The Invasive Round Goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in the Diet of Nestling Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) in Hamilton Harbour, Lake Ontario

Occupation, body size and sex ratio of round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in established and newly invaded areas of an Ontario river

“…However, strong inferences about behaviour, gender, and the patterns of range expansion cannot be drawn without also examining the influence of microhabitat selection by individuals, alternative reproductive strategies, the effect of predation [e.g. smallmouth bass (Steinhart et al, 2004) and cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus; Somers et al, 2003)], propagule pressure during an invasion, the magnitude of environmental disturbance (MacDougall & Turkington, 2005), and abiotic factors (Moyle & Light, 1996) that can aid or restrict population spread (e.g. Argentinean ants, Holway, 1998).…”

Eating the Invaders: The Prevalence of Round Goby (Apollonia melanostomus) in the Diet of Double-Crested Cormorants on the Niagara River

“…Published accounts do not clearly document significant mortality and losses due to cormorant predation but provide correlations between cormorant abundance and reduction in game fish stocks (Collis et al 2001;Derby et al 1997;Elrod et al 1997;Ross et al 1995). Several other studies indicate that cormorants likely had little impact on sport-fish populations (Somers et al 2003;Diana et al 1997;Karwowski et al 1994;Craven et al 1987). Many investigations have shown that cormorants are opportunistic foragers and that their diet will change with shifts in forage populations (Collis et al 2002;Neuman et al 1997;Ross et al 1995).…”

Demography and substrate affinity of the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in Hamilton Harbour

“…Aging studies are currently underway to test this suggestion. Studies have shown that predators such as smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus), and water snakes (Nerodia sipedon insularum) have begun to consume round gobies (King et al, 2006;Somers et al, 2003;Steinhart et al, 2004b). The strongest declines in round goby abundance were observed on boulders near a large colony of water birds (e.g., double-crested cormorants, Caspian terns, Hydroprogne caspia, ring-billed gulls, Larus delawarensis, and herring gulls, Larus argentatus).…”