Neogobius Melanostomus (Pallas, 1814) Lacking the Black Spot on the fi Rst Dorsal fi N – a Morphometric and Meristic Comparison
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Bulletin of Fish Biology Volume 16 Nos. 1/2 31.12.2016 1-14 Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1814) lacking the black spot on the fi rst dorsal fi n – a morphometric and meristic comparison Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1814) ohne schwarzen Fleck auf der ersten Rückenfl osse – ein morphologischer und meristischer Vergleich Mara Roß*, Iris Woltmann & Heiko Brunken Research Group Fish Ecology, City University of Applied Sciences Bremen, Neustadtswall 30, D-28199 Bremen, Germany *Corresponding author: [email protected] Summary: In 2014 a total of 488 specimens of round gobies was captured in the lower River Weser. These specimens exhibited two distinct pigmentation patterns of the fi rst dorsal fi n. Whereas in approximately 80 % of the individuals the characteristic large oblong black spot on the posterior part of the fi rst dorsal fi n was present, it was lacking in about 20 % of the specimens. This black spot is regarded as an important feature in species identifi cation. 200 voucher specimens, 100 individuals with spot and 100 lacking the typi- cal spot, were analyzed morphologically and meristically and compared statistically. Despite some scattered differences (i.e. ratio of preventral distance/standard length, the number of mid-lateral scales and number of mid-lateral scales of the caudal fi n) the two groups broadly corresponded. The results are consistent with fi ndings from invasive N. melanostomus in Lake Erie/North America, where a similar variation in pigmentation pattern was observed. Thus we assign the specimens of gobies exhibiting morphological characteristics of round gobies but lacking the black spot on the dorsal fi n to the species N. melanostomus. Keywords: Neogobius melanostomus, round goby, pigmentation, lacking black spot, fi rst dorsal fi n, lower River Weser Zusammenfassung: Im Jahr 2014 wurden in der Unterweser in Bremen 488 Schwarzmundgrundeln gefangen. Die Individuen wiesen zwei verschiedene Pigmentierungsmuster der ersten Dorsale auf. Etwa 80 % der Individuen hatten den typischen, schwarzen Fleck am posterioren Ende der ersten Dorsale, bei etwa 20 % der Individuen fehlte dieses auffällige Merkmal. Bisher gilt der schwarze Fleck an der ersten Dorsale als eines der wesentlichen Merkmale für die Artbestimmung. 200 Belegexemplare, 100 mit Fleck und 100 ohne Fleck, wurden auf morphometrische und meristische Merkmale untersucht und mittels statistischer Analysen verglichen. Beide Gruppen wiesen eine große Übereinstimmung auf, geringe Unterschiede gab es z. B. bei Präventrallänge/Standardlänge oder der Anzahl der Schuppen entlang der mittleren Lateralebene. Die Ergebnisse stimmen mit den Resultaten einer Studie über N. melanostomus aus dem Eriesee in Nord- amerika überein, in dem auch Schwarzmundgrundeln ohne Fleck auf der ersten Dorsale gefunden wurden. Aufgrund der morphologischen Merkmale wurden die Grundeln ohne den schwarzen Fleck an der ersten Dorsale der Art Neogobius melanostomus zugeordnet. Schlüsselworte: Neogobius melanostomus, Schwarzmundgrundel, Pigmentierung, Färbung, fehlender schwarzer Fleck, erste Dorsalfl osse, Unterweser 1. Introduction brackish and freshwater ecosystems on both sides of the Northern Atlantic (CORKUM et al. The round goby, Neogobius melanostomus (Tele- 2004; LESLIE & TIMMINS 2004; KOTTELAT & ostei; Gobiidae), is native to the Ponto-Caspian FREYHOF 2007; KORNIS et al. 2012; HEMPEL & region (KOTTELAT & FREYHOF 2007, KORNIS THIEL 2013). Although the natural migration rate et al. 2012). Since the end of the 20th century appears to be limited and is reported to vary be- it has successfully colonized a wide range of tween < 1 km/yr (BERGSTROM et al. 2008) and Bull. Fish Biol. 16 (1/2) 1 30 km/yr (AZOUR et al. 2015), the actual dis- of N. melanostomus lacking such a black spot on persal rate outruns suggested natural spreading the fi rst dorsal fi n were reported in: (1) St. Clairs rates. Fast expansion of invasive N. melanostomus River/North America (total length < 9 mm, to non-native ecosystems is attributed to three LESLIE & TIMMINS 2004); (2) Lake Erie/North main factors: (1) interconnection of previously America (total length unknown) (CAVENDER et al. separated drainage systems; (2) ships acting 1996; MARSDEN et al. 1996) and (3) River Elbe/ as vectors by dispersal of eggs and larvae via Europe (a single adult specimen, total length = uptake and discharge of ballast water (BROWNS- 140 mm, HEMPEL & THIEL 2013). To our know- COMBE et al. 2012; KORNIS et al. 2012; BRANDNER ledge N. melanostomus lacking the black spot on et al. 2013a) and (3) artifi cial river regulations the fi rst dorsal fi n have not yet been recorded such as shoreline stabilization consisting of ri- in its native region. prap (BRANDNER et al. 2015). In Europe N. mela- In 2014 a total of 488 individuals of N. melan- nostomus initially invaded water systems in South- ostomus were captured by seine net fi shing in the Eastern Europe and Eastern-Central Europe lower River Weser at sampling sites characterized (e.g. the Baltic Sea, the upper River Danube and by sandy substrate. About a quarter of these the River Vistula) (CORKUM et al. 2004; SAPOTA specimens lacked a black spot on the posterior 2004; PAINTNER & SEIFERT 2006). Within a few part of fi rst dorsal fi n, whereas habitus, mor- years colonization extended westwards towards phological and meristic features supported an the North Sea basin (STEMMER 2008, BRUNKEN et identifi cation as N. melanostomus. al. 2012). Important milestones in colonization Beside N. melanostomus four other gobiid spe- of the round goby in German water systems cies have been recorded in the drainage basin refer to: (1) the fi rst record of N. melanostomus of the lower River Weser so far, i.e. the naked in the Baltic Sea close to the island of Rügen in goby – Gobiosoma bosc (THIEL et al. 2012), the ra- 1998 (NEHRING et al. 2010); (2) fi rst record in cer goby – Babka gymnotrachelus (MEYER, LAVES, the German part of the River Danube (PAINT- Dez. Binnenfi scherei, pers. comm. 2013), the NER & SEIFERT 2006); (3) records in the North common goby – Pomatoschistus microps and the Sea – Baltic Sea canal in 2007 (NEUKAMM o.J.); sand goby – Pomatoschistus minutus (SCHOLLE et (4) catches in the tidal River Elbe in 2008 (HEM- al. 2006). The monkey goby – Neogobius fl uviatilis, PEL & THIEL 2013); (5) records in the River Rhine the bighead goby – Ponticola kessleri (GÜNTHER in 2008 (STEMMER 2008); (6) the fi rst record of 1861) and the tube-nosed goby – Proterorhinus N. melanostomus in the lower River Weser in 2012 semilunaris are gobies that might co-occur with (BRUNKEN et al. 2012). the round goby (CORKUM et al. 2004) but have by Records of N. melanostomus in the lower now not been verifi ed in the lower River Weser. River Weser in 2012 were exclusively captured at In this study the question is addressed wheth- sampling sites characterized by shoreline stabili- er specimens of N. melanostomus lacking the zation elements consisting of riprap (BRUNKEN characteristic black spot on the fi rst dorsal fi n et al. 2012), which is known as the preferred exhibit the same morphological and meristical habitat of invasive round gobies (BRANDNER et features as individuals with the typical color al. 2013b). All specimens exhibited the typical pattern. morphological features for N. melanostomus, in- cluding the presence of a large black spot on the 2. Material and methods posterior part of the fi rst dorsal fi n (BRUNKEN et al. 2012). A total of 200 gobiid specimens, obtained A large black spot on the fi rst dorsal fi n is from the ichthyologic collection of the City regarded as characteristic feature of N. melan- University of Applied Sciences Bremen, were ostomus, when comparing invasive goby species analyzed. The specimens were captured by (PINCHUK et al. 2003a; KOTTELAT & FREYHOF seine net fi shing in the lower River Weser 2007; KORNIS et al. 2012). However, individuals in 2014 on habitats characterized by sandy 2 Fig. 1: Pigmentation pattern in the dorsal fi n of the gobiid voucher specimens obtained from the ichthyo- logic collection of the City University of Applied Sciences Bremen. a Specimens exhibiting a conspicuous black spot on the posterior part of dorsal fi n. b Individual lacking a black spot on the dorsal fi n; arrows indicate spot/lacking spot. Abb. 1: Pigmentierungsvarianten der ersten Dorsale der Grundeln der Ichthyologischen Sammlung der Hochschule Bremen, die ihm Rahmen der vorliegenden Studie untersucht wurden. a Exemplar mit schwar- zem Fleck am posterioren Ende der ersten Dorsalen. b Individuum ohne schwarzen Dorsalfl eck. Die Pfeile verweisen auf den schwarzen/fehlenden Dorsalfl eck. substrate. After capture the individuals were rest of the body and pelvic disc with weakly euthanized, cleaned and fi xed in 40 % ethanol defi ned lateral lobes on the anterior mem- which was subsequently changed to a fi nal brane (PINCHUK et al. 2003a), congruency of concentration of 70 % ethanol within three pigmentation pattern (PINCHUK et al. 2003a). days. All individuals were pre-identifi ed as The pigmentation of the fi rst dorsal fi n, i.e. Neogobius melanostomus directly after capture. 100 the lack of the conspicuous black spot, was individuals exhibited the typical pigmentation not taken into account. of the dorsal fi n of the round goby, i.e. a large Morphometrical, morphological and oblong black spot on the posterior part of meristic al data of the NMS and NML from the the fi rst dorsal fi n (hereinafter referred to as lower River Weser were compared with those of NMS), whereas in 100 specimens the conspicu- (1) N. melanostomus from native and non- ous black spot on the dorsal fi n was lacking native populations, (2) Gobiosoma bosc, (hereinafter referred to as NML) (fi g. 1). (3) Babka gymnotrachelus, (4) Pomatoschis- The species pre-identification was later tus microps, (5) Pomatoschistus minutus, (6) veri fi ed by the examination of eleven exter- Ponticola syrman, (7) Neogobius fluviatilis, nal characteristics, i.e.