Interspecific Resource Competition between the Invasive Round Goby and Three Native Species: Logperch, Slimy Sculpin, and Spoonhead Sculpin

Abstract

The invasive round goby Apollonia melanostomus (formerly Neogobius melanostomus) has negatively affected benthic fish communities throughout the Great Lakes. In this study, we compared the sensory physiology and behavior of three native species-slimy sculpin Cottus cognatus, spoonhead sculpin C. ricei, and logperch Percina caprodes-with those of the round goby to determine the mechanisms that allow the round goby to dominate native fish. The reaction and strike distances of the four species were examined during predator-prey trials using natural amphipod prey Gammarus spp. under varying light intensities (0-130 lx) to compare input from the mechanosensory lateral line and visual systems. Trials in the dark (0 lx) indicated that the sculpins and the round goby had similar lateral line sensitivity. However, all three native species had a significant advantage in reaction and strike distance over the round goby at higher light intensities. Interspecific resource competition was assessed by pairing a round goby with a native fish in an artificial stream. Round gobies gained significantly more weight than the native fishes during all trials. Slimy sculpins were able to maintain their weight in the presence of the round goby; however, spoonhead sculpins and logperch lost a significant amount of weight during the trials. These experiments indicate that although the round goby does not possess an inherent sensory advantage, it can dominate resources and outcompete native fish. Thus, round gobies may pose risks for a wide variety of native benthic fishes.

Competitive interactions for food resources between invasive racer goby Babka gymnotrachelus and native European bullhead Cottus gobio

“…The round goby has a welldeveloped lateral line system (Jude et al 1995), which is better than that of the mottled sculpin, enabling them to forage efficiently under low or no light conditions. However, an experimental study has revealed that round goby do not possess enhanced visual and lateral line systems compared to slimy sculpin Cottus cognatus and spoonhead sculpin Cottus ricei (Bergstrom and Mensinger 2009), and thus the alien species does not appear to have any physiological advantage during nocturnal foraging. Although it is unknown whether the same relationship holds for the racer goby and the European bullhead, our results suggest that the bullhead's noctural habits do not appear to protect the species from interference competition presented by the racer goby.…”

Can the presence of alien Ponto–Caspian gobies affect shelter use by the native European bullhead?

“…Some examples of competitive interactions between the alien round goby Neogobius melanostomus and native fish are documented in the Great Lakes (e.g. Dubs and Corkum 1996;Jude and DeBoe 1996;Janssen and Jude 2001;Balshine et al 2005;Bergstrom and Mensinger 2009). In European waters, where six alien goby species have been recorded so far (Copp et al 2005), their impact was tested in a few studies concerning mainly the racer goby Babka gymnotrachelus (Kakareko et al 2013;Jermacz et al 2015;Grabowska et al 2016), except Van Kessel et al (2011) who studied four goby species.…”

Feeding in the dark: lateral-line-mediated prey detection in the peacock cichlid Aulonocara stuartgranti

“…This is especially important in fishes feeding in light-limited environments (Holland, 1978;Hara, 1993;MacIver et al, 2001;Bergstrom and Mensinger, 2009; reviewed by Webb et al, 2008). However, fishes rarely rely on input from only one sensory system and can modulate their responses to cues using several sensory modalities depending on behavioral demands and the sensory environment in which they are foraging (von der Emde and Bleckmann, 1998;New, 2002;Gardiner and Atema, 2007;Bassett and Montgomery, 2011).…”