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The black bullhead is an invasive species that forms dense populations and has a negative impact on the native ichthyofauna. Recent studies indicate that it is one of the most dominant invasive fish species in Serbian waters. Feeding habits based on stomach contents of individuals caught in Lake Sava were analyzed as a first step towards evaluating its possible negative impact on the native fish fauna of the lake. The following indices for diet analysis were applied: vacuity index, frequency of occurrence, numerical abundance and prominence value. Trophic niche breadth and seasonal trophic diversity were calculated using the Shannon's index. The diet spectrum comprised 16 different prey categories from five groups: Mollusca, Crustacea, Insecta, Teleostei and plants. Fish were the main prey in all seasons, followed by aquatic invertebrates. Plant material and terrestrial insects were used as food in relatively small quantities. Predation on fish eggs was also detected. Our research confirmed that this species is an opportunistic generalist. An ontogenetic diet shift was also detected. The lowest value of trophic diversity was found in age 1+ individuals (H=1.39), while the highest was found in age 3+ individuals (H=2.00). The widest niche breadth was recorded in spring 2011 (H=2.12). more...

The concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se and Zn in the muscle, gills, liver and intestine of the wels catfish (Silurus glanis) from the Danube River were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The aim of the study was to determine whether in complex muscle/skin, gill filament/gill arch, proximal/distal liver and proximal/median/distal intestine samples, particular components differ in concentrations of the analyzed elements. Results indicated that there were no differences in the accumulation of different elements between the proximal and distal liver segments and between the proximal and median intestine sections. Conversely, elemental accumulation patterns in muscle and skin differed significantly. Significant differences were also observed between the gill arch and filaments, as well as between the distal and the two upper intestine sections. Findings indicated the importance of detailed reporting of tissue sampling, i. e. whether the skin was included in the muscle sample, as well as if the gill arch and filaments were analyzed together. Due to a potential bias that can be produced by different muscle/skin or gill arch/filament ratios included in the sample, we strongly recommend that they should not be analyzed together. Results of the present study might be of interest to the scientific community and stakeholders involved in aquatic ecosystem monitoring programs. more...

Specimens of Pontic shad (Alosa pontica Eichwald, 1838) were collected during April and May of 2006 in the Danube River (rkm 863) just downstream of the Iron Gate (Djerdap) II dam. Twenty-eight scales and 30 vertebrae were prepared and given to five interpreters with fish aging experience of from 3 to 30 years and with shad aging experience of from 0 to 12 years. Interpreters with experience in shad age determination showed lower values for the index of average percent error (IAPE) and an index of coefficient of variation (ICV). In regard to within-interpreter reproducibility, no significant differences were found between scale and vertebrae as structure for age determination. The most experienced reader showed the lowest value for IAPE, while the least experienced reader showed the highest value for IAPE. The results of this work indicate that experience in age determination by particular structure had more impact on age determination precision than specificity of structure, scale or vertebra. More work is needed on adopting standard protocols that must include some sort of common interaction between responsible age readers. more...