532 Invasive and fish species in

International Symposium: Current Trends in Plant Protection UDK: 632.763(497.11) Proceedings 597(497.11)

INVASIVE INSECT AND FISH SPECIES IN MORAVICA DISTRICT

1 1 1 2 MARKOVI Ć GORAN , TANASKOVI Ć SNEŽANA , SRETENOVI Ć DUŠICA , RAN ĐIĆ DANKA 1University of , Faculty of Agronomy Čačak, Cara Dušana 34, Čačak, ([email protected] ); 2Municipality Čačak, Župana Stracimira 2, 32 000 Čačak, Serbia

The Moravica district is located in central and west part of Serbia. The variety of geomorphological, climate, hydrological and other environmental conditions resulted in the relatively large biodiversity of this region. The first record of Harmonia axyridis in Serbia was reported in 2008 from the Vorovo locality within the Fruška National Park by Thalji and Stojanovi ć (2008). During the late autumn of 2009, the first and mass occurrence of the species was noted at 19 sites in residential areas in the vicinity of the towns of Čačak and (Moravica district). Additionally, the imagoes of H. axyridis were recorded in late October in the mentioned areas on the balconies of residential buildings. No allergic reactions in humans to H. axyridis were reported. The water courses of the district belong to the Zapadna Morava river basin. The ichthyofauna of the Zapadna Morava and tributaries of this river including 33 species from 9 families, with 7 non-native species, belongs to 4 families (Salmonidae, Cyprinidae, Centrarchidae and Ictaluridae). Some of the non-native species ( Carassius gibelio, Pseudorasbora parva, Lepomis gibbosus and Ameiurus nebulosus ) are invasive, endangering the native ichthyofauna of this region.

Key words: Harmonia axyridis, invasive fish species, ichthyofauna

INTRODUCTION

The Moravi čki district (total area of 3016 km 2) is located in central and west part of Serbia. The District is composed of municipalities Čačak (636 km 2), Gornji Milanovac (836km 2), Lu čani (454km 2) and (1090 km 2). The climate of the region is moderately continental with elements of mountain climate on higher altitude. The relief is very diverse. The most surface area are under agricultural crops (58.9%) and forests (36.1%). The hydrological network of this territory forms the Zapadna Morava River (309 km total length) and lower courses of its tributaries (Fig.1). There are four multipurpose reservoirs in the district (the eutrophic reservoir Me đuvršje is the greatest -Table 1). The variety of geomorphological, climate, hydrological and other environmental conditions resulted in relatively large biodiversity of this region. In the territory of district there are natural protected areas of the Republic of Serbia – the part Markovi ć Goran, Tanaskovi ć Snežana, Sretenovi ć Dušica, Ran đić Danka 533 of biosphere reserve Golija-Studenica, landscape of outstanding features in the Ov čar- Kablar gorge and some natural monuments.

Figure 1 . Meander of river in the Ov čar–Kablar Gorge

The invasive species H. axyridis (Coleoptera, Coccinelidae) was first reported in Serbia in August 2008 from the Fruška Gora National Park (Thalji and Stojanovi ć 2008), located in the northern part of the country (the province). Due to its predatory and competitive abilities, the ladybird concerned can have adverse effects on the indigenous entomofauna of some regions, including the populations of ladybirds and other aphidophagous .

Table 1 . The reservoirs of the Moravi čki district

Year of Area Watercourse, Reservoir Purpose construction (km 2) river Energy production, protection from Me đuvršje 1953 1.5 Z. Morava flood Ov čar-Kablar 1953 0.72 Energy production Water supply, retention of river 1969 0.07 Di čina deposit Goli Kamen 1982 0.075 Crnovrški brook Technical use, protection from flood

The adverse impacts of H. axyridis also include fruit damage in late autumn and tainting the flavour of wine when accidentally harvested and processed along with grapes (Pickering et al. 2004; Galvan et al . 2007; Staverløk et al. 2007). Moreover, H. axyridis has been reported to increasingly search for overwintering sites in residential buildings within new geographic regions. Exposure to the species may also affect humans by triggering allergic reactions (Hauelsman et al . 2002). The presence of non-native (allochthonous) fish in open waters is the result of areal expansion, unskilled stocking, escape from aquaculture facilities, stocking for sport fisheries, struggle against eutrophication and other reasons. Although it is often difficult to determine the impact of non-native species on the autochthonous ichthyofauna, generally the impact is negative (expressed in violation of existing food chains, competition for places of spawning, emergence of new parasites, etc.). 534 Invasive insect and fish species in Moravica district

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The entomological and ichthyological investigations were conducted in the period of 2000-2012. Several collection methods were used, depending on the type of habitat. Collections of lady bird - Several collection methods were used, depending on the type of habitat on different locations (surrounding of cities Čačak and Gornji Milanovac - 20 villages and 6 sites in the cities). The specimens were collected by shaking them off the host plants and structures, using an aspirator or by hand-picking individual specimens. The collected specimens were transferred from flacons into 'self-lock' cuvettes to allow easy manipulation and then were refrigerated. The identification of collected insects is carried out by standard procedure (Kuznetsov, 1993). The ichtyophauna collections – The specimens were colleted by standard fishing equipment (nets and hooks) from different locations (the Me đuvršje reservoir and tributaries of Z. Morava - Moravica, Di čina, Kamenica and some streams). The identification of fish specimens was carried out by a standard procedure (Simonovi ć, 2001).

RESULTS

This invasive lady bird species H. axyridis was detected in 2009 in the 16 villages and in the four urban locations of the cities Čačak and Gornji Milanovac. In 2010 and 2011 the species expanded about 100 km from the first location in 2009. At the end of May 2010 and June 2011 we registered this invasive species on bean aphid colony (Aphis fabae) in alfalfa on fiddle dock (Rumex pulcher L.) and in apple orchard (colony Dysaphis plantaginea ). The identification of the specimens collected suggested that all three forms (Fig. 2) of the invasive ladybird H. axyridis - succinea, spectabilis and conspicua - were found within the studied area. During the period, no disturbances in the human population were reported (Public Health Agency Čačak).

Figure 2 : Variations in colour forms of the collected Harmonia axyridis (Pallas 1773)

Markovi ć Goran, Tanaskovi ć Snežana, Sretenovi ć Dušica, Ran đić Danka 535

The cases of insect aggregations on the sun-facing exposure of the buildings - usually a southern or south western exposure, and on the light-coloured surfaces of residential buildings were notified at the end of October (20-25 October 2009 - 2011) and in mid or late November (14-17 November 2009 and 21-27 November 2010 and 2011). During this three-year period, no disturbances in the human population were reported, as expected in view of the results of earlier investigation (Goetz, 2007). The general hydroecological conditions are favorable for ichthyoproduction. The ichthyofauna of the Moravi čki district watercourses including 33 species from 9 families, with 7 non-native species, belongs to 5 families (Salmonidae, Cyprinidae, Centrarchidae and Ictaluridae - Table 2).

Table 2 . The non-native fish species in the Moravi čki District watercourses

Families Common name Scientific name Salmonidae Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss Grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella Silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Cyprinidae Prussian carp Carassius gibelio Topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva Centrarchidae Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus Ictaluridae Brown bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus

The rainbow trout ( O. mykiss ) is a non-native fish of the highest commercial significance in Serbian aquaculture (Markovi ć et al ., 2011). The presence was registered in some mountain streams in the Ivanjica municipality. Its population is probably being associated with the escapes from trout farms. The members of “Chinese carps” – herbivorous grass carp ( C. idella ) and planktivorous filter-feeding silver carp ( H. molitrix ) are registered only in the Me đuvršje reservoir (the most important biotope for ichthyo production in this area). Prussian carp ( C. gibelio ) is the most widesperead non-native fish species in Serbian watercourses. Despite expressed fluctuacions in the number (the first record in the Me đuvršje reservoir in 1984), Prussian carp is very invasive species. Topmouth gudgeon ( P. parva) , pumpkinseed ( L. gibbosus - Fig. 3) and brown bullhead ( A. nebulosus) are also very invasive fish and show good adaptability to environmental conditions in district reservoirs.

536 Invasive insect and fish species in Moravica district

Figure 3 . Pumpkinseed ( Lepomis gibbosus ) – an invasive fish species

DISCUSSION

Given the fact that ladybirds as members of the Serbian entomofauna have not been sufficiently investigated (Tanaskovi ć, 1996; Tanaskovi ć and Thalji, 1998; Thalji and Tanaskovi ć, 2006; Thalji et al., 2009; Tanaskovi ć et al., 2009), monitoring of this insect group should be conducted, particularly in view of the current records of the invasive multicoloured Asian ladybird H. axyridis from a number of locations in Serbia. Adequate control measures should be explored for Asian ladybird and developed considering harmful effects on exposed ecosystems and potential health risks for the human population. The measures should particularly focus on indoor insect control, considering the potentially deleterious effects of biocides on humans. The ichthyofauna of Serbia includes 23 non-native species (from 11 families) (Lenhardt et al., 2011; Markovi ć et al., 2012). The living activities of O. mykiss , coupled with stream course regulation and water deficiency, have led to decrease in the population number of autochthonous salmonid brown trout ( Salmo trutta fario). Due to a low population number of C. idella, they have not bigger impact on autochthonous ichthyofauna. The negative effect of C. gibelio is reflected in possible competition for food and places for reproduction with common carp ( Cyprinus carpio ). P. parva, L. gibbosus and A. nebulosus have negative effects on native (autochthonous) fish species by feeding on the bottom fauna, fish roe, fish larvae and fingerling, coupled with the competition for habitat and spawning sites. Propagation of these non-native species endangered autochthonous fish assemblages.

CONCLUSION

Insects are very diverse group of organisms. In the conditions of developed various agriculture, biodiversity is exposed to permanent risk of devastation. But alien or invasive species are not bad per se. Some of them may become harmful, as H.axyridis , and it is the reason for reaction. We should explore establishment of this coccinellid in this region of Serbia, its potential interactions with native species and presence and undesirable effects on Markovi ć Goran, Tanaskovi ć Snežana, Sretenovi ć Dušica, Ran đić Danka 537 fruits in this leading productions area. Also, a potential allergenic agent in human and control measure in open field and residential areas should be investigated. Hydroecological conditions in the Moravi čki District are generally favorable for ichthyoproduction. The ichthyofauna of the Moravi čki District watercourses including 33 species from 9 families, with 7 non-native species belongs to 5 families. Some of non- native species (especially C. gibelio, P. parva, L. gibbosus and A. nebulosus ) are invasive and endangered native ichthyofauna of this region.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The research was conducted within the STAR project AAP 024, funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade, Forestry and Water Management of the Republic of Serbia. We thank Milevica Bojovi ć, Magister of Philology for encouragement and help.

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