Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus L. 1758): Unwelcome inhibitant of ichthyofauna in the reservoir Strezevo in R. Macedonia
Pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus L. 1758) represents an allochthonous (introduced) fish species in freshwater ecosystems of Europe. It has shown good adaptation to existing ecological conditions in the back and low flow rate waters. The analysis of some ecological characteristics of the samples, taken from the reservoir Strezevo in R. Macedonia, points to extremely good growth rate in this ecosystem. Despite markedly expressed fluctuations in the number of its population, pumpkinseed has occupied a corresponding ecological niche in the littoral part of habitat. However, due to a wide trophic spectrum and the possible competition for space and places for reproduction, pumpkinseed has become overabundant, thereby deteriorating the ichthyofauna and state in reservoir Strezevo.