Publication Abstract

Microhabitat use and interspecific associations of introduced topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva and native fishes in a small stream

Microhabitat use and interspecific associations of introduced topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva and native fishes in a small stream

K. Beyer, G.H. Copp and R. E. Gozlan

Knowledge of resource use in introduced species is important when assessing the role and potential impacts of a new species in community structure and dynamics. To address a lack of information on topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva introduced to water courses, the microhabitat use of this non-native cyprinid and co-existing native species was assessed in a small stream of southern England. Overall, microhabitat use was size-structured and significant associations were observed between topmouth gudgeon and native species, including brown trout Salmo trutta, chub Leuciscus cephalus, European bullhead Cottus gobio, and stone loach Barbatula barbatula. However, significant associations with environmental variables were more numerous in native species than in topmouth gudgeon. Topmouth gudgeon demonstrated few habitat preferences, which were weak and limited to small specimens, emphasizing the species broad, plastic breadth of microhabitat use. This is expected to facilitate the species’ successful invasion of novel aquatic systems.

Reference

K. Beyer, G.H. Copp and R. E. Gozlan (2007) Microhabitat use and interspecific associations of introduced topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva and native fishes in a small stream. Journal of Fish Biology 71 (Supplement D): 224-238

K. Beyer, G.H. Copp* and R. E. Gozlan

Journal of Fish Biology 71 (Supplement D): 224-238