Is Gambusia holbrooki Known as an Invasive Fish Species in Küçük Menderes River Basin Lakes (Turkey)?

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the level of awareness of the species Gambusia holbrookiGirard, 1859, in the Küçük Menderes River Basin lakes, a species which is considered to be a threat, particularlytothepersistenceofendemicspecies.Interviewsregardingthespeciesinthebasinwere conducted with a total of 104 people between 2016 and 2017. Data were collected from fish-ermen (n=52) and local people (n=52) who had an association with the Belevi, Barutçu, Gebekirse, Kocagöz and Kazan lakes in the Selçuk district, and the method used was that of face-to-face ques-tionnaires.Thequestionnaireincludedquestionsabouttherecognitionofthespeciesandtheharmthatthisspeciesmightcause.Furthermore,somedemographiccharacteristics(e.g.age,marital status and education level) of participants were included in the present study.

Keywords

• mosquitofish
• alien species
• fish awareness
• selçuk