Invasions by alien species may cause a decline in populations of vulnerable protected species through interference and resource competition. During the last decade, four invasive goby species of Ponto-Caspian origin have displayed rapid dispersal in The Netherlands. High densities of these species have been recorded in large rivers and hydrologically connected water bodies such as canals and fl...

The exact nature of many interspecific interactions remains unclear, with some evidence suggesting mutualism and other evidence pointing to parasitism for the same pair of interacting species. Here, we show spatial variation in the outcome of the cleaning relationship between Caribbean cleaning gobies (Elacatinus evelynae) and longfin damselfish (Stegastes diencaeus) over the distribution range...

Cause-and-effect interpretations of the apparent impacts of biological invasions are confounded by the coincident occurrence of non-native species and changes to abiotic factors. Native community structure and function can vary greatly in space and time, owing to abiotic variables that could potentially be affected by non-native species. Here, we sought to determine the relative importance of a...

In a recent study, we showed how local-scale climate change impacts (increased temperature, reduced rainfall, shifts in peak rainfall) affected the hydrology of channelised lowland European river (reduced flow, reduction flood events, increased siltation, macrophyte growth), allowing native fish species to recolonise bankside zone and reduce density invasive round goby Neogobius melanostomus by...

This study investigated whether spatial learning ability and cue use of gobies (Gobiidae) from two contrasting habitats differed in a spatial task. Gobies were collected from the spatially complex rock pools and dynamic, homogenous sandy shores. Fishes were trained to locate a shelter under the simulated threat of predation and it was determined whether they used local or extra-maze (global) an...

The American seven-spined gobies (Gobiidae, Gobiosomatini) are highly diverse both in morphology and ecology with many endemics in the Caribbean region. We have reconstructed a molecular phylogeny of 54 Gobiosomatini taxa (65 individuals) based on a 1646-bp region that includes the mitochondrial 12S rRNA, tRNA-Val, and 16S rRNA genes. Our results support the monophyly of the seven-spined gobies...

Abstract Globally, fish are frequently introduced beyond their native range. Some, like Ponto-Caspian gobies, becoming invasive, achieving high colonization rates and constituting frequent prey for predators. However, little is known about the effectiveness of antipredator behaviors invaders, which may shape role in invaded community contribute to invasion success. We compared invasive gobies s...