<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Invasive Ponto-Caspian gobies (monkey goby <italic>Neogobius fluviatilis,</italic> round goby <italic>Neogobius melanostomus</italic> and bighead goby <italic>Ponticola kessleri)</italic> have recently caused dramatic changes in fish assemblage structure throughout European river systems. This review provides summary of recent research on their dietary habits, age and growth, phylogenetic lineages and gene diversity. The principal food of all three species is invertebrates, and more rarely fish, which depends on the type of habitat, part of the year, as well as the morphological characteristics of species. According to the von Bertalanffy growth model, size at age is specific for the region, but due to its disadvantages it is necessary to test other growth models. Phylogenetic analysis of monkey goby and round goby indicates separation between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea haplotypes. The greatest genetic diversity is found among populations of the Black Sea, and the lowest among European invaders. The lack of molecular research on bighead goby requires further studies.</p></abstract>

Invasive Ponto-Caspian gobies (monkey goby Neogobius fluviatilis, round goby Neogobius melanostomus and bighead goby Ponticola kessleri) have recently caused dramatic changes in fish assemblage structure throughout European river systems. This review provides summary of recent research on their dietary habits, age and growth, phylogenetic lineages and gene diversity. The principal food of all three species is invertebrates, and more rarely fish, which depends on the type of habitat, part of the year, as well as the morphological characteristics of species. According to the von Bertalanffy growth model, size at age is specific for the region, but due to its disadvantages it is necessary to test other growth models. Phylogenetic analysis of monkey goby and round goby indicates separation between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea haplotypes. The greatest genetic diversity is found among populations of the Black Sea, and the lowest among European invaders. The lack of molecular research on bighead goby requires further studies.

The Review of Ecological and Genetic Research of Ponto-Caspian Gobies (Pisces, Gobiidae) in Europe

City of Karlovac, Banjavčićeva 9, 47000 Karlovac,

Division of materials chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička 54, 10000 Zagreb,

University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Fisheries, Beekeeping, Game management and Special Zoology, Svetošimunska 25, 10000 Zagreb,

Croatian Journal of Fisheries

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Invasive Ponto-Caspian gobies (monkey goby Neogobius fluviatilis, round goby Neogobius melanostomus and bighead goby Ponticola kessleri) have recently caused...

The Review of Ecological and Genetic Research of Ponto-Caspian Gobies (Pisces, Gobiidae) in Europe

Published Online: Oct 17, 2016

Page range: 110 - 123

Received: Jan 27, 2016

Accepted: May 20, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/cjf-2016-0015

Keywords
European river systems, Invasive gobies, Ecology, Genetics

© 2016 Goran Jakšsić et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The Review of Ecological and Genetic Research of Ponto-Caspian Gobies (Pisces, Gobiidae) in Europe

Published Online: Oct 17, 2016

Page range: 110 - 123

Received: Jan 27, 2016

Accepted: May 20, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/cjf-2016-0015

KeywordsEuropean river systems, Invasive gobies, Ecology, Genetics

© 2016 Goran Jakšsić et al., published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
European river systems, Invasive gobies, Ecology, Genetics