Parasite communities and genetic structure of non-native pumpkinseed, Lepomis gibbosus , in different Black Sea drainages of Ukraine

• Published in: Knowledge and management of aquatic ecosystems no. 424; p. 1
• Main Authors: Kvach, Yuriy, Tkachenko, Maria Yu, Bartáková, Veronika, Kutsokon, Yuliia, Janáč, Michal, Demchenko, Viktor, Ondračková, Markéta
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: EDP Sciences 2023
• Subjects: enemy release; invasion corridors; invasive alien species (ias); microsatellites; parasite acquisition
• DOI: 10.1051/kmae/2022023
• EISSN: 1961-9502

In recent years, pumpkinseed
Lepomis gibbosus
(Actinopterygii: Centrarchidae) have spread intensively to many parts of Europe, including Ukraine. In this study, we (1) assess intra-population genetic variability in five widely-spaced Ukrainian pumpkinseed populations and compare their population genetic structure with other European populations and (2) provide a comprehensive survey of pumpkinseed parasites across the region. Discriminant analysis of principal components and F
ST
analyses based on microsatellites indicated that all five populations formed discrete clusters. Within Europe, Ukrainian populations were most closely associated with populations from the River Danube, suggesting that the Danube is the main source of all Ukrainian pumpkinseed populations. The parasite fauna comprised 15 taxa, most of which (92%) were native to North America (monogenea
Onchocleidus similis
and
O. dispar
; myxozoan
Myxobolus dechtiari
). Parasites acquired in the species' new range occurred accidentally, with only
Trichodina
ciliates found relatively frequently and the eye flukes
Diplostomum pseudospathaceum
and
Tylodelphys clavata
occurring at higher prevalence. Absence of specific monogeneans in pumpkinseed from estuaries (Khadzhibey and Sukhyi Lymans) indicates low tolerance of
Onchocleidus
species to salinity.