First record of the North American black bullhead Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque, 1820) in the Guadalquivir Estuary (Southern Spain)

Juan Garcia-De-Lomas,Elías Dana,Rubén González,Fernando Ortega,Javier López-Santiago,Guillermo Ceballos

doi:10.3391/ai.2009.4.4.23

Juan Garcia-De-Lomas, Elías Dana + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.3391/ai.2009.4.4.23

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Journal: Aquatic Invasions	Publication Date: Dec 1, 2009
Citations: 14	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: Regional Government of Andalusia

Abstract

* Corresponding author Received 30 June 2009; accepted in revised form 20 August 2009; published online 29 September 2009 Abstract The North American black bullhead Ameiurus melas has been recorded for the first time in the Guadalquivir Estuary. The abundance of A. melas was monitored and quantified after first detection (February, 2007), with captures in two consecutiv e surveys (from October to December for 2007 and 2008) using nylon fyke nets. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) showed a rapid increase from 0.11 individuals per net in 2007 to 0.47 ind net -1 in 2008. Additionally, A. melas specimens collected in the 2008 survey (n = 1563), were measured (LT) and weighed to study the population structure and allometric growth relationship. The rapid increase in abundance of A. melas, together with the cohort analysis of individuals collected in the 2008 survey, suggest that incipient reproduction of black bullhead is already occurring. The invasion of A. melas constitutes a new threat to biodiversity in the Guadalquivir Estuary and connected natural parks and reserves (e.g., Donana Nati onal Park). It also presents potential economic damage to fisheries and aquaculture fish-farms.

Highlights

The black bullhead Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque, 1820) (Ictaluridae, Siluriformes) is a freshwater fish native to North America from the Great Lakes to northern Mexico (Page and Burr 1991)
The invasion of A. melas constitutes a new threat to biodiversity in the Guadalquivir Estuary and connected natural parks and reserves (e.g., Doñana National Park)
The aim of the present paper is to make the first report of A. melas in the Guadalquivir Estuary, which occurred during the completion of control measures by the Regional Andalusian Government (Consejeria de Medio Ambiente) on non-native Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis

Summary

Introduction

The black bullhead Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque, 1820) (Ictaluridae, Siluriformes) is a freshwater fish native to North America from the Great Lakes to northern Mexico (Page and Burr 1991). A. melas specimens collected in the 2008 survey (n = 1563), were measured (LT) and weighed to study the population structure and allometric growth relationship.

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Conclusion