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The impact of introduced round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) on phosphorus cycling in central Lake Erie

January 1, 2005

We used an individual-based bioenergetic model to simulate the phosphorus flux of the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) population in central Lake Erie during 1995-2002. Estimates of round goby diet composition, growth rates, and population abundance were derived from field sampling. As an abundant introduced fish, we predicted that round gobies would influence phosphorus cycling both directly, through excretion, and indirectly, through consumption of dreissenid mussels, whose high mass-specific phosphorus excretion enhances recycling. In 1999, when age-1+ round gobies reached peak abundance near 350 million (2.4 kg??ha-1), annual phosphorus excretion was estimated at 7 t (1.4 ?? 10-3 mg P??m-2??day -1). From an ecosystem perspective, however, round gobies excreted only 0.4% of the phosphorus needed by the benthic community for primary production. Indirectly, round gobies consumed <0.2% of dreissenid population biomass, indicating that round gobies did not reduce nutrient availability by consuming dreissenids. Compared with previous studies that have revealed introduced species to influence phosphorus cycling, round gobies likely did not attain a sufficiently high biomass density to influence phosphorus cycling in Lake Erie. ?? 2005 NRC Canada.

Publication Year 2005
Title The impact of introduced round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) on phosphorus cycling in central Lake Erie
DOI 10.1139/f04-172
Authors D.B. Bunnell, T.B. Johnson, C.T. Knight
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
Index ID 70028997
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse