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Co-occurring and morphologically similar species have adapted to differential niches to minimize competition. An invasive alien species can occupy an ‘empty niche’ in introduced ranges. Alternatively, the invader may occupy an overlapping niche and compete with native species to a certain degree. In a Western European lowland brook with high nutrient loads, we studied a benthic community of five fish species, including two alien species: an Asian weatherfish (   Misgurnus   bipartitus   ) and the western tubenose goby (   Proterorhinus   semilunaris   ). The native species concerned stone loach (   Barbatula   barbatula   ), spined loach (   Cobitis   taenia   ), and gudgeon (   Gobio   gobio   ). Because of the unknown effects of the invaders on native benthic fish species, the trophic position, isotopic niche overlap, and potential food competition among these species were identified using nitrogen and carbon stable isotopes. The trophic levels of the five fish species indicated that they are secondary consumers. The body size of native fish species correlated significantly negatively with their δ 15 N (‰) signature, in contrast with the invaders indicating that the latter are generalists. Significant isotopic niche overlap was observed among all benthic species. The degree of niche overlap of    M.   bipartitus    was the highest with    G.   gobio    (91.8%).    Proterorhinus   semilunaris    showed the highest degree of niche overlap with    B.   barbatula    (91.2%). It was notable that the observed niche overlap between the native    B.   barbatula    and    C.   taenia    was high (99.2%). Overlap between    M.   bipartitus    and    P.   semilunaris    was low (8.9%), indicating little resource competition between these alien species. Native species showed wider isotopic niches than the invaders. Bayesian mixing models revealed that native and alien species slightly differ in their main diet. The results suggest that the invaders are plastic in their resource use, leading to niche differentiation and promoting the co-existence of benthic fish species.

aquatic invasions

﻿Trophic position and niche overlap of an Asian weatherfish (   Misgurnus   bipartitus   ), western tubenose goby (   Proterorhinus   semilunaris   ) and native benthic fish species

﻿Trophic position and niche overlap of an Asian weatherfish ( Misgurnus bipartitus ), western tubenose goby ( Proterorhinus semilunaris ) and native benthic fish species

Trophic position and niche overlap of an Asian weatherfish ( Misgurnus bipartitus ), western tubenose goby ( Proterorhinus semilunaris ) and native benthic fish species