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.

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 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.

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.

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.

scholarly journals Habitat utilization and feeding ecology of small round goby in a shallow brackish lagoon

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Henseler ◽  
Paul Kotterba ◽  
Erik Bonsdorff ◽  
Marie C. Nordström ◽  
Daniel Oesterwind
Keyword(s):  
Feeding Ecology ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Feeding Strategy ◽  
Round Goby ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Diet Shift ◽  
Vegetation Density ◽  
Round Gobies

Abstract We examined small-scale distribution and feeding ecology of a non-native fish species, round goby (Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1814)), in different habitats of a coastal lagoon situated in the south-western Baltic Sea. First observations of round goby in this lagoon were reported in 2011, 3 years before the current study was conducted, and information on this species’ basic ecology in different habitats is limited. We found that mainly juvenile round gobies are non-randomly distributed between habitats and that abundances potentially correlate positively with vegetation density and thus structural complexity of the environment. Abundances were highest in shallower, more densely vegetated habitats indicating that these areas might act as a refuge for small round gobies by possibly offering decreased predation risk and better feeding resources. Round goby diet composition was distinct for several length classes suggesting an ontogenetic diet shift concerning crustacean prey taxa between small (≤ 50 mm total length, feeding mainly on zooplankton) and medium individuals (51–100 mm, feeding mainly on benthic crustaceans) and another diet shift of increasing molluscivory with increasing body size across all length classes. Differences in round goby diet between habitats within the smallest length class might potentially be related to prey availability in the environment, which would point to an opportunistic feeding strategy. Here, we offer new insights into the basic ecology of round goby in littoral habitats, providing a better understanding of the ecological role of this invasive species in its non-native range, which might help to assess potential consequences for native fauna and ecosystems.

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.

Invasive male round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) release pheromones in their urine to attract females

2013 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 393-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith B. Tierney ◽  
Matthew Kereliuk ◽  
Yogesh Kumar Katare ◽  
Alexander P. Scott ◽  
Stephen J. Loeb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Previous Investigation ◽  
Sensory Deprivation ◽  
Round Goby ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
Laurentian Great Lakes ◽  
Invasive Fish ◽  
Behavioural Responses ◽  
Round Gobies ◽  
Reproductive Females ◽  
Free Steroid

The round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) is an invasive fish in the Laurentian Great Lakes and beyond. Pheromones appear to be important for their reproductive success, as females are attracted to water in which reproductive males have resided (“conditioned water”). Previous investigation has shown conjugated and unconjugated forms of 3α-hydroxy-5β-androstane-11,17-dione (11-oxo-etiocholanolone; 11-O-ETIO) are released in the urine of these males. The goal of this study was to determine if the urine of reproductive males and fractionated extracts attract females. We found that reproductively active females were attracted to male urine and to isolates of male-conditioned water that contained conjugated 11-O-ETIO. The fractionated preparation that corresponded to unconjugated 11-O-ETIO (i.e., “free” steroid released via the gills of males) was not attractive to reproductive females, but curiously, it was attractive to nonreproductive females. Olfactory sensory deprivation confirmed that the behavioural responses were mediated by olfaction. These findings take us closer towards identifying the pheromone(s) that attract female gobies and, therefore, closer to having a method to limit this species' damaging invasion.

Sex- and state-dependent attraction of round gobies, Neogobius melanostomus, to conspecific calls

Behaviour ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 150 (13) ◽  
pp. 1509-1530 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Isabella-Valenzi ◽  
Dennis M. Higgs
Keyword(s):  
Round Goby ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
High Specificity ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
Reproductive State ◽  
State Dependent ◽  
Round Gobies ◽  
Reproductive Females ◽  
Female Responses ◽  
The Relationship

Acoustic communication is of fundamental importance in many fish species but it is often unclear what information is present in different calls and how responsiveness varies with reproductive state and the sex of the receiver. The current study investigates reproductive flexibility in acoustic responsiveness through differential attraction between reproductive morphs of the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) to conspecific calls. Parental male (PM) round gobies emit calls and females respond to these calls with high specificity. We used playback experiments to determine the response of gobies to recordings of two conspecific calls, a grunt and a drum. For the grunt, reproductive females (RF) displayed a significantly higher response for first approach than non-reproductive males (NRM), but RFs never responded to the drum call. Upon examining within-morph responses for time spent at a playing speaker, RFs were found to spend the longest time at the grunt call compared to other sound types. In contrast to the female responses, NRMs and sneaker males (SM) displayed a strong preference to the drum call. Overall these results support that the grunt could be for mate attraction while NRMs and SMs may be eavesdropping on the drum call. By determining the relationship between reproductive state and responses to conspecific calls, we show that reproductive state is a critical factor in understanding behavioural responses in fish.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document