Parasite fauna of native and non-native populations of Neogobius melanostomus (Gobiidae) in the longitudinal profile of the Danube River
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2011 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Journal of Applied Ichthyology |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Ecology |
| Keywords | Neogobius; Danube; introduced species; parasite |
| Description | Parasite fauna of round goby Neogobius melanostomus in the Danube River was investigated in both the native range (two sites in Bulgarian stretch of the Danube) and the non-native range of its distribution (Croatian, Slovak and Austrian stretches) during 2005 and 2006. The aim was to identify possible changes in parasite community associated with the introduction of a host into the new environment. A total of 29 metazoan parasite species were found to parasitize round goby in the Danube River. Out of them, twelve parasite species occurred in both the native and non-native range of round goby distribution. Introduction of a novel parasite species to the non-native range via round goby was not found. Eight parasite species occurred only in the native range and nine species occurred only in the non-native range of the round goby distribution. Loss of native parasite species in non-native round goby populations and/or acquiring of novel parasite species in new environment were not significant. Thirteen parasite taxa were recorded in round gobies for the first time. Three parasite taxa (Diplostomum spp., Pomphorhynchus laevis and Raphidascaris acus) occurred at each sampling site in both the native and non-native range in high prevalence and abundance. Parasite species diversity was assessed for each sampling site and season using three diversity indices (Shannon, Simpson and Equitability index) with the highest values found in non-native site in Slovakia (1.38, 0.69 and 0.60, respectively) and the lowest values found in one of the native sites in Bulgaria (0.28, 0.12 and 0.14, respectively, for the same season). Species diversity was higher in both non-native round goby populations (Slovak and Austrian) compared to native Bulgarian populations. However, diversity indices values varied among almost all sampling sites. |
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