Parasite infection and condition status of Neogobius kessleri and N. melanostomus (Gobiidae) in their native and non-native area of the Danube River distribution
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| Year of publication | 2007 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | Parasite infection and four different condition indices were analyzed in native and introduced populations of bighhead goby Neogobius kessleri and round goby N. melanostomus. Parasite species richness and mean abundance were higher in bighead goby in both native and introduced populations. In spring the parasite species richness was significantly higher in introduced fish whereas total parasite abundance reached higher values in native fish. In autumn, no differences were found for parasite infection, but higher values of hepatosomatic index in introduced fish and higher values of Fulton condition factor in both spring and autumn were observed in both goby species, indicating a better condition status before overwintering. Both male and female round gobies attained higher gonadosomatic index values in introduced population, indicating increased investment in round goby into reproduction in its new area of distribution. Differences in success of the introduction and establishment in the new area between the two fish species studied may be associated with a relatively low parasite infection, reduced investment into immune defence and higher gonadosomatic index in introduced populations of round goby in comparison to bighead goby |
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