Parasite fauna of native and non-native populations of Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1814) (Gobiidae) in the longitudinal profile of the Danube River

Abstract

Parasite fauna of round goby Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1814) in the Danube River was investigated in both its native range (two sites in the Bulgarian stretch of the Danube) and non-native range of distribution (Croatian, Slovak and Austrian stretches) during 2005 and 2006. The aim was to identify possible changes in parasite communities 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; twelve of these parasite species were found in both the native and non-native range of distribution. Introduction of a novel parasite species to the non-native range via the round goby was not found. Eight parasite species occurred only in the native range and nine species only in the non-native range of the round goby distribution. Losses of native parasite species in non-native round goby populations and ⁄ or acquiring of novel parasite species in a new environment were not significant. Thirteen parasite taxa were recorded for the first time in round gobies. Three parasite taxa (Diplostomum spp., Pomphorhynchus laevis and Raphidascaris acus) were found in high prevalence and abundance at each sampling site in both the native and non-native range. Parasite species diversity was assessed for each sampling site and season using three diversity indices (the Shannon, Simpson and Equitability indices), with the highest same-season values found in a non-native site in Slovakia (1.38, 0.69 and 0.60, respectively) and the lowest in a native site in Bulgaria (0.28, 0.12 and 0.14, respectively). 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.

Infection rates and prevalence of metazoan parasites of the non-native round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in the Baltic Sea

“…Digenean trematode larvae of the species Diplostomum spp. have been observed as the most prevalent parasites in many previous studies in the Baltic Sea (Kvach & Skóra, 2006;Kvach & Winkler, 2011;Kvach et al, 2014; Table 7), as well as, other native and non-native areas (Kvach & Skóra, 2006;Kvach & Stepien, 2008;Francová et al, 2011;Gendron et al, 2012). In this study, it was found to be the most common parasite with the highest prevalence and intensity in Muuga and Mariehamn (Table 3), but absent from the two other sites.…”

“…Conversely, the racer goby (Babka gymnotrachelus, Kessler, 1857) has lower parasite richness in the native than in the invasive range (Kvach et al, 2014). Many previous results, in addition to the above, show that the round goby may be benefitting from decreased parasite load, supporting the enemy release hypothesis (ERH) (Kvach, 2001;Kvach & Skóra, 2006;Francová et al, 2011;Emde et al, 2012).…”

“…This is despite the fact that H. aduncum does occur quite commonly in the area and has been recorded in native goby species (Zander, 2003). The acanthocephalans Echinorhynchus gadi and Pomphorhynchus laevis, which were found in Palanga (Table 4), are also common species reported for the round goby in the Baltic Sea, as well as, other brackish and freshwater native and non-native areas (Kvach & Skóra, 2006;Francová et al, 2011; Table 7). Hysterothylacium aduncum and E. gadi are both fish parasites of marine origin which are commonly found in eelpout (Zoarces viviparus L., 1758) and cod (Gadus morhua L., 1758), but can also be found in other fish species (Fagerholm, 1982;Valtonen, 2012).…”

Parasitic infections of two invasive fish species, the Caucasian dwarf goby and the Amur sleeper, in Hungary

“…Data on the parasite fauna of these gobies in Central Europe have been presented by Molnár (2000Molnár ( , 2006, Francová et al (2011) and Ondračková et al (2012). Endoparasitic helminths of the Amur sleeper in the Carpathian basin were studied by Košuthová et al (2004Košuthová et al ( , 2008Košuthová et al ( , 2009.…”

Untitled

“…This species was initially reported to be specific for only Proterorhinus marmoratus (Ergens, 1967). Later on, Zosterisessor ophiocephalus, Gobius cobitis, G. niger, Neogobius melanostomus and N. fluviatilis have also been reported as hosts of G. proterorhini (Naydenova, 1974;Dmitrieva and Gerasev, 1997;Ondrácková et al, 2005;Özer, 2007;Kvach and Oğuz, 2009;Francová et al, 2011;Mierzejewska et al, 2011). Considering Proterorhinus marmoratus, a PontoCaspian relict, is the main host of this parasite species, we can speculate of its first occurrence on Pomatoschistus marmoratus in the present study is an example of the host-switching of native species of parasites on the relatively "new" host of Mediterranean origin.…”