of fish <1,016 mm) in addition to more large individuals greater than 1,372 mm. A significant adult die-off occurred from 2005 to 2008 (103 adults recovered in U.S. and Canadian waters) concomitant with an outbreak of viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS). These population changes were also temporally correlated with detection and proliferation of invasive Round Goby <em>Neogobius melanostomus</em>, a known VHS virus (VHSV) reservoir, egg predator, and competitor with native fishes. Comparisons of index netting before and after VHSV and Round Goby invasions suggest a direct link to the decline, but because these are correlations, we can only explore these effects. To examine the viability of Muskellunge nursery sites, we repeated survival studies conducted in the early 1990s with experimental releases of advanced fry at four locations during 2013–2015. Findings indicate contribution to age-0 populations, but catches poststocking (wild and stocked) were lower compared to the 1990s. We review information regarding potential stressors, including VHSV and Round Goby invasion, and conclude that their combined effects have created significant uncertainty and challenges to sustainable management of the Muskellunge population. In response, the St. Lawrence River Muskellunge management plan should be updated with a focus on restoration of the declining Muskellunge stock. Recommended actions target advancing conservation and restoration of critical habitat, restoring lost subpopulations, and reducing mortality associated with angling (e.g., from handling and harvest).

scholarly journals First Occurrence of the Round Goby, Neogobius melanostomus, in the St. Lawrence River at Cornwall, Ontario

2005 ◽  
Vol 119 (4) ◽  
pp. 582 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Brian C. Hickey ◽  
Adrienne R. Fowlie
Keyword(s):  
Round Goby ◽  
Scuba Diving ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
Benthic Fish ◽  
First Occurrence ◽  
Round Gobies ◽  
St Lawrence River

We document the first reported occurrence of the Round Goby, Neogobius melanostomus, a small benthic fish native to the Black and Caspian seas, in the St. Lawrence River near Cornwall. On 7 September 2004, we observed approximately 20 Round Gobies while SCUBA diving at a depth of 7 m, downstream of the Saunders Generating Station at Cornwall, Ontario. Round Gobies appear to have arrived recently in this reach of the river and have not previously been detected despite extensive fish surveys conducted in the area.

Aggression and sociality: conflicting or complementary traits of a successful invader?

Behaviour ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 152 (2) ◽  
pp. 127-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline M. Capelle ◽  
Erin S. McCallum ◽  
Sigal Balshine
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Round Goby ◽  
Invasion Biology ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
Conspecific Density ◽  
Species Invasions ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Successful Invader ◽  
Forming Behaviour

Invasion biology research has identified two juxtaposing behavioural traits, aggressiveness and sociality, that may both increase the success of species invasions. Highly aggressive invaders can out-compete native species for resources, while social gregarious invaders can tolerate high conspecific density. In order to tease apart the effects of aggressive versus social tendencies on the success of invasive species, we studied round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), a highly successful invasive fish species now common in the Laurentian Great Lakes. While round goby are well known for being aggressive, much less is known about their tendency to affiliate with conspecifics, in spite of the fact that they thrive in extremely high densities in many of their invaded habitats. We collected round goby from Hamilton Harbour, ON, Canada and conducted three separate experiments to explore group-forming behaviour by measuring preference for conspecifics. We found that round goby have a strong preference to associate with a single conspecific, and that both males and females showed this preference. No overall preference was detected for large versus small groups of conspecifics. Females chose the safety of a shelter over associating with a conspecific but males were equally attracted to conspecifics as shelter. Our results provide new insight into how interactions between aggressive and social behaviours play a role in the rapid spread of invasive round goby.

Round goby movement patterns in a non-navigable river

2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 475-483
Author(s):  
Luděk Šlapanský ◽  
Michal Janáč ◽  
Kevin Roche ◽  
Pavel Jurajda
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Round Goby ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
Species Dispersal ◽  
Dispersal Patterns ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Movement Rates ◽  
Established Population ◽  
Future Management

Understanding non-native species dispersal is vital for their future management. The round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) has greatly extended its range since the 1990s, with commercial shipping being the main vector. However, our knowledge regarding their secondary dispersal from points of introduction is surprisingly limited. In this study, a series of field experiments were undertaken on a mid-sized river to assess goby dispersal patterns within an established population, following a simulated release of a large number of propagules, or at a simulated invasion front. Most of the established population remained stationary and just a few individuals undertook long-distance dispersal (principally upstream). Mean distance travelled was 1.1 m·day−1 (max. 29.6 m·day−1). While site fidelity appeared to last for most of the year (including winter), it was surprisingly relaxed during the spawning season. Concentrated release of a large number of propagules resulted in appreciably greater movement rates than in the established population, with upstream movement again dominating. In general, smaller, mostly male fish tended to move further and appeared as first colonizers in uninvaded areas.

scholarly journals Summer microhabitat use and overlap by the invasive Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus) and native darters in the Trent River (Ontario, Canada)

2019 ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Scott M. Reid
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Round Goby ◽  
High Water ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
Microhabitat Use ◽  
Intermediate Water ◽  
Habitat Differences ◽  
Species Declines ◽  
Water Depths

Understanding the impacts of the invasive Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus) is important for North American native fish conservation. One proposed mechanism for native species declines is competition for habitat. In this study, summer habitat use by Round Goby and Channel Darter (Percina copelandi) and Logperch (P. caprodes) was studied in the Trent River (Canada). Spot-electrofishing and systematic habitat sampling were used to measure habitat availability and use. Suitability for all species varied across the range of habitat conditions. At Glen Ross, habitat suitability for Channel Darter and Round Goby was highest at intermediate water depths (0.2–0.6 m), lowest at high water velocities (> 1.0 ms−1) and increased with greater amounts of gravel and cobble. There were no significance habitat differences between capture locations of the two species. At Meyer's Reach, Logperch and Round Goby habitat suitability was highest at intermediate water depths (0.4–0.6 m) and where gravel and cobble were abundant. The relationship between suitability and water velocity differed between species, with moderate velocities less suitable for Round Goby. The amount of boulder and bedrock at capture locations of each species differed. Results indicate that competition for habitat with Round Goby will vary among darter species.

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