Gorging on gobies: beneficial effects of alien prey on a threatened vertebrate

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
R B King ◽  
J M Ray ◽  
K M Stanford
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Round Goby ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Ecological Communities ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Water Snake ◽  
Round Gobies ◽  
Water Snakes

Invasive species often have rapid and far-reaching negative impacts on populations and ecological communities. These effects are most common when invasive species have few competitors or predators. Although higher level carnivores do consume invasive species, quantitative effects of new and abundant food sources on predators have rarely been documented and, as a consequence, potentially positive effects of invasive species may be under appreciated. We investigated the effects of the invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1814)) on diet composition, growth rate, and body size of the Lake Erie Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon insularum (Conant and Clay, 1937)), which is threatened in the USA and endangered in Ontario, Canada. Water Snakes have shifted their diet, and round gobies now constitute >92% of prey consumed. This shift in diet has occurred in just one or two Water Snake generations, yet has resulted in more rapid growth and attainment of larger body size in Water Snakes. These positive effects may reduce predation, speed reproductive maturity, increase offspring production, and fuel population growth of this threatened species.

Correlation between body size and fatty acid and essential amino acid composition of round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) and monkey goby (Neogobius fluviatilis) from the Rhine River (Germany)

Biologia ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Ghomi ◽  
Eric Elert ◽  
Jost Borcherding ◽  
Andreas Uhde ◽  
Patrick Fink
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Saturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Round Goby ◽  
Amino Acid Content ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
River Rhine ◽  
Rhine River ◽  
Round Gobies

AbstractIn this study correlations between body size and muscle fatty and amino acid content of two species of goby, round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) and monkey goby (Neogobius fluviatilis) caught from river Rhine (Germany) were investigated. Among saturated fatty acids (SFAs), mono- (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) only SFAs were significantly higher in round goby than monkey goby (P < 0.05). In general, the correlation between body size of both gobies and the content of most of the individual fatty acids was not significant. In monkey goby, the content of palmitic acid (C16:0) and oleic acid (C18:1 n-9) was positively correlated with weight (r = 0.43) and total length (r = −0.58), respectively, and the content of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) increased with condition factor (r = 0.50). The content of threonine, arginine, valine, phenylalanine and isoleucine in monkey goby was higher than those of round goby (P < 0.05). In round goby the three essential amino acids arginine, valine and leucine were positively (P < 0.05) correlated with body length, which indicates that longer round gobies are of higher nutritional value.

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.

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.

Parasites of round goby, Neogobius melanostomus, currently invading the Elbe River

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuriy Kvach ◽  
Markéta Ondračková ◽  
Michal Janáč ◽  
Vadym Krasnovyd ◽  
Mária Seifertová ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Round Goby ◽  
Parasite Community ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Tidal Zone ◽  
New Host ◽  
The North ◽  
Round Gobies ◽  
The Elbe River ◽  
The One

Abstract The round goby, Neogobius melanostomus, is a Ponto-Caspian fish species currently found in many parts of Europe, including the North Sea riverine deltas. The objective of this study was to examine the parasite community of fish caught in the lower Elbe (Süderelbe – tidal zone; Geesthacht – non-tidal) in Germany and compare it with published data from the upper Elbe (Ústí nad Labem) in the Czech Republic. Twelve parasite taxa were recorded in the lower Elbe, six in the Süderelbe and nine near the city of Geesthacht. Süderelbe fish were mainly infected with Angullicola crassus larvae, while gobies from Geesthacht – with glochidia and sporadically occurring Pomporhynchus laevis, and the opposite situation was observed at Ústí nad Labem. It appears that a large tidal weir at Geesthacht significantly contributes to the division of the round goby population, with the Geesthacht parasite community being more similar to that at Ústí nad Labem than the one from the Süderelbe, thus increasing the likelihood that shipping from Hamburg was the introduction vector to Ústí nad Labem. We also recorded Acanthocephalus rhinensis in the Elbe for the first time, and in a new host – the round goby. Thus, round gobies may represent a new vector for the introduction of this parasite along the Elbe.

Reproductive female round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) are attracted to visual male models at a nest rather than to olfactory stimuli in urine of reproductive males

Behaviour ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 147 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stan Yavno ◽  
Lynda Corkum
Keyword(s):  
Round Goby ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
Visual Signals ◽  
Invasive Fish ◽  
Reproductive Female ◽  
Olfactory Stimuli ◽  
Reproductive Male ◽  
Round Gobies ◽  
Male Model ◽  
Reproductive Females

AbstractFish are known to communicate in many ways and commonly use olfactory and visual signals. When round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) males become reproductive, they change from mottled grey to black and release sex steroids in their urine. In this study, we conducted a laboratory experiment to determine if reproductive female round gobies were attracted to a combination of olfactory (urine) and visual (silicone models) stimuli, representing reproductive and non-reproductive male round gobies. Females spent significantly more time at a nest with a black reproductive male model compared with a mottled non-reproductive male model. Neither urine type nor the interaction between model type and urine affected the time spent by reproductive females at a nest. Knowledge of the reproductive habits of the round goby may enable researchers to develop a method of species control for this invasive fish by manipulating its breeding habits.

scholarly journals Shape Analysis of Otoliths of the Round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Gobiiformes, Gobiidae), from the Black Sea Basin

Zoodiversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 317-330
Author(s):  
V. Zamorov ◽  
M. Zamorova ◽  
D. Krupko ◽  
N. Matvienko ◽  
Y. Leonchyk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Discriminant Analysis ◽  
Black Sea ◽  
Sagittal Plane ◽  
Round Goby ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
The Black Sea ◽  
Strong Response ◽  
Linear Discriminant ◽  
The North ◽  
Round Gobies

The aim of this study was to assess the discriminability of the stocks of the round goby Neogobius melanostomus based on the shape of its otoliths. Recent otolith-shape-based species and stock discrimination studies were using otolith contours in sagittal plane and we are following this approach. We hypothesized the possibility of existence of several geographically separated populations of the round goby. Round gobies have been sampled from different locations of the North-Western Black Sea, otoliths were removed in course of the full biological analysis and photographed in sagittal plane. Principal components of the otolith contour were processed by linear discriminant analysis aiming to cross-validate the discriminability of round gobies placed at different geographical locations. This would allow demonstration of different stocks or populations. This research allows to conclude the limited applicability of otolith contours for discrimination of stocks or populations of round goby based on multiple annual samples. However, neither classification matrices of discriminant analysis nor cluster analysis dendrograms showed a single pattern except for the high year to year otoliths variability. This allows to hypothesise a strong response of contour formation to habitat and feeding conditions. However, this assumption needs to be verified by further studies.

scholarly journals Round goby versus marbled crayfish: alien invasive predators and competitors

2021 ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Sara Roje ◽  
Luise Richter ◽  
Susanne Worischka ◽  
Marek Let ◽  
Lukáš Veselý ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Invasive Alien Species ◽  
Round Goby ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Aquatic Biodiversity ◽  
Invasive Predators ◽  
Gape Size ◽  
Similar Weight ◽  
Marbled Crayfish

Aquatic biodiversity is threatened by spread of invasive alien species. Round goby Neogobius melanostomus is an invasive fish in large European rivers as well as in coastal waters near their mouths and marbled crayfish Procambarus virginalis is a highly invasive crustacean. Both are small, bottom-dwelling species occupying similar habitat and shelters and utilizing similar food sources. We hypothesized that goby presents a threat to both native and non-native astacofauna in invaded ecosystems. We tested this through laboratory experiments designed to determine aggressiveness and competitiveness of goby against marbled crayfish as a model for other North American cambarid crayfish, assessing goby prey size selection and competition with marbled crayfish for space and shelter. Gobies showed high aggressiveness and dominance over the crayfish. Goby predation on juvenile crayfish was limited by mouth gape size. In goby/crayfish pairs of similar weight, gobies were more aggressive, although each affected the behavior of the other.

The impact of introduced round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) on phosphorus cycling in central Lake Erie

2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
David B Bunnell ◽  
Timothy B Johnson ◽  
Carey T Knight
Keyword(s):  
Lake Erie ◽  
Round Goby ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
Phosphorus Cycling ◽  
High Mass ◽  
Introduced Fish ◽  
Bioenergetic Model ◽  
Phosphorus Excretion ◽  
Round Gobies ◽  
The Impact

We used an individual-based bioenergetic model to simulate the phosphorus flux of the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) population in central Lake Erie during 1995–2002. Estimates of round goby diet composition, growth rates, and population abundance were derived from field sampling. As an abundant introduced fish, we predicted that round gobies would influence phosphorus cycling both directly, through excretion, and indirectly, through consumption of dreissenid mussels, whose high mass-specific phosphorus excretion enhances recycling. In 1999, when age-1+ round gobies reached peak abundance near 350 million (2.4 kg·ha–1), annual phosphorus excretion was estimated at 7 t (1.4 × 10–3 mg P·m–2·day–1). From an ecosystem perspective, however, round gobies excreted only 0.4% of the phosphorus needed by the benthic community for primary production. Indirectly, round gobies consumed <0.2% of dreissenid population biomass, indicating that round gobies did not reduce nutrient availability by consuming dreissenids. Compared with previous studies that have revealed introduced species to influence phosphorus cycling, round gobies likely did not attain a sufficiently high biomass density to influence phosphorus cycling in Lake Erie.

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