Assessment of the Lake Kartal (Danube Delta, Ukraine) Fish Assemblage Using Invasive and Non-invasive Methods
Author: Sergii Bushuiev, Viktor Demchenko, Natalia Demchenko, Mykhailo Nesterenko, Oleh Dyakov, Yuriy Kvach
Redactor: Acta Zoologica Bulgarica Editorial Board
Year: 2024
Country: Bulgaria
Language: English
Type: Text Document
Keywords: Danube Delta, Lake Kartal, fish assemblage, eDNA, invasive species, gillnet sampling, biodiversity monitoring, molecular methods
Description: This study presents the first ichthyological assessment in Ukraine using both invasive (gillnet) and non-invasive (eDNA metabarcoding) methods to evaluate the fish assemblage of Lake Kartal in the Danube Delta. A total of 41 fish taxa and two species complexes were identified through combined methods. The results demonstrated a relatively high congruence between methods and revealed the presence of non-indigenous species, indicating implications for ecosystem integrity. The use of eDNA proved especially useful in detecting species potentially overlooked by traditional sampling, emphasizing its value for ecological monitoring in Natural Protected Areas.
Copyright: Yes