Age and growth of non-native monkey goby Neogobius fluviatilis (Teleostei, Gobiidae) in the River Ipel, Slovakia

Placha, M., Balazova, M., Kovac, V. and Katina, S. (2010) Age and growth of non-native monkey goby Neogobius fluviatilis (Teleostei, Gobiidae) in the River Ipel, Slovakia. Folia Zoologica, 59(4), pp. 332-340.

Abstract

Amongst the non-native Ponto-Caspian gobies that have invaded the Middle Danube is the monkey goby Neogobius fluviatilis (Pallas, 1814). Despite a strong specialization towards sandy substratum, revealed in a previous study, monkey goby is considered an invasive species and therefore should demonstrate great plasticity in its biological traits. The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the age and growth of a non-native population of monkey goby from the River Ipel' in Slovakia. Six age groups (0 V) were observed in the sample from the River Ipel' (n = 165), with males demonstrating faster growth than females, which was reflected both in the smoothing cubic B-spline model and in the annual increment. The cubic B-spline model indicated a reverse Lee's phenomenon, especially in males, which is likely to have arisen from the size selective mortality. Growth of invading monkey goby from the River Ipel' was slower than that reported for the species' native range. Together with other growth patterns, this may suggest (among other possible explanations) a greater allocation of resources to reproduction than to somatic growth, which is a life-history pattern typical for newly established populations of successful invaders.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: WOS:000285536900010
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Katina, Dr Stanislav
• Authors: Placha, M., Balazova, M., Kovac, V., and Katina, S.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Mathematics and Statistics > Statistics
• Journal Name: Folia Zoologica
• ISSN: 0139-7893