scholarly journals Spoiled for Choice during Cold Season? Habitat Use and Potential Impacts of the Invasive Silurus glanis L. in a Deep, Large, and Oligotrophic Lake (Lake Maggiore, North Italy)

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 2549
Author(s):  
Vanessa De Santis ◽  
Pietro Volta

The ecological features of invasive alien species are crucial for their effective management. However, they are often lacking in newly invaded ecosystems. This is the case of the European catfish Silurus glanis L. in Lake Maggiore, where the species is present since 1990, but no scientific information is available on its ecology. To start filling this knowledge gap, 236 catfish (67 cm to 150 cm of total length) were collected, measured, and dissected for stomach content analyses from three localities and in two habitats (littoral vs. pelagic) in late autumn/early winter. The NPUE and BPUE (individuals (N) and biomass (B, in grams) per unit effort (m2), respectively) of catfish were generally higher in littoral (NPUE > 0.01; BPUE > 96) than in pelagic habitats (NPUE < 0.009; BPUE < 114), but the catfish had, on average, larger sizes in pelagic habitats. Overall, 581 individual prey items were recorded, belonging to 12 taxa. Pelagic catfish specialized their diet exclusively on three prey fish (coregonids, shad, and roach), whilst the diet of littoral catfish was more variable and dominated by crayfish, perch, and roach. These results highlighted for the first time the interaction of larger catfish with the lake’s pelagic food web, and thus possible consequences are discussed, including the potential contrasting role S. glanis may have for the lake’s fishery.

Author(s):  
Vanessa De Santis ◽  
Pietro Volta

Ecological information of invasive alien species are crucial for their effective management. How-ever, they are often lacking in newly invaded ecosystems. This is the case of the European catfish Silurus glanis L. in Lake Maggiore where the species is present since 1990 but no scientific infor-mation are available on its ecology. To start filling this knowledge gap, 236 catfish (67 cm to 150 cm of total length) were collected, measured, and dissected for stomach content analyses from three localities and in two habitats (littoral vs. pelagic) in late autumn/early winter. NPUE and BPUE (individuals and biomass (g) per unit effort (m2)) of catfish was generally higher in littoral (NPUE &gt; 0.01; BPUE &gt; 96) than pelagic habitats (NPUE &lt; 0.009; BPUE &lt; 114) but catfish had, on average, larger sizes in pelagic habitats. Overall, 581 individual prey items were recorded belonging to12 taxa. Pelagic catfish specialized their diet exclusively on three prey fish (coregonids, shad and roach) whilst the diet of littoral catfish was more variable, and was dominated by crayfish, perch, and roach. These results highlighted for the first time the interaction of larger catfish with the lake&rsquo;s pelagic food web, and thus possible consequences are discussed, including the potential contrasting role S. glanis may have for the lake&rsquo;s fishery.


Water ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 105
Author(s):  
Caterina M. Antognazza ◽  
Tommaso Costantini ◽  
Monica Campagnolo ◽  
Serena Zaccara

The European catfish (Silurus glanis) was introduced in Italy during the last century for aquaculture purposes, and now it is well-established. S. glanis is an invasive species and a top predator that can deplete prey supply in the surrounding habitat, leading to changes in the aquatic food web. Consequently, its presence is considered a threat to native fish populations. Its presence in the Lake Maggiore (Northern Italy) is recent and there is a lack of knowledge about its ability to completely exploit this new ecosystem throughout the year. This study corroborated the ability of European catfish to exploit both pelagic and littoral habitats, promoting trophic interactions in both habitats. Over 2019, multiple sampling approaches have been applied by collecting S. glanis and analysing its stomach contents with the aim of inferring interactions with the freshwater community. Its diet was mainly based on crayfish (Orconectes limosus), followed by six prey fish and the genus Corbicula; two fish species (Padogobius bonelli and Salaria fluviatilis) were added to the list of known prey fish. Notably and alarmingly for the early potential top-down pressure towards all trophic levels, young individuals were proved to also feed on fish and crayfish. S. glanis showed the ability to hunt at deep depths (>60 m) and a high growth rate, despite Lake Maggiore being oligotrophic.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 29-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerii Samsonkin ◽  
Valerii Druz’ ◽  
Albert Feldman

The article is devoted to a brief presentation and application in practice of an effective management way of human activities and human-technical communities one. This way was called Method of statistical regularity (Method of self-organizing processes). In fact, this is a system approach. For the first time, the application of this approach is shown on the example of quality management of the technological process. Practical management is shown using an algorithm. The effectiveness of the author's system approach is explained by the consideration of the final result of the activity as a goal and a system-forming factor of activity, taking into account the individual features of the management object, real statistics of activity. The system approach described in the article is a universal devise of management. It can be used and already used to manage individual functions of the enterprise, the process, the human operator, the community


Author(s):  
Yura Drach ◽  
Zvenysvala Mamchur

In the article, the bryophytes of the upper reaches of the Western Bug River, which is physically and geographically located within Male Polissya, partly Roztochia, and to a minor extent in the Gologoro-Voronyatsky denudo-structural hills, have been studied. Based on our survey, a list of the bryophytes has been compiled for the first time. Ecological features, substrate preferences and life forms of the bryophytes have been analysed. According to the ecological features, subheliophytes (30.9%) and hemisciophytes (30.9%) predominate in the spectrum of heliomorphs; mesophytes (29.7%), hygromesophytes (21.2%) and xeromesophytes – in the spectrum of hydromorphs (19.4%); cold-tolerant species (59.4%) – in the spectrum of thermomorphs. Based on the analysis of the substrate preferences of the bryophytes, the following groups were identified: epigeans (116 species), epixils (56 species), epiphytes (46 species), epiliths (43 species), aquatic (22 species). The prevailing life forms are turf (30.3%), rough mat (18.2%), weft (15.2%), tuft (10.3%) and smooth mat (9.7%). 3 species that are officially recognised as rare and 16 species that are recognized as regionally rare have been found. In the group of bryophytes associated with wetland ecosystems, 2 officially rare and 6 regionally rare species were found in the study area. Given the large areas of drained land in Lviv Region, these species are of particular value, especially in the context of conservation of the biodiversity and protection of the valuable natural areas in accordance with the Development Strategy of Lviv Region by 2027.


Parasitology ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 140 (7) ◽  
pp. 821-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
EMANUELE BRIANTI ◽  
GABRIELLA GAGLIO ◽  
ETTORE NAPOLI ◽  
LUIGI FALSONE ◽  
SALVATORE GIANNETTO ◽  
...  

SUMMARYMetastrongyloids of cats are emerging pathogens that may cause fatal broncho-pulmonary disease. Infestation of definitive hosts occurs after ingestion of intermediate or paratenic hosts. Among metastrongyloids of cats, Troglostrongylus brevior and Troglostrongylus subcrenatus (Strongylida: Crenosomatidae) have recently been described as agents of severe broncho-pulmonary disease. Here, we provide, for the first time, observational evidence suggesting the direct transmission of T. brevior from queen cat to suckling kittens. This new knowledge will have a significant impact on current scientific information of this parasite and shed new light into the biology and epidemiology of metastrongyloid nematodes.


Aquaculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 529 ◽  
pp. 735620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Otomar Linhart ◽  
Yu Cheng ◽  
Marek Rodina ◽  
David Gela ◽  
Vladimíra Tučková ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 185 ◽  
pp. S76
Author(s):  
Emanuel Magdici ◽  
Catalin Emilian Nistor ◽  
Ionut Bogdan Pagu ◽  
Gabriel Vasile Hoha ◽  
Bogdan Vlad Avarvarei ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document