<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The recent expansion of the round goby (<italic>Neogobius melanostomus</italic>) in tributaries of the lower Danube (Bulgaria) prompted assessing potential negative effects on local fish fauna such as competition for food resources. Diet overlap between the round goby and native fishes was analyzed using samples of fishes and macroinvertebrates collected monthly for a one-year period. Significant dietary overlap between <italic>N. melanostomus</italic> and <italic>Barbus petenyi</italic>, <italic>Perca fluviatilis</italic>, <italic>Gobio gobio</italic>, <italic>Vimba vimba</italic>, and <italic>Neogobius fluviatilis</italic> was observed. Dietary overlap in the Iskar River was found to be considerable mainly in the spring months. Conversely, overlap in the Vit River was observed during summer and late fall. The main reason for the overlap noted was the preference for Chironomidae and Hydropsychidae larvae and Gammaridae. The results suggest that there is potential for competition between the round goby and native fish species inhabiting the tributaries of the Danube. Potentially harmful effects on rare, protected fish species in the area are discussed.</p>
</abstract>

The recent expansion of the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in tributaries of the lower Danube (Bulgaria) prompted assessing potential negative effects on local fish fauna such as competition for food resources. Diet overlap between the round goby and native fishes was analyzed using samples of fishes and macroinvertebrates collected monthly for a one-year period. Significant dietary overlap between N. melanostomus and Barbus petenyi, Perca fluviatilis, Gobio gobio, Vimba vimba, and Neogobius fluviatilis was observed. Dietary overlap in the Iskar River was found to be considerable mainly in the spring months. Conversely, overlap in the Vit River was observed during summer and late fall. The main reason for the overlap noted was the preference for Chironomidae and Hydropsychidae larvae and Gammaridae. The results suggest that there is potential for competition between the round goby and native fish species inhabiting the tributaries of the Danube. Potentially harmful effects on rare, protected fish species in the area are discussed.

Trophic niche overlap between non-indigenous round goby, <italic>Neogobius melanostomus</italic>, and native fishes in tributaries of the lower Danube River (Bulgaria)

Department of General and Applied Hydrobiology

Biological faculty, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”

Fisheries & Aquatic Life

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Trophic niche overlap between non-indigenous round goby, , and native fishes in tributaries of the lower Danube River (Bulgaria)

The recent expansion of the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in tributaries of the lower Danube (Bulgaria) prompted assessing potential negative effects on...

Trophic niche overlap between non-indigenous round goby, Neogobius melanostomus, and native fishes in tributaries of the lower Danube River (Bulgaria)

Published Online: Jun 14, 2022

Page range: 1 - 13

Received: Jan 31, 2022

Accepted: Mar 29, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aopf-2022-0001

Keywords
native fishes, invasive round goby, diet overlap, competition, Danube tributaries

© 2022 Eliza Uzunova et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Trophic niche overlap between non-indigenous round goby, Neogobius melanostomus, and native fishes in tributaries of the lower Danube River (Bulgaria)

Published Online: Jun 14, 2022

Page range: 1 - 13

Received: Jan 31, 2022

Accepted: Mar 29, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aopf-2022-0001

Keywordsnative fishes, invasive round goby, diet overlap, competition, Danube tributaries

© 2022 Eliza Uzunova et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
native fishes, invasive round goby, diet overlap, competition, Danube tributaries