Invasive fish species Neogobius melanostomus (Gobiidae) in the Danube River: parasite fauna and condition status in native and non-native area of distribution
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| Year of publication | 2008 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | We investigated community of metazoan parasites and condition status of round goby in three stretches of the River Danube - in Bulgaria (native population of round goby), Slovakia and Austria (introduced populations) - during 2005 and 2006. Introduction of parasite species non-native for the Slovak and Austrian sections of the Danube River together with round goby was not observed. Instead, introduced round goby has been infected with several new parasite species that are not known in its native population. Parasite abundance did not significantly differ between native and itintroduced goby populations. Comparison of condition indices revealed better condition status of round goby in the areas of its introduction, but no relationship between condition indices values and parasite abundance was observed. Therefore, parasitism is not considered to be a significant factor affecting better condition status and expansion of round goby in the middle Danube River. |
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