Neogobius melanostomus (round goby)
Index
- Pictures
- Identity
- Summary of Invasiveness
- Taxonomic Tree
- Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Description
- Distribution
- Distribution Table
- History of Introduction and Spread
- Introductions
- Risk of Introduction
- Habitat
- Habitat List
- Biology and Ecology
- Climate
- Latitude/Altitude Ranges
- Water Tolerances
- Natural enemies
- Notes on Natural Enemies
- Means of Movement and Dispersal
- Pathway Causes
- Pathway Vectors
- Impact Summary
- Economic Impact
- Environmental Impact
- Threatened Species
- Social Impact
- Risk and Impact Factors
- Uses
- Uses List
- Prevention and Control
- References
- Links to Websites
- Contributors
- Distribution Maps
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Top of pagePreferred Scientific Name
- Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1814)
Preferred Common Name
- round goby
Other Scientific Names
- Apollonia melanostomus (Illin, 1927)
- Gobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1811)
International Common Names
- English: black spotted goby
- Spanish: gobio de boca negra
Local Common Names
- Denmark: sortmundet kutling
- Germany: Shwarzmund Grundel
- Netherlands: zwartbekgrondel
- Russian Federation: bychok-krugyak
- Sweden: svartmunnad smörbult
Summary of Invasiveness
Top of pageN. melanostomus, a small (up to 25 cm length) benthic species of Ponto-Caspian origin, is one of the most successful fish invaders of the recent decades. Since its first recording outside the natural range i.e. in the Moskva River in the 1980s, the species has inhabited several countries in Europe (Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Germany, Estonia, the Netherlands) as well as the Great Lakes of North America. The ballast-water transport and possibly as eggs attached to ship hulls and barges are the most probable vectors of N. melanostomus transmission. Other human-mediated factors like alteration of natural freshwater and marine habitats e.g. rip-rap river bank, artificial reefs (wave breakers), industrial harbours, dam reservoirs, seem to promote its establishment in newly invaded areas. N. melanostomus possesses many biological attributes that facilitate its invasion i.e. broad native range, wide tolerance for environmental conditions (euryhaline species), habitat generalist, opportunistic feeder, early maturation, multiple spawning during prolonged breeding season, male care for eggs deposited in shelter, aggressive behaviour. N. melanostomus ability to survive in harsh conditions, also in degraded environments, has helped to increase its competitive advantage compared to native species. The invasion of N. melanostomus resulted in varied alteration of ecosystem processes e.g. the diet shift among predators and changes in food web structure was noted in the Gulf of Gdansk (the Baltic Sea); in the Great Lakes the recruitment failure of some native species and consequently decline of their population coincided with N. melanostomus presence. N. melanostomus is a voracious predator that feeds on variety of invertebrate benthic organisms, fish eggs, but predominantly on molluscs (e.g. zebra and quagga mussel) that are known to accumulate persistent contaminants from the sediment. As many native game and commercial fish species prey on N. melanostomus the greater bioaccumulation of toxins such as PCBs in the food chain is possible and the fish diet of humans is a health concern.
Taxonomic Tree
Top of page- Domain: Eukaryota
- Kingdom: Metazoa
- Phylum: Chordata
- Subphylum: Vertebrata
- Class: Actinopterygii
- Order: Perciformes
- Suborder: Gobioidei
- Family: Gobiidae
- Genus: Neogobius
- Species: Neogobius melanostomus
Notes on Taxonomy and Nomenclature
Top of pageThe subfamily Goibionellinae (Nelson, 1994), was previously labelled Benthophilinae. Based on results of electrophoretic studies, Dobrovolov et al. (1995) suggested a rearrangement of Gobiidae that moved Neogobius melanostomus to Apollonia melanostomus. The specific epithet melanostomus means ‘black-mouthed’ from the Greek melanos, black, and soma, mouth, but might be thought to refer to the conspicuous black spot typically present on the first dorsal fin (Pinchuk et al., 2003).
Description
Top of pageN. melanostomus is small, up to 25 cm in total length. Its pelvic fins form a very characteristic suction disc on the ventral surface. The pelvic disc is 0.6-0.8 times the abdomen length. The body is scaled on the parietal region, nape, back, throat, abdomen, pectoral fin peduncles, and one quarter of the gill covers. The head is wide (as or wider than deep) and relatively big (22-23% of body length). Eyes are large and protrude slightly from the top of the head. The angle of the jaw is below the anterior quarter of the eye. The lower jaw is not prominent. The anterior dorsal fin has 5-7 spines, usually 6, and the posterior dorsal fin has one spine and 13-16 soft rays. The anal fin has one spine and 11-14 soft rays. The pectoral fins have 17-20 soft rays. N. melanostomus lacks a gas bladder and chemoreceptors. Neuromasts are present throughout the body and head. N. melanostomus lacks a visible lateral line. Males are larger than females. Both sexes have an erectile urogenital papilla between the anus and the base of the anal fin. Coloration: yellowish-grey, with lateral blotches; first dorsal fin with large black spot in posterior part; breeding males are almost black and their median fins are more elongated and white-edged (Pinchuk et al., 2003).
Distribution
Top of pageN. melanostomus is widely distributed throughout the Ponto-Caspian basins, in freshwater, estuarine and coastal habitats. It is found in the Sea of Azov, the Caspian Sea, Black Sea and Sea of Marmara near Istanbul, Turkey. It also inhabits tributaries of Black and Caspian seas, including the Dniester River as far as the Smotrich River (near the city Kamenets-Podolsky, Ukraine); in the Prut River in the city Chernovtsy (Ukraine), the Southern Bug River in the city Lodizhino (Ukraine); in the Dnieper River in the city Dnepropetrovsk (Ukraine); the Don River in the city Rostov (Russia); in the Volga River to the Volgograd Reservoir (lower reach of the river) but since 1968, it established also in the Kuybyshev Reservoir (middle stretch of the river) (Russia); the Ural River to the Sakma River (Pinchuk et al., 2003). The recent upstream expansion of the species has been observed in the Dniestr, Dniepr, Southern Bug, Volga rivers and its tributaries (Smirnov, 1986; Moskalova, 1996). In the Danube River it was found earlier as far as the town of Vidin (Bulgaria), but has recently spread upstream from the Iron Gate (Simonovic et al., 1998) and even farther reaching Vienna (Austria) (Wiesner et al., 2000).
Distribution Table
Top of pageThe distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.
Last updated: 17 Dec 2021Continent/Country/Region | Distribution | Last Reported | Origin | First Reported | Invasive | Reference | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asia |
|||||||
Azerbaijan | Present, Localized | Native | in rivers and lakes south of the country | ||||
Georgia | Present, Localized | Native | In the Black Sea | ||||
Iran | Present, Localized | Native | |||||
Kazakhstan | Absent, Formerly present | 1960 | Introduced to Aral Sea now reported as extinct | ||||
Turkey | Present, Localized | Native | in the Bosphorus, Sea of Marmara and some lakes | ||||
Turkmenistan | Present, Localized | Native | In Caspian Sea | ||||
Uzbekistan | Absent, Formerly present | 1960 | introduced to Aral Sea, now reported as extinct | ||||
Europe |
|||||||
Austria | Present, Localized | 2000 | Introduced | Invasive | in the Danube River | ||
Belarus | Present, Localized | 1998 | Introduced | Invasive | in the Dnieper River and Pripyat River | ||
Belgium | Present | Introduced | 2010 | ||||
Bulgaria | Present, Widespread | Native | |||||
Croatia | Present | Introduced | 1990 | ||||
Czechia | Present | Introduced | 2008 | ||||
Denmark | Present | Introduced | 2008 | ||||
Estonia | Present, Localized | 2002 | Introduced | Invasive | NE part of the Gulf of Riga (Baltic Sea) | ||
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia | Present, Localized | Native | Invasive | ||||
Finland | Present, Few occurrences | Introduced | Invasive | coastal waters of the Baltic Sea | |||
Germany | Present, Few occurrences | 1999 | Introduced | near Rugia Island and northern coast | |||
Hungary | Present, Localized | 2001 | Introduced | Invasive | in the Danube River | ||
Italy | Present | Introduced | 2012 | ||||
Latvia | Present | Introduced | 2004 | ||||
Lithuania | Present, Few occurrences | Introduced | Invasive | coastal waters of the Baltic Sea | |||
Netherlands | Present, Few occurrences | 2004 | Introduced | Invasive | The Lek River | ||
Norway | Present | Introduced | 1930 | ||||
Poland | Present, Localized | 1990 | Introduced | Invasive | coastal waters of the Baltic Sea; lower section of the Vistula River | ||
Romania | Present | Native | Black Sea coast and lagoons; the Danube River basin | ||||
Russia | Present | Native | Invasive | expand its previous natural distribution e.g. in the Volga River basin | |||
-Central Russia | Present, Localized | 1985 | Introduced | Invasive | the Moskva River; the Volgograd Reservoir | ||
-Southern Russia | Present, Widespread | Native | Invasive | native to the Caspian and Black seas; lower section of Volga and Don rivers | |||
Serbia | Present, Localized | 1997 | Introduced | Invasive | the Danube River basin | ||
Slovakia | Present, Localized | 2003 | Introduced | Invasive | the Danube River basin; Original citation: Stránai and , (2004) | ||
Sweden | Present | Introduced | 2008 | ||||
Ukraine | Present | Native | Invasive | Native to the Black Sea, lower section of the Dneiper River and Dniestr River; expand farther upstream up to Kiev. | |||
North America |
|||||||
Canada | Present | Present based on regional distribution. | |||||
-Ontario | Present, Localized | 1990 | Introduced | Invasive | St. Clair River, Detroit River | ||
United States | Present | Present based on regional distribution. | |||||
-Illinois | Present, Localized | 1993 | Introduced | Invasive | Calumet River, Lake Michigan | ||
-Indiana | Present | 1996 | Introduced | Invasive | Lake Michigan | ||
-Michigan | Present, Localized | 1990 | Introduced | Invasive | e.g. St Clair River, Lake Erie, Shiawassee River | ||
-Minnesota | Present | 1995 | Introduced | Invasive | Lake Superior | ||
-New York | Present | 1995 | Introduced | Invasive | Lake Ontario | ||
-Ohio | Present, Localized | 1993 | Introduced | Invasive | Lake Erie | ||
-Pennsylvania | Present | 1996 | Introduced | Invasive | Lake Erie |
History of Introduction and Spread
Top of pageIn the Baltic Sea basin N. melanostomus started its invasion probably from the late 1980s, when in 1990 few individuals 3-4 years old have been found for the first time in the Gulf of Gdansk (the Baltic Sea, Poland) (Skóra and Stolarski, 1993).The species soon spread along the Polish coast (Sapota, 2004) but also entered the Vistula River as far as 130km upstream from the mouth (Kostrzewa and Grabowski, 2002). It has been recently reported from several other places in the southern coastal waters of the Baltic Sea (Ojaveer, 2006) and in the North Sea basin (Van Beek, 2006). The most probable route of N. melanostomus migration to the southern part of Baltic Sea is the so-called northern corridor (Bij de Vaate et al., 2002) consisting the Volga River, Rybinsky Reservoir, lakes Ladoga and Onega connected by artificial canals with the Gulf of Finland (Sapota, 2004). Its introduction to the Baltic Sea is usually related to ballast-water transport (Sapota, 2004) and possibly as eggs attached to the hulls of barges. N. melanostomus invasion to the Baltic Sea was preceeded by its previous expansion in the Volga River system e.g. in the late 1980s it was found in the Moscow River basin (tributary of the upper stretch of the Volga) (Pinchuk et al., 2003).
Introductions
Top of pageIntroduced to | Introduced from | Year | Reason | Introduced by | Established in wild through | References | Notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Natural reproduction | Continuous restocking | |||||||
Austria | 2000 | Yes | No | Wiesner et al. (2000) | ||||
Belarus | Ukraine | 1998 | Yes | No | Gulugin and Kunitsky (1999) | |||
Canada | Eastern Europe | 1990 | Interbasin transfers (pathway cause) | Yes | No | Jude et al. (1992) | ||
Estonia | 2002 | Yes | No | Ojaveer (2006) | ||||
Finland | 2000s? | No | No | |||||
Germany | 1999 | Yes | No | Corkum et al. (2004) | ||||
Hungary | 2001 | Yes | No | Guti et al. (2003) | ||||
Lithuania | 2000s? | No | No | Ojaveer (2006) | ||||
Norway | 2004 | No | No | Beek GCWvan (2006) | ||||
Poland | Russian Federation | 1990 | Interbasin transfers (pathway cause); Interconnected waterways (pathway cause) | Yes | No | Sapota (2004); Skóra and Stolarski (1993) | ||
Slovakia | 2003 | Yes | No | |||||
USA | Eastern Europe | 1990 | Interbasin transfers (pathway cause) | Yes | No | Jude et al. (1992) |
Risk of Introduction
Top of pageThe further expansion of N. melanostomus to Western Europe may be expected from the Danube River through system of canals that connect it with the main river (the right tributary of the Rhine River, the North Sea basin). The other route to the west and north of Europe is possiblly along the Baltic and North Sea coasts. N.melanostomus spread may be due to natural migration combined with passive dispersal by ships and barges.
In North America N. melanostomus has already spread into an inland river in Ontario (Running Creek) and down the Chicago Sanitary and Shipping Canal en route to the Mississippi River (Charlebois et al., 2001).
Habitat
Top of pageN. melanostomus is a benthic euryhaline species, inhabiting freshwaters of rivers and lakes to brackish polyhaline salinities. In the Black Sea it is found in coastal shallows on stony or sandy bottom and mussel beds at depths of 1.5-20m, being particularly abundant in shallow bays and estuaries coinciding with the distribution of Dreissena sp. (Pinchuk et al., 2003). In the Gulf of Gdansk it inhabits also softer well vegetated substrates, but artificial reefs (wave breakers), piers, rocky and stony areas are the most favourable (Sapota and Skóra, 2005). In the Danube River, N. melanostomus occurred in the highest numbers on gravel-rocky and stony substrates (Jurajda et al., 2005) and in industrial harbours (Wiesner, 2005). In the Great Lakes systemN. melanostomus is typically confined to lakes and connected channels or navigational waterways (Corkum et al., 2004), mostly found on pebbles with aquatic macrophytes from shallows to 7m depth, but also on sandy bottoms (Charlebois et al., 1997).
Habitat List
Top of pageCategory | Sub-Category | Habitat | Presence | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
Multiple | ||||
Littoral | Coastal areas | Principal habitat | Natural | |
Freshwater | ||||
Freshwater | Lakes | Secondary/tolerated habitat | Harmful (pest or invasive) | |
Freshwater | Lakes | Secondary/tolerated habitat | Natural | |
Freshwater | Reservoirs | Principal habitat | Harmful (pest or invasive) | |
Freshwater | Rivers / streams | Principal habitat | Harmful (pest or invasive) | |
Freshwater | Rivers / streams | Principal habitat | Natural | |
Brackish | ||||
Brackish | Estuaries | Principal habitat | Natural | |
Brackish | Lagoons | Principal habitat | Natural | |
Marine | ||||
Marine | Inshore marine | Principal habitat | Harmful (pest or invasive) | |
Marine | Inshore marine | Principal habitat | Natural | |
Marine | Benthic zone | Principal habitat | Harmful (pest or invasive) | |
Marine | Benthic zone | Principal habitat | Natural |
Biology and Ecology
Top of pageGenetics
N. melanostomus possesses 46 acrocentric chromosomes (Pinchuk et al., 2003). The species has a relatively low level of genetic variability (Charlebois et al., 1997; Pinchuk et al., 2003). The genetics of this species have been extensively studied, see Brown and Stepien (2008) for further details.
Reproductive Biology
In the Ponto-Caspian region (in the native population of N. melanostomus) males become mature during the third year of life and females are mature at the age of two. Fecundity ranges from 200 to 5221 eggs depending on female size. The pale yellow to orange pyriform eggs are about 3.9 by 2.8 mm. They are described as oligoplastic and polylecithal, rich in protein and lipid. The breeding season is prolonged and can last from April to September. Females can spawn up to six times during breeding period. Eggs are deposited in a net on the underside of different structures e.g. rocks, logs, roots, in beer cans, empty shells of molluscs etc, and the nest is defended by the male. Several females may deposit eggs in the same site. Sound production features in the courtship and territorial behaviour is reported for both sexes. Size under hatching is 5.5-5.7 mm. Larvae resemble adults at hatching and appear to be benthic, since they have no swim bladder (Pinchuk et al., 2003).
N. melanostomus from new colonized areas (Baltic Sea, Great Lakes) tend to be smaller, mature earlier at a smaller size compared with the populations in native range. Dwarf morphs are observedwhich direct more energy to reproduction than the normal morphs in native populations (Corkum at al., 2004).
Physiology and Phenology
N. melanostomus is eurythermal and euryhaline species. It can withstand very low level of dissolved oxygen. Overall, the species has wide tolerance of several environmental abiotic factors that enhance its invasiveness. The primary diet of N. melanostomus includes molluscs, crustaceans, worms, fish eggs, small fish, and insect larvae (Pinchuk et al., 2003).
Associations
It is often reported as associated with Dreissena sp. both in native and invaded areas. In rocky substrate habitats, greater than 100 mm N. melanostomus feeds almost exclusively on zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha). In addition, since the invasion of quagga mussel (Dreissena bugensis), which tolerates deeper and cooler waters, another source of mussels may be available for N. melanostomus in deeper, soft regimented areas of the Great Lakes, where zebra mussels were prevented from colonizing because of lack of hard substrate (Jude, 1997).
Climate
Top of pageClimate | Status | Description | Remark |
---|---|---|---|
Cs - Warm temperate climate with dry summer | Preferred | Warm average temp. > 10°C, Cold average temp. > 0°C, dry summers | |
Ds - Continental climate with dry summer | Tolerated | Continental climate with dry summer (Warm average temp. > 10°C, coldest month < 0°C, dry summers) |
Latitude/Altitude Ranges
Top of pageLatitude North (°N) | Latitude South (°S) | Altitude Lower (m) | Altitude Upper (m) |
---|---|---|---|
40-60 |
Water Tolerances
Top of pageParameter | Minimum Value | Maximum Value | Typical Value | Status | Life Stage | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Dissolved oxygen (mg/l) | Optimum | 0.3-0.9 tolerated. The threshold value depending on the mass of fish. Tolerate low oxygenation | ||||
Salinity (part per thousand) | Optimum | 1-40.6 tolerated. A euryhaline species | ||||
Velocity (cm/h) | Optimum | Prefers rather stagnant waters or those of a slow flow | ||||
Water temperature (ºC temperature) | Optimum | -1-30 tolerated. A eurythermal species |
Natural enemies
Top of pageNatural enemy | Type | Life stages | Specificity | References | Biological control in | Biological control on |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ambloplites rupestris | Predator | Aquatic|Adult | not specific | Jude (1997) | ||
Anguillicoloides crassus | Parasite | not specific | Rolbiecki l (2006) | |||
Cryptocotyle concavum | Parasite | not specific | Kvach and Skóra (2007) | |||
Diplostomum spathaceum | Parasite | not specific | Kvach and Skóra (2007) | |||
Hysterothylacium aduncum | Parasite | not specific | Rolbiecki l (2006) | |||
Lota lota | Predator | Aquatic|Adult | not specific | Jude (1997) | ||
Micropterus dolomieu | Predator | Aquatic|Adult | not specific | Jude (1997) | ||
Morone chrysops | Predator | Aquatic|Adult | not specific | Corkum et al. (2004) | ||
Neochasmus umbellus | Parasite | Aquatic|Larval | not specific | Kvach and Stepien (2008) | ||
Noturus flavus | Predator | Aquatic|Adult | not specific | Jude (1997) | ||
Perca flavescens | Predator | Aquatic|Adult | not specific | Jude (1997) | ||
Phalacrocorax carbo | Predator | Aquatic|Adult | not specific | Bzoma and Stempniewicz (2001) | ||
Sander vitreus | Predator | Aquatic|Adult | not specific | Corkum et al. (2004) |
Notes on Natural Enemies
Top of pageIn the Great Lakes of North America N. melanostomus is a common prey of small bass (Micropterus dolomieu), rock bass (Ambloplites rupestris,) stonecat (Noturus flavus), burbot (Lota lota) and yellow perch (Perca flavescens), but is a minor component in the diet of walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) and white bass (Morone chrysops) (Jude,1997; Corkum et al., 2004).
Means of Movement and Dispersal
Top of pageThe dispersal of N. melanostomus in Europe may be thought as a combination of natural migration (continuation of postglacial colonization) encouraged by water transport e.g. ships and barges. The human-mediated alteration of river banks e.g. rip-rap habitats and the harbour’s other artificial substrates providing shelter, spawning areas as well as feeding grounds due to presence of zebra mussel beds seem to facilitate N. melanostomus establishment (Ahnelt et al.,1998; Wiesner, 2005). In the case of N. melanostomus invasion of the Baltic Sea ballast-water transport (Sapota, 2004) and possibly as eggs attached to the hulls of barges are the most probable vectors of transmission (Skóra and Stolarski, 1993). The existence of inter-basin connections through artificial canals that join the Black Sea and the Baltic Sea basins enabled N. melanostomus spread. Moreover, as the Danube River system (the Black Sea basin) is connected with rivers of the North Sea basin N. Melanostomus’s further expansion to the rest of Western Europe seems inevitable.
Pathway Causes
Top of pageCause | Notes | Long Distance | Local | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Interbasin transfers | Yes | Jude et al. (1992) | ||
Interconnected waterways | Yes | Yes | Pinchuk et al. (2003) |
Pathway Vectors
Top of pageVector | Notes | Long Distance | Local | References |
---|---|---|---|---|
Ship ballast water and sediment | In all stages of life | Yes | Yes | Corkum et al. (2004); Jude (1997) |
Ship hull fouling | Possibly as eggs | Yes | Yes | Corkum et al. (2004); Jude (1997); Jude et al. (1992) |
Impact Summary
Top of pageCategory | Impact |
---|---|
Economic/livelihood | Negative |
Environment (generally) | Negative |
Human health | Negative |
Economic Impact
Top of pageIn the Baltic Sea N. melanostomus is caught incidentally in eel traps (up to 50 kg/day/boat) but because there is no legalized trade of that species they have no commercial value for fishermen (Skóra, 1996; Charlebois et al., 1997). However, the species is becoming a popular sport fish on the Baltic coast. On the other hand N. melanostomus may negatively interfer with anglers activity as they remove bait from hooks and are caught instead of sport fish. Moreover N. melanostomus is a predator of eggs and juveniles of native game fish species. e.g. in the Great Lakes, reducing the hatching success of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) (Corkum et al., 2004).
Environmental Impact
Top of pageImpact on Habitats
The invasion of N. melanostomus has resulted in the diet shifts among predators and changes in food web structure e.g. in the Gulf of Gdansk (Baltic Sea, Poland), cormorants have shifted their diet from eel (Anguilla anguilla) and sprat (Spratus spratus) to N. melanostomus, resulting in increases in eel and sprat (Bzoma and Stempniewicz, 2001). Increase in planktivorous sprat have lead to a reduction of zooplankton and as a consequence increases in algal biomass have been noted.
As a molluscivore, N. melanostomus has been thought to be of potential use in the Great Lakes basin as a consumer of the introduced zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha), which became a serious problem for natural ecosystems and human activities. The zebra mussel is the main dietary component of larger N. melanostomus, while it is not or is rarely consumed by native fish species. The possible reduction of zebra mussel population due to predation is only partly advantageous for ecosystems because the entry of zebra mussel biomass into the food chain of N. melanostomus and their larger fish predators might transfer harmful pollutants into the higher trophic levels (Charlebois et al., 1997).
Kuhns and Berg (1999) reported that predation on invertebrates other than molluscs by N. melanostomus has led to increased algal biomass as measured by chlorophyll content.
Impact on Biodiversity
N. melanostomus negatively affects the recruitment of native fishes in the Great Lakes e.g. it feeds on eggs of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and lake sturgeon (Acipenser fluvescens) probably reducing their hatching success (Corkum et al., 2004). In the St. Clair River the decline of mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdi) coincided with presence of N. melanostomus (Janssen and Jude, 2001). Janssen and Jude (2001) indicated that recruitment failure of mottled sculpins resulted from spawning interference by N. melanostomus. The mechanism of this impact appears to be the aggressive nature of N. melanostomus which drives mottled sculpin from prime feeding, shelter, and especially spawning areas (Janssen and Jude, 2001). Another local species that may be at risk is the deepwater sculpin (Myoxocephalus thompsoni), whose habitats may be penetrated in winter by N. melanostomus (Jude, 1997).
In the southern coasts of the Baltic Sea N. melanostomus may compete for food with flounder (Platichthys flesus) and for space with other native Gobiidae (especially Pomatoschistus microps, Pomatoschistus minutus, Gobius niger) and the eelpout (Zoarces viviparous) (Corkum et al., 2004).
Researchers have suggested a possible link between N. melanostomus. and botulism, Clostridium botulinum type E, a disease of wild migratory birds (Corkum et al., 2004).
Threatened Species
Top of pageThreatened Species | Conservation Status | Where Threatened | Mechanism | References | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Villosa fabalis (rayed bean) | EN (IUCN red list: Endangered); National list(s); USA ESA listing as endangered species | USA | Predation | US Fish and Wildlife Service (2012) |
Social Impact
Top of pageRisk and Impact Factors
Top of page- Invasive in its native range
- Proved invasive outside its native range
- Has a broad native range
- Highly adaptable to different environments
- Is a habitat generalist
- Pioneering in disturbed areas
- Capable of securing and ingesting a wide range of food
- Highly mobile locally
- Benefits from human association (i.e. it is a human commensal)
- Fast growing
- Has high reproductive potential
- Gregarious
- Has high genetic variability
- Altered trophic level
- Conflict
- Damaged ecosystem services
- Modification of natural benthic communities
- Modification of nutrient regime
- Negatively impacts human health
- Negatively impacts livelihoods
- Negatively impacts aquaculture/fisheries
- Negatively impacts tourism
- Reduced native biodiversity
- Threat to/ loss of endangered species
- Threat to/ loss of native species
- Competition - monopolizing resources
- Competition (unspecified)
- Interaction with other invasive species
- Parasitism (incl. parasitoid)
- Predation
- Rapid growth
- Highly likely to be transported internationally accidentally
- Highly likely to be transported internationally illegally
- Difficult/costly to control
Uses
Top of pageEconomic Value
N. melanostomus used to be an important component of the commercial catch in the Black Sea and Azov Sea areas. The massive decline in N. melanostomus stocks between the 1960s and 1989 resulted in decline in a commercial fishery (Pinchuk et al., 20003). In newly invaded areas there is no commercial value for N. melanostomus.
Uses List
Top of pageAnimal feed, fodder, forage
- Bait/attractant
Human food and beverage
- Meat/fat/offal/blood/bone (whole, cut, fresh, frozen, canned, cured, processed or smoked)
Prevention and Control
Top of pageDue to the variable regulations around (de)registration of pesticides, your national list of registered pesticides or relevant authority should be consulted to determine which products are legally allowed for use in your country when considering chemical control. Pesticides should always be used in a lawful manner, consistent with the product's label.
Prevention
References
Top of pageNelson JS, 1994. Fishes of the world. Fishes of the world., Ed. 3:xvii + 600 pp.
Distribution References
CABI, Undated. Compendium record. Wallingford, UK: CABI
CABI, Undated a. CABI Compendium: Status inferred from regional distribution. Wallingford, UK: CABI
Links to Websites
Top of pageWebsite | URL | Comment |
---|---|---|
CRS Report for Congress: Harmful Non-Native Species | http://www.nsceonline.org/ | |
Culprit-Great Lakes Goby | http://www.culprit.com/html/great_lakes_goby.html | |
Fish of Great Lakes by the Wisconsin Sea Grant | http://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/greatlakesfish | |
The North European and Baltic Network on Invasive Alien Species | http:// www.nobanis.org/ |
Contributors
Top of page28/04/08 Original text by:
Joanna Grabowska, University of Lodz, Dept Invertebrate Zoology & Hydrobiology, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland
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