scholarly journals Impacts of the invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) on benthic invertebrate fauna: a case study from the Baltic Sea

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mikael van Deurs ◽  
Nicholas Patrick Moran ◽  
Kristian Schreiber Plet-Hansen ◽  
Grete E. Dinesen ◽  
Farivar Azour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Round Goby ◽  
Benthic Invertebrate ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
The North ◽  
Multiple Round ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
The Baltic

Non-indigenous animals can impact native fauna via predation and competition for food and habitat. The round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) was first observed in the Baltic Sea in 1990 and has since displayed substantial secondary dispersal, establishing numerous dense populations where they may outcompete native fish and negatively impact prey species. There have been multiple round goby diet studies from both the Baltic Sea and the North American Great Lakes where they are similarly invasive. However, studies that quantify their effects on recipient ecosystems and, specifically, their impacts on the benthic invertebrate macrofauna are rare, particularly from European waters. In this study, we conducted the first before-after study of the potential effects of round goby on benthic invertebrate macrofauna taxa in marine-brackish habitats in Europe, focusing of two sites in the Western Baltic Sea, Denmark. Results were in line with those from the Great Lakes, indicating negative impacts to be focused on specific molluscan taxa, particularly gastropods, while other groups appeared to be largely unaffected or even show positive trends following invasion. Round goby gut content data was available at one of our study sites from the period immediately after the invasion. This data confirmed that round goby had in fact been preying on the subset of taxa displaying negative trends.

scholarly journals Impacts of the invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) on benthic invertebrate fauna: a case study from the Baltic Sea

NeoBiota ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 68 ◽  
pp. 19-30
Author(s):  
Mikael van Deurs ◽  
Nicholas P. Moran ◽  
Kristian Schreiber Plet-Hansen ◽  
Grete E. Dinesen ◽  
Farivar Azour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Round Goby ◽  
Benthic Invertebrate ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
The North ◽  
Multiple Round ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
The Baltic

The round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) was first observed in the Baltic Sea in 1990 and has since displayed substantial secondary dispersal, establishing numerous dense populations where they may outcompete native fish and negatively impact prey species. There have been multiple round goby diet studies from both the Baltic Sea and the North American Great Lakes where they are similarly invasive. However, studies that quantify their effects on recipient ecosystems and, specifically, their impacts on the benthic invertebrate macrofauna are rare, particularly from European waters. In this study, we conducted the first before-after study of the potential effects of round goby on benthic invertebrate macrofauna taxa in marine-brackish habitats in Europe, focusing of two sites in the Western Baltic Sea, Denmark. Results were in line with those from the Great Lakes, indicating negative impacts on specific molluscan taxa (e.g. Cardiidae bivalves and Neritidae gastropods, which both showed a fall in detected densities of approximately 98% within the Guldborgsund Strait). In contrast, many other groups appeared to be largely unaffected or even show positive trends following invasion. Round goby gut content data were available at one of our study sites from the period immediately after the invasion. These data confirmed that round goby had in fact been preying on the subset of taxa displaying negative trends.

Experimental evaluation of the effects of the novel predators, round goby and mud crab on benthic invertebrates in the Gulf of Riga, Baltic Sea

2017 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristiina Nurkse ◽  
Jonne Kotta ◽  
Merli Rätsep ◽  
Ilmar Kotta ◽  
Randel Kreitsberg
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Round Goby ◽  
Benthic Invertebrate ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Mud Crab ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Invertebrate Species ◽  
Gulf Of Riga ◽  
The Baltic

The number of non-indigenous aquatic species (NIS) has rapidly increased globally. The majority of published evidence on the effects of NIS on local communities is from single species studies in which the interactive effects of NIS are not considered. Here we present experimental evidence of separate and interactive effects of two widespread non-indigenous benthic predators, the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) and the North American mud crab (Rhithropanopeus harrisii) on benthic invertebrate communities in a shallow coastal ecosystem of the Gulf of Riga, the Baltic Sea. The two species have recently colonized multiple sub-basins of the Baltic Sea and due to their rapid range expansion, increasing densities and local functional novelty, they are expected to have strong separate or interactive effects on native communities. Our laboratory experiment demonstrated that round goby and mud crab exerted a significant predation pressure on different benthic invertebrate species and the effects of the studied predators were largely independent. Predation was stronger at higher temperature compared with low temperature treatment. Among the studied invertebrate species gammarid amphipods were consumed the most. Interestingly, round goby did not prey on the mud crabs despite a large size difference of the studied predators.

scholarly journals Early Lessons of COVID-19 for Governance of the North American Great Lakes and the Baltic Sea

World ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 318-329
Author(s):  
Savitri Jetoo ◽  
Gail Krantzberg
Keyword(s):  
Great Lakes ◽  
Baltic Sea ◽  
North American ◽  
Research Community ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
The North ◽  
Institutional Accountability ◽  
Scientific Certainty ◽  
North American Great Lakes ◽  
The Baltic

The commitment to advance the protection of the North American Great Lakes and the Baltic Sea continues during the COVID-19 pandemic. The resilience of the research community was displayed as policy decisions were made for the first virtual conferences this year to share scientific findings and expertise in both regions. As this pandemic continues to challenge the world, countries have responded to the threat and continue to deal with the uncertainties of this wicked transboundary problem in many different ways. This article discusses key governance and policy issues that have been revealed thus far that can inform the governance of the transboundary North American Great Lakes and the Baltic Sea. Key lessons from the pandemic include waiting for total scientific certainty to act can lead to fatal consequences and our symbiotic connection with nature. Further insights from the pandemic include the importance of context, science-based leadership, institutional accountability, and acknowledging that nature knows no borders.

scholarly journals Population characteristics of the non-indigenous round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Actinopterygii: Perciformes: Gobiidae), in the eastern Gulf of Finland

2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-337
Author(s):  
Anton Uspenskiy ◽  
Anastasia Yurtseva ◽  
Dmitry Bogdanov
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Round Goby ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
Population Characteristics ◽  
Gulf Of Finland ◽  
Shallow Waters ◽  
Northern Coast ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
Unit Effort ◽  
The Baltic

The round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1814), is a fish of Ponto-Caspian origin that has been invading the Baltic Sea since the 1990s. Currently, it is abundant and commercially important in some areas of the sea. This species was first reported in the eastern Gulf of Finland (GoF) in 2012. Its occurrence increased thereafter, however it has remained largely unstudied in this region. The aim of this study was to investigate the population characteristics of the round goby in the eastern GoF to better understand its expansion trend and whether it will become abundant enough to be exploited by the local fishery. Fish were caught using multi-mesh gillnets (12–60 mm mesh) and a beach seine (0.5–10 mm mesh). Occurrence, density, catch per unit effort, biomass per unit effort, relative number and biomass in catches, as well as age, size and sex ratio were studied. The species regularly occurred in samplings along the southern coastline of the GoF, as well as some central areas and along the northern coast. Within 2012–2019, its occurrence in catches increased, with the highest frequency in 2015–2019 in shallow waters (<1.5 m) of Koporye Bay (70%) and in the deeper waters of Narva Bay (74%). Similarly, the highest density in the shallow waters was also observed in Koporye Bay (10.0 ind. ∙ 100 m−2), and offshore in Narva Bay. Relative abundance and biomass usually did not exceed 23%, although it reached 93% in Narva Bay. The oldest specimen was five years old. Young-of-the-year (YOY) juveniles predominated in the shallow waters (85%), while three-year-olds prevailed in deeper waters (75%). Among the fish older than two years, females were more predominant (mean ratio 3 to 1), and males were larger than females. Specimens in all life stages were found in the eastern GoF, and their abundance increased annually, suggesting that the round goby has successfully colonized this region of the Baltic Sea. However, compared to other areas of the Baltic Sea inhabited by longer-established populations, its population size is still relatively low.

scholarly journals Parasite infection of the non-indigenous round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in the Baltic Sea

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 160-176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henn Ojaveer ◽  
Aleksei Turovski ◽  
Kristiina Nõomaa
Keyword(s):  
Baltic Sea ◽  
Round Goby ◽  
Parasite Infection ◽  
Neogobius Melanostomus ◽  
The Baltic Sea ◽  
The Baltic
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