Abstract
The increase of non-native species in rivers is of great concern. To assess the potential impact of a species it is necessary to consider the ecological state of the receiving ecosystem and the biology of the potentially invasive species. In this work we characterize two populations of Gobio lozanoi Doadrio & Madeira, 2004 (bio-metric and demographic parameter) and the invasibility (as a function of habitat quality, competing species, food supply, etc.) of the two rivers that they inhabit. In addition, biomarkers of energy reserve level are analyzed to investigate their role in the invasiveness of the species. The results show differences in energy reserve levels and invasiveness between the two fish populations, and differences in the potential invasibility of the two tributaries. In the river with lower resistance to invasion, the G. lozanoi population is well-structured, and specimens have higher lipid values. On the contrary, in the river with better ecological status (and therefore greater resistance to invasion) we found lower lipid values, higher protein values and low juvenile survival rate. The lipid level is revealed as a good indicator of invasiveness in populations of alien species, under favorable conditions for invasion.
Highlights
Throughout history, and as a consequence of human activity, many species have been introduced worldwide out of their natural distribution range
Elton’s classic work on the ecology of biological invasions [39] hypothesized that species-rich communities are more resistant to invasions than poorer ones
The invasiveness of this species is analyzed in the Pego and Caselas rivers
Summary
Throughout history, and as a consequence of human activity, many species have been introduced worldwide out of their natural distribution range. This trend has increased exponentially [1,2,3,4]. Not all non-native species become invasive [5,6], but when they do, they seriously affect the new ecosystem, modifying it through different causes and in different ways [7,8,9,10]. A strong increase has been observed in the last decade [16]. One of these species is Gobio lozanoi Doadrio & Madeira, 2004. The natural distribution of G. lozanoi is the Iberian basins of the Ebro and Bidasoa rivers, and the French basins of the Adour and Nivelle rivers [17], but it has been translocated to numerous basins, including the
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