Personality‐dependent inter‐ and intraspecific foraging competition in the invasive round goby, Neogobius melanostomus

This study examines the impact of boldness on foraging competition highly invasive round goby Neogobius melanostomus Pallas 1815. Individual risk tolerance, or boldness, was measured as time to resume movement after a simulated predation strike. Fish that resumed faster were categorized bold, fish took more shy and those fell in between these two categories determined have intermediate boldness. Competitive impacts N. laboratory experiment which interspecific (juvenile Atlantic cod Gadus morhua Linnaeus 1758) intraspecific (intermediate melanostomus) individuals exposed either bold competitors. G. consumed fewer prey when competing with than melanostomus, whereas intermediately not affected by competitor Bold similar amounts prey, number interactions paired did vary depending personality individuals. Therefore, found be dependent. provides evidence individual differences can mediate competitive melanostomus; nonetheless, results also show is governed other mechanisms require further study.