Alicja Pawelec, Paweł Koperski
ABSTRACT. The western tubenose goby, Proterorhinus semilunaris (Pallas, 1814), and the racer goby, Babka gymnotrachelus (Kessler, 1857), are alien species to European ichthyofauna. Both species originate from the Ponto-Caspian region, which includes the Black and Caspian seas and the Sea of Azov. These benthivorous fish are small (growing to lengths of 16 cm) and inhabit fairly shallow brackish and fresh waters. They reached Poland through the Pripyat–Bug canal, probably as the result of the release of spawn and juvenile individuals with vessel ballast water. Despite their small size, they can pose significant threats to native species inhabiting Poland through strong competition for food, hiding places, and spawning grounds. In Poland, these species have established self-sustaining populations, but their impact on native ecosystems is not yet fully understood, which is why it is essential to monitor their populations. Juvenile specimens of western tubenose goby, P. semilunaris, and racer goby, B. gymnotrachelus, were found in July 2016 in Lake Kamionkowski, Skaryszewskim Park, Warsaw. This was the first confirmation of P. semilunaris inhabiting this new site of occurrence and confirmation of the occurrence of B. gymnotrachelus in Lake Kamionkowski in Warsaw.
Key words: western tubenose goby, Lake Kamionkowski, ichthyofauna, benthivorous fishes
Przyjęto po recenzji 30.11.2018 r.