Distribution of the Chinese Sleeper Perccottus glenii (Odontobutidae) in fish communities of floodplain waterbodies in the Samarskaya Luka National Park (Samara Region, Russia)

Abstract

The article presents data on the species composition of fish in the waterbodies of the Mordovo floodplain of the Saratov Reservoir in the territory of the Samarskaya Luka National Park. The ichthyofauna of the investigated reservoirs was studied for the first time. The species structure of fish catches in five floodplain lakes and in one channel was analysed. Typological habitat conditions in waterbodies (for example, the flowage of floodplain waterbody and its connection with the Reservoir) effect the species diversity of fish. In four of the six investigated bodies of water, an alien species, the Chinese sleeper, was discovered. The biotope of the species is confined to the thickets of aquatic vegetation, regardless of the depth and place of its growth in the reservoir.

Keywords

• alien species
• Amur sleeper
• Chinese sleeper
• floodplain reservoir
• ichthyofauna
• macrophytes
• Perccottus glenii
• Samarskaya Luka National Park