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Boom‐bust like dynamics of invasive black bullhead ( Ameiurus melas ) in Lake Sava (Serbia)
Author(s) -
Jaćimović Milica,
Lenhardt Mirjana,
KrpoĆetković Jasmina,
Jarić Ivan,
Gačić Zoran,
Hegediš Aleksandar
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
fisheries management and ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1365-2400
pISSN - 0969-997X
DOI - 10.1111/fme.12335
Subject(s) - fishery , biology , population , bust , semelparity and iteroparity , ecology , life history , boom , demography , environmental science , sociology , environmental engineering
The life‐history traits and population dynamics of the black bullhead Ameiurus melas (Rafinesque) were studied monthly from August 2009 to December 2012 in Lake Sava in Belgrade (Serbia). This period included a mass mortality event in May 2011 and subsequent population recovery during 2012. Available evidence suggests the mass mortality was caused by European catfish virus that only affected the black bullhead. Changes in key life‐history traits and the recovery potential (increase in catch‐per‐unit‐effort, doubling of young‐of‐the‐year to adult ratio, earlier maturation and increased fecundity) following the mass mortality event suggest population resilience typical of a recurring boom‐bust pattern and demonstrate the species’ capacity to recover rapidly and re‐establish following disturbance. Repeated systematic mass removals of both juveniles and adults (using fyke nets) will be required if future fishery management measures aimed at limiting the population size are to be effective.