Microhabitat niche partitioning in sympatric species of genus Gouania Nardo, 1833 (Actinopterygii: Gobiesocidae) in the Northern Adriatic

master's thesis

• Title (croatian): Diferencijacija niša mikrostaništa simpatrijskih vrsta roda Gouania Nardo, 1833 (Actinopterygii: Gobiesocidae) sjevernog Jadrana
• Author: Maja Pamić
• Mentor: Zoran Marčić (mentor)
• Committee member: Zoran Marčić (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Sven Jelaska (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Kristina Pikelj (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Nenad Buzjak (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Alan Moro (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science; (Department of Biology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2021-02-25, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Biology

Abstract

Rod Gouania endemičan je za Sredozemno more i predstavnik je rijetkih vrsta europskih kralješnjaka koji isključivo nastanjuju šljunkovitu obalu. Do 2019. godine smatralo se da je ovaj rod riba monotipski, ali nedavna filogenetska i taksonomska istraživanja dokazuju postojanje pet vrsta, od kojih dvije naseljavaju infralitoralni šljunak sjevernog Jadrana. Dosadašnja istraživanja bila su vezana za vrstu Gouania willdenowi, a njezinom redeskripcijom te pronalaskom novih vrsta javila se potreba za novim ekološkim istraživanjima. Gouania pigra i Gouania adriatica su simpatrijske vrste koje nastanjuju intersticijski prostor šljunkovitih plaža sjevernog Jadrana, a cilj ovoga istraživanja je bio istražiti diferencijaciju niša njihovog mikrostaništa. U ovom istraživanju uzorkovane su plaže u mjestu Sveta Marina, uvali Krnička luka i u Puli u kojima je prethodno utvrđena prisutnost ciljanih vrsta. Nasumično je kantom uzorkovan šljunak i među šljunkom su tražene jedinke roda Gouania. Utvrđene jedinke roda Gouania determinirane su i izmjerene, dok je šljunak prosijavan kroz niz sita. Statističkom obradom i analizom podataka istražene su razlike u mikrostaništu ovih dviju vrsta. Ustanovljeno je preklapanje niša vrsta G. adriatica i G. pigra, ali s povećanjem veličine tijela utvrđena je diferencijacija u najvećim frakcijama sedimenta. Osim veličine tijela, utvrđeno je da nekoliko granulometrijskih parametra utječu na odabir odgovarajućeg mikrostaništa. Gouania pigra je endem Jadrana i bolje poznavanje njezinog staništa, koji je pod iznimnim antropogenim pritiskom, pomoći će u njegovoj adekvatnoj zaštiti.

Abstract (english)

The genus Gouania is endemic to the Mediterranean Sea and is a representative of rare European vertebrate fauna which exclusively inhabits pebble beaches. Until 2019, this fish genus was considered monotypic, but recent phylogenetic and taxonomic research proved the existence of five species, two of which inhabit the infralittoral gravel of the northern Adriatic. Previous research has been related to the species Gouania willdenowi, but due to its redescription and description of the new species the need for new ecological research arose. Gouania pigra and Gouania adriatica are sympatric species which inhabit the interstitial space of pebble beaches of the northern Adriatic and the aim of this study was to investigate the differentiation of niches of their microhabitat. In this research, the beaches at Sveta Marina, Krnička Luka bay and in Pula, where the presence of both species was previously determined, were sampled. Gravel was sampled at random with a bucket and individuals of the genus Gouania were sought among the gravel. Identified individuals of the genus Gouania were determined and measured, and gravel was sifted through a series of sieves. Statistical processing and analysis of the data has determined the investigated differences in the microhabitat of these two species. An overlap in the niches of G. adriatica and G. pigra was found, but with an increase in body size, partitioning was established in the largest sediment fractions. Along with the body size, several granulometric parameters were found to influence the selection of the suitable microhabitat. Gouania pigra is endemic to the Adriatic and a better knowledge of its habitat, which is under extreme anthropogenic pressure, will help in its adequate protection.

• Keywords: kriptobentičke ribe; infralitoral; šljunčana plaža; endem; priljepnjaci
• Keywords (english): cryptobenthic fishes; infralittoral; pebble beach; endemic; clingfish
• Language: english
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:217:454445
• Study programme: Title: Enviromental Sciences; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra struke znanosti o okolišu (magistar/magistra struke znanosti o okolišu)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access; Embargo expiration date: 2023-02-25
• Created on: 2021-03-08 11:08:43