Piscivorous Vertebrates That May Pose a Risk to the Critically Endangered Mandra Shemaya, <i>Alburnus mandrensis</i> (Drensky, 1943) (Actinopterygii; Leuciscidae)
Dimitar Dimitrov,
Tihomir R. Stefanov,
Vladimir Mladenov,
Ivaylo Dimchev,
Kiril Valkanov,
Nikolay Kolev,
Nikolay Natchev
Affiliations
Dimitar Dimitrov
National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Tihomir R. Stefanov
National Museum of Natural History, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Vladimir Mladenov
Bulgarian Society for Protection of Birds, 8002 Burgas, Bulgaria
Ivaylo Dimchev
Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Kiril Valkanov
Center for Interdisciplinary Investigations, Shumen University “Konstantin Preslavski”, 115 Universitetska Str., 9700 Shumen, Bulgaria
Nikolay Kolev
Department of Biology, Shumen University “Konstantin Preslavski”, 115 Universitetska Str., 9700 Shumen, Bulgaria
Nikolay Natchev
Center for Interdisciplinary Investigations, Shumen University “Konstantin Preslavski”, 115 Universitetska Str., 9700 Shumen, Bulgaria
In the present study, we provide a checklist of the predators that may impact the population of the critically endangered Mandra shemaya (Alburnus mandrensis Drensky, 1943). This endemic fish only inhabits the basin of Mandra Lake in the Burgas district (SE Bulgaria) and data on its biology are scarce. We have confirmed the presence of the Mandra shemaya in Mandra Lake for the last six years (including 2024) and provided an analysis on the potential predatory pressures on A. mandrensis. The recently recorded presence of a highly invasive piscivorous predatory fish in Mandra Lake is considered potentially dangerous for the sustainability of native fish species.
