Alien macroinvertebrates and fish in the Dnieper River basin

Abstract

The results of the study on spread, pathways, vectors, and ecological impact on the native fauna of alien invertebrate and fish species in the Dnieper River basin are presented. The relationship between invasive processes and basin hydrology is analyzed. It is shown that the main factor in spreading of alien species in the central part of the basin was related to the damming of the river, turning it into a cascade of reservoirs, and introduction of PontoCaspian species into the rese rvoirs. The differences in pathways and vectors for upstream, middle, and downstream parts of the river were revealed. In the midstream reservoirs, the main pathway was intentional introduction aimed at the improvement of valuable fish food resources, whereas that for the upstream part of the Dnieper and Pripyat rivers was shipping and natural spread. The "Black List" of invertebrates and fish for the studied basin is proposed.