Invaders eating invaders: exploitation of novel alien prey by the alien shimofuri goby in the San Francisco Estuary, California
Matern, S.A.; Brown, L.R. (2005). Invaders eating invaders: exploitation of novel alien prey by the alien shimofuri goby in the San Francisco Estuary, California. Biological Invasions 7: 497-507
In: Biological Invasions. Springer: London. ISSN 1387-3547; e-ISSN 1573-1464, meer
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| Trefwoorden |
Food webs
Gobiidae Cuvier, 1816 [WoRMS]; Tridentiger bifasciatus Steindachner, 1881 [WoRMS]
USA, California, Sacramento R. basins
Marien/Kust |
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| Abstract |
The shimofuri goby (Tridentiger bifasciatus), which is native to Asian estuaries, was recently introduced to the San Francisco Estuary, California, USA. We conducted gut content analyses to examine the goby’s feeding ecology in this highly invaded estuary. Shimofuri gobies were generalist predators on benthic invertebrates, consuming seasonally abundant prey, especially amphipods (Corophium spp.). In addition, shimofuri goby utilized two novel prey items not exploited by other resident fishes – hydroids (Cordylophora caspia) and barnacle (Balanus improvisus) cirri, both of which are alien. The shimofuri goby’s feeding ecology appears well-suited to the fluctuating environment of the San Francisco Estuary and may partially explain observed increases in shimofuri goby abundance compared with declines in populations of some native species. |
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