The Introduction of a Marine Species Atherina boyeri into Bayramiç Reservoir, Çanakkale

Abstract

This study reports the first recorded instance of Atherina boyeri (Risso, 1810) in the Bayramiç Reservoir, located on the Karamenderes Stream. Since 2005, ichthyological researches have been carried out in the Bayramiç Reservoir by various researchers, but none of them have noted the existence of A. boyeri in this reservoir. In the field studies conducted between May 2016 and July 2017, a total of 98 A. boyeri specimens was caught. In these samplings, a 70 m long and 2 m wide beach seine net with 10 mm a mesh size was used. Although a small number of A. boyeri was caught during the first observation in October 2016, more individuals were observed in July 2017. The fork length of the A. boyeri observed was between 2.7-8.8 cm and the weight ranged between 0.06-4.31 g. The bimodal length distribution of the specimens indicates that there have been multiple incidents of adult specimens entering the reservoir and that these individuals have given birth to new offspring. The translocation of A. boyeri into the Bayramiç Reservoir might have been due to unauthorized introduction by fishermen or through illegal release by anglers as fish bait. However, the distribution map of A. boyeri in inland waters in Turkey shows significant overlap with the migration routes of big waterfowl. The waterfowl might partially be responsible for the spread of the adult specimens across short distances.

Length-Weight Relationship, Condition Factor, and Gonadosomatic Index of Endemic Alburnus istanbulensis (Battalgil, 1941) in Two Different Habitats: Karamenderes River and Bayramiç Reservoir (Çanakkale, Turkey)

“…The occurrence of the alien species Atherina boyeri was reported in the previous study at the Bayramiç Reservoir (Partal et al, 2019). It is known that A. boyeri species are distributed in the pelagic zone in reservoir/lake habitats (Kottelat & Freyhof, 2007).…”

First record of economically important big-scale sand smelt (Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810, Pisces: Atherinidae) with some biological parameters from Reyhanlı Dam Lake, Türkiye

“…A. boyeri is tolerant of a wide range of salinities which expand their habitats to different environments from coastal estuarine waters to freshwater habitats (Freyhof & Kottelat, 2008). The presence of A. boyeri in several freshwater environments in Türkiye has been reported previously (Kırankaya et al 2014;Saç et al 2015;Apaydın Yağcı et al 2015;Gençoğlu & Ekmekçi 2016;Ünlü et al 2017;Partal et al 2019;Ağdamar et al 2021;Kale et al 2022).…”

How does a reservoir affect the fish assemblage structure in a Mediterranean River (Turkey)?

“…The introduced species such as C. gibelio , G. holbrooki , C. carpio , and E. lucius were recorded both in the reservoir and the entire river, while A. boyeri and S. glanis were found at only the reservoir sites. These species were intentionally and unintentionally introduced in the Bayramiç Reservoir (Partal et al, 2019; Yalçın Özdilek, 2008). The related literature reports that A. boyeri opts for lentic systems (Kottelat & Freyhof, 2007); however, S. glanis might not have found the viable conditions and adequate amount of time to move to the other sites.…”

“…A few studies have focused on the reservoir‐induced fractionation of fish communities in extensive river systems (Falke & Gido, 2006) and very few have studied the impacts of reservoirs on the fragmentation of fish communities in small‐ and medium‐sized Mediterranean rivers in terms of homogenization (Petesse & Petrere, 2012; Rahel, 2002; Scott & Helfman, 2001) and facilitated invasion (Johnson et al, 2008; Marchetti & Moyle, 2001; Propst & Gido, 2004). There are many studies on introduction and establishment of invasive species in reservoir conditions in Turkey (Erdogan, Torcu Koc, Gungor, & Ulunehir, 2014; Karakuş, Ağdamar, Tarkan, & Özdemir, 2013; Kırankaya & Ekmekçi, 2013; Partal, Yalçın Özdilek, & Ekmekçi, 2019; Tarkan, Gaygusuz, Gürsoy Gaygusuz, Saç, & Copp, 2012; Yalçın Özdilek, Kırankaya, & Ekmekçi, 2013) and also in Mediterranean (Alcaraz, Caiola, Ibáñez, & Reyes, 2014; Clavero, Hermoso, Aparicio, & Godinho, 2013; Hermoso, Clavero, Blanco‐Garrido, & Prenda, 2011). The studies address the role of the reservoirs on facilitation invasive process such as introductions, establishment and expansion for the Mediterranean Region.…”