Seasonal diet pattern of non-native tubenose goby (Proterorhinus semilunaris) in a lowland reservoir (Mušov, Czech Republic)

Abstract

The tubenose goby (Proterorhinus semilunaris ) is a gobiid species currently extending its area of distribution in Central Europe. The objective of the study was to evaluate the annual pattern of its feeding habits in the newly colonised habitats of the Musov reservoir on the Dyje River (the Danube basin, Czech Republic) with respect to natural food resources. In the reservoir, tubenose goby has established a numerous population, densely colonising stony rip-rap banks. Its diet was exclusively of animal origin with significant dominance of and preference for two food items – chironomid (Chironomidae) larvae and waterlouse (Asellus aquaticus ), which contributed 40.2 and 27.6%, respectively, to the total food bulk ingested. The index of preponderance for the two items was also very high, amounting to 73.8 and 26.5, respectively. In the annual pattern, a remarkable preference for chironomid larvae was recorded in the summer period whilst waterlouse were consumed predominantly in winter months. The proportion of other food items was rather marginal – only corixids, copepods, ceratopogonids and cladocerans were of certain minor importance with proportions of 5.4, 4.3, 4.1 and 3.9%, respectively. Certain signs of cannibalism were also recorded, with 0.9 and 0.2% of the diet consisting of their own progeny and eggs, respectively.