Distribution and morphological and biological traits of alien fish species in the Ros River basin (Tributary to the Dnieper)

Abstract

In the basin of the Ros River (a right tributary of the first order to the Dnieper), of 34 fish species found in the period 2001–2006 and 2009 nine species are determined to be alien ones. Appearance in the Ros River basin of silver carp Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes, 1844), stone moroco Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck et Schlegel, 1846), goldfish Carassius auratus (Linnaeus, 1758), and rotan Perccottus glenii Dybowski, 1877 is a result of targeted and unintentional introductions. Appearance of nine-spined stickleback Pungitius platygaster (Kessler, 1859), three-spined stickeleback Gasterosteus aculeatus Linnaeus, 1758, big-headed goby Neogobius kessleri (Gunther, 1861), Racer goby Neogobius gymnotrachelus (Kessler, 1857), and round goby Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1814) is a result of their active distribution from the Dnieper. For most species, their morphological characters and biological traits are described.