@conference{
author = "Jaćimović, Milica and Smederevac-Lalić, Marija and Nikolić, Dušan and Cvijanović, Gorčin and Spasić, Slađana and Višnjić Jeftić, Željka and Skorić, Stefan and Krpo-Ćetković, Jasmina",
year = "2022",
abstract = "North American black bullhead (Ameiurus melas) is an ictalurid species that has become
widespread outside of its native range, causing undesirable ecological impacts. Numerous
studies have suggested that its physical removal could be a way to reduce any potential
detrimental effects of this species. This study measured the effects on population dynamics of
both native and non-native fish species following the removal of 20,145 black bullheads from
the Ponjavica Nature Park. The most significant changes between the zero-point state and the
post-removal state have been recorded among the populations of non-native fish species: the
abundances of topmouth gudgeon (Pseudorasbora parva), pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus),
and Prussian carp (Carassius gibelio) increased 25.5, 4.9, and 4.2 times, respectively.
Previous research has shown that smaller black bullhead individuals enter into competitive
relationships with the topmouth gudgeon, while larger individuals use the topmouth gudgeon
as prey. By removing black bullhead individuals from the ecosystem, a part of the ecological
niche used by both species was freed. Also, the predatory pressure on topmouth gudgeon
decreased by removing larger black bullhead individuals. All these factors led to an increase
in the abundance of topmouth gudgeon. Black bullhead and pumpkinseed have overlapping
diets and are therefore considered competitors for food. Moreover, research on the black
bullhead's feeding ecology showed that this species feeds on the pumpkinseed. When a
greater number of black bullhead individuals were removed from the ecosystem, it led to an
increase in the abundance of pumpkinseed. The abundance of Prussian carp also increased
after the removal of the black bullhead. The Prussian carp and the black bullhead are quite
similar in terms of diet habits, habitat preferences, and reproductive characteristics. Since
these two species are in direct competition, the decline in the black bullhead population
contributed to an increase in the Prussian carp population. These results point to the fact that
management programs must include multiple species and methods, and one of them is the
removal of all undesirable, invasive non-native species. Further research should also focus on
possible diet shifts in allochthonous fishes after removing the black bullhead.",
publisher = "General Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Türkiye (GDFA); Mediterranean Fisheries Research, Production and Training Institute, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Türkiye (MFRPTI); Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IBER-BAS); East and South European Network for Invasive Alien Species (ESENIAS); Danube Region Invasive Alien Species Network (DIAS)",
journal = "Joint ESENIAS and DIAS Scientific Conference 2022 and 11th ESENIAS Workshop ‘Invasive alien species under conditions of global crisis",
title = "Effects of selective removal of the black bullhead (Ameiurus melas) on other non-native fish populations in the Ponjavica Nature Park (Serbia)",
pages = "99-99",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_rimsi_1709"
}
