Ecological plasticity of tubenose goby, a small invader in South Moravian waters

Abstract

The western tubenose goby Proterorhinus semilunaris, an invasive Ponto-Caspian fish species, has established populations in a wide range of habitat types in the Dyje/Morava river basin (Danube basin; Czech Republic). In this study, we assessed tubenose goby tolerance to environmental variables potentially contributing to its spread and performance in new habitats. Of the seven aquatic habitats examined (lowland rivers, brooks, backwaters, oxbow lakes, borrow pits, reservoirs and carp aquaculture ponds), all except small brooks proved suitable for survival and reproduction, with habitat size the only limiting factor. Diet analysis indicated chironomid larvae as preferred prey, though tubenose gobies were able to switch to other food items under specific conditions (e.g. high macrozoobenthos density), suggesting feeding plasticity. Fish condition was positively correlated with individual diet range, but not with parasite burden. Eighteen metazoan parasite taxa were identified, greatly exceeding the known parasite fauna from the species' native range. Parasite species richness decreased significantly with fish host dominance. Foraging plasticity, the ability to occupy different habitats and cope with parasitism observed in this study all may have important implications for tubenose goby dispersal success and invasiveness.

The importance of rip-rap for round goby invasion success – a field habitat manipulation experiment

“…Indeed, this is what we expected based on the shift in dominance observed when round goby first entered the system (Šlapanský et al 2017(Šlapanský et al , Roche et al 2020. Cartwright et al (2019), in a recent laboratory-based study, were able to demonstrate that while tubenose goby were habitat generalists, they did spend more time in vegetation (see also Janáč et al 2012, Ondračková et al 2019, and that they would spend more time defending plant shelters than rock shelters, particularly against other tubenose gobies, with the result that the "resident" fish usually won.…”

Tubenose goby – a discreet invader from the past goes higher

“…The River Váh is a non-navigable river, and due to many transverse barriers, active upstream migration is virtually impossible. The most likely explanation is a release of live fish used as baitfish by anglers, or unintentional introduction with fish stocks (Prášek & Jurajda 2005, Ondračková et al 2019.…”

“…vegetation cover, presence of predators). Moreover, this population was able to cope with parasitic diseases with no effect on the fish condition (Ondračková et al 2019).…”

“…Moreover, the tubenose goby also exhibits high feeding plasticity; it can opportunistically utilize available resources and is able to switch to other food items under specific conditions (e.g. high macrozoobenthos density; Ondračková et al 2019, Tarkan et al 2019.…”

“…This species also shows high plasticity in habitat use and thus is able to occupy a variety of habitats, including lakes, estuaries, rivers, streams, canals and backwaters, or even peatbogs (Botta et al 1981, Kottelat & Freyhof 2007, Ondračková et al 2019, Top et al 2019. It is able to cope with various habitat parameters, such as rip-rap bank, mud, overhanging vegetation and littoral aquatic vegetation, slow flowing water or no current, rich in submerged vegetation, shallow littoral areas, alluvial habitats and warmer water (Lusk & Halačka 1995, Naseka et al 2005, von Landwüst 2006, Koščo et al 2014.…”