Can the presence of alien Ponto–Caspian gobies affect shelter use by the native European bullhead?

Abstract

Extensive invasion of Ponto–Caspian gobies raised the question how they affect recipient ecosystems. The round and racer goby pose a threat to their native counterparts, cottid species, but the influence of other gobiids is still not sufficiently demonstrated. We experimentally assessed how monkey and western tubenose goby, two of the most widespread species across Central and Western Europe, affected time spent by bullhead in the shelter in different seasons and light conditions. Direct and indirect aggression and guarding the shelter by the fish were also checked. We observed the behaviour of single-species and mixed-species pairs in the presence of a single shelter, with bullhead as a resident and one of three species as an intruder introduced to the tank 24 h later. Neither tubenose nor monkey goby was the stronger competitor, capable of outcompeting bullhead from the shelter. Their influence on the resident bullhead was the same as that of intruding bullhead: all intruders made resident bullhead increase shelter occupancy in spring at night. Moreover, compared to the monkey goby, the tubenose goby spent more time in the shelter, occupied it similarly in both seasons, guarded it more intensely and was more aggressive. The monkey goby displayed indirect aggression more often in spring. Despite these differences, bullhead responded to the presence of both goby species similarly, especially during reproductive season.