Showing papers by "Branko Glamuzina published in 2017"

Comparison of Taxon‐Specific and Taxon‐Generic Risk Screening Tools to Identify Potentially Invasive Non‐native Fishes in the River Neretva Catchment (Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia)

Abstract: The Freshwater Fish Invasiveness Screening Kit (FISK) v2 and Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS-ISK) risk identification screening tools were used to assess the invasiveness potential of 24 non-native (NNS) freshwater fish species in the River Neretva catchment (Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia), a risk assessment (RA) area that is an important Mediterranean hotspot for fish endemism. The two assessors assigned similar scores for the invasiveness potential of the NN fishes, and both screening tools successfully distinguished invasive from non-invasive species. Mean calibrated threshold scores were 10.25 for FISK and 10.00 for AS-ISK, with the latter increasing to 12.62 when questions that assess the likely impact of predicted future climate conditions on the RA were taken into consideration. These relatively low threshold values are characteristic of areas with an elevated number of translocated species and suggest that NN fishes pose a considerable threat to native species and ecosystems. FISK ranked 50.0–62.6% of the species as being of ‘high risk’ compared with 58.4–59.3% using AS-ISK. The highest scores (‘very high risk’) were attributed to gibel carp Carassius gibelio (Bloch, 1782) and pikeperch Sander lucioperca (Linnaeus, 1758). The generic screening tool for aquatic species (AS-ISK) provided similar risk rankings to its predecessor, FISK, as regards invasiveness potential. For this reason, it is likely to be an effective tool for evaluating the potential invasion risk of NNS freshwater fishes for other RA areas in the Balkans. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Population Dynamics and Reproduction of Mediterranean Green Crab Carcinus aestuarii in Parila Lagoon (Neretva Estuary, Adriatic Sea, Croatia) as Fishery Management Tools

Abstract: Population structure, age, growth, mortality, and reproduction patterns of the Mediterranean green crab Carcinus aestuarii were determined for the native population in Parila Lagoon (Neretva Estuary, Middle Adriatic, Croatia). The population size structure showed two distinct cohorts: (1) specimens with a carapace width of 20–34 mm and dominated by females and (2) large-sized specimens with a carapace width > 34 mm with males significantly dominating and no females found above 46 mm. Males appeared to grow faster than females in the first and second year of the life cycle. Most of the natural mortality (70.4%) occurred during the first year of life. This indicates high predation pressure from fish and other crab species on small-sized (less than 25 mm) C. aestuarii cohorts. The peak of ovigerous female occurrence occurred in January 2015. A very small percentage of ovigerous females appeared in June 2015. The 50% ovigerous size for the population was estimated at a carapace width of 29.65 mm and w...

Lampetra soljani , a new brook lamprey from the southern Adriatic Sea basin (Petromyzontiformes: Petromyzontidae).

Abstract: Lampetra soljani , new species, is described from the lower Neretva River in the Adriatic Sea basin. Previously it was identified as L. zanandreai . Based on morphological similarity and mitochondrial genetic data, it is related to L. lanceolata and L. ninae from the Black Sea basin. Lampetra soljani is distinguished from all other species of Lampetra by having a marmorate flank pattern in live, fully grown ammocoetes, and in some adults (vs. plain colour pattern). Lampetra soljani is distinguished from other Lampetra species by having three velar tentacles, 54–57 trunk myomeres between the last branchial opening and the anus, no posterial teeth and a bicuspid middle endolateral tooth. Lampetra soljani is also well distinguished by COI barcode data from its congeners. The new species is widespread in the Neretva River drainage and lampreys from Lake Skadar basin are likely to belong to this species also.

Status and distribution of spined loaches (Cobitidae) and stone loaches (Nemacheilidae) in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract: This paper presents a critical assessment of the current status and geographical distribution of loaches (Cobitidae, Nemacheilidae) in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This closes a gap in research knowledge with only general distribution data currently available. In the Danube catchment four cobitid (Cobitis elongata, C. elongatoides, Misgurnus fossilis, Sabanejewia balcanica) and one nemacheilid species (Barbatula barbatula) were recorded, while the Adriatic Sea catchment hosts three spined loaches: C. narentana, C. illyrica, and C. herzegoviniensis and nemachilid B. barbatula. Cobitis elongatoides was found to be the most common and distributed throughout the northern Bosnia and Herzegovina; i.e. in the rivers Sava, Drina, Bosna, Vrbas, Una (Danube catchment). Sabanejewia balcanica was recorded in the same area but less frequently. Recent bibliographic evidence forces us to exclude C. taenia from the current checklist. On the other hand, cobitid species from the Adriatic Sea catchment are endemic with a very small distribution. Also, the extinction risk status of each taxon is mentioned following IUCN categories. This study provides geographically constrained information on the recent status of loach populations in the freshwaters of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Further data on the status and geographical distribution would improve the conservation and management of these fishes.

Reproductive patterns of bogue, Boops boops (Sparidae), in the southeastern Adriatic Sea

Abstract: The reproductive characteristics of bogue (Boops boops) in the southeastern Adriatic Sea are presented in this study. The analysis is based on 676 specimens caught by seine net from December 2011 to November 2012. Total length of females ranged from 13.3 to 29.3 cm and males from 15.1 to 26.3 cm. The overall sex ratio of females to males was 1:0.85 (χ2=4.314; P < 0.05) with a slightly higher number of females in the largest size class. Length-weight relationship for the total population indicated negative allometric growth (b=2.911). Values of the condition factor are relatively low for both sexes. Maximum values were recorded in September 1.025 for females and 1.029 for males. Gonadosomatic index and histological examination showed that the spawning season of the bogue in the Adriatic is from January to May with peak in February. Six stages of gonad development were identified: immature, undergoing maturation, ripening, ripe, spawning and spent. The monthly distribution of the different sexual maturity stages and the frequency distribution of oocyte diameter revealed that this species is a batch spawner.

Records of new fish species in the River Neretva Estuary: potential threat to coastal Adriatic nursery

Abstract: Specimens of the three new fish species were recorded during 2015 and 2016 in the River Neretva Estuary. These species are: White trevally, Pseudocaranx dentex (Bloch and Schneider, 1801), Pilotfish, Naucrates ductor (Linnaeus, 1758) and White grouper, Epinephelus aeneus (Geoffroy Saint– Hilaire, 1817). The characteristics of caught specimens and their history of records in Adriatic Sea are described. Potential impact of new species invasion in the Neretva Estuary as a major Eastern Adriatic nursery habitat is discussed.

Links between epibenthic community patterns and habitat characteristics in the Parila lagoon (Croatia)

Abstract: The aim of the study was to describe epibenthic macroinvertebrates and demersal fish and to identify links between spatial patterns and habitat characteristics (sediment, salinity, oxygen and temperature). The research was performed in the Parila lagoon in Croatia; an important nursery ground where conditions in epibenthic community can have significant direct and indirect impact on fisheries. Diversity (30 species) and abundance (from 0 to 7 ind m−2) of epibenthic assemblages was low on all stations and showed remarkable seasonal changes. Such patchiness could support the estuarine quality paradox idea, i.e. the most abundant species are well adapted to changing conditions in a variable environment. The ecological analysis showed that total phosphorus concentration (TP), temperature (T) and salinity (S) were the main environmental parameters affecting community structure of the Parila lagoon. Six species listed as frequent (Nerophis ophidion, Zosterisessor ophiocephalus, Syngnathus typhle, Cerastoderma glaucum, Palaemon adspersus and Carcinus aestuarii) have a potential to be used as indicators of habitat quality. In terms of trophic diversity, community was dominated by carnivores and omnivores. Fish trophic index (above 2.7) indicated upward shift of the local food chain and towards mostly carnivorous species, while the absence of herbivorous species pointed to low environmental quality. The present study gives an insight into the current ecological conditions in the Parila lagoon. Further research about the sensitivity of these potential indicators to different types of pressure is necessary in order to select robust early-warning indicators framework.

Undergoing invasion of the fangtooth moray, Enchelycore anatina (Lowe, 1838) in the Adriatic Sea – evidence of post spawning reproduction stage.

Abstract: The tropical Atlantic fangtooth moray Enchelycore anatina (Lowe, 1838) (Muraenidae) has naturally extended its range into the Mediterranean in the last decades The record of a third specimen of the fangtooth moray, in the coastal waters of southeast Adriatic Sea, results in listing the species as established in the Adriatic Sea The caught specimen was male with gonads in post spawning stage, indicating successful maturation and possible reproduction of the species in these waters