Non-native gobies share predominantly immature parasites with local fish hosts

Non-native species are known to escape their parasites following introduction into a new range, but they also often acquire local as function of time since establishment. We compared the parasite faunas five non-native Ponto-Caspian gobies (Gobiidae) and fish (Perca fluviatilis, Gymnocephalus cernua, Gobio gobio) in three European river systems; Rivers Rhine, Vistula Morava, where were introduced 4-13 years prior study. Overall richness was considerably lower species, same result found at component infra-community levels. Both abundance diversity greatly varied among regions, with highest values River (Wloclawski Reservoir), relatively impoverished fauna Morava (Danube basin). While only half hosts acquired by gobies, most shared related either phylogenetically (percids) or ecologically (benthic gudgeon), including co-introduced monogenean Gyrodactylus proterorhini. As result, similarity communities strongly reflected regional affiliation, while phylogenetic distances between host did not play significant role community composition. In accordance other studies, all range generalists, them infecting larval/subadult stage, indicating possible importance life cycle euryxenous parasites. The absence adult particularly ectoparasites low specificity, may reflect generally environment, an endoparasitic generalists probably factors.