The effect of temperature on round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) embryo development

The round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) has expanded its range from the Ponto-Caspian region to new habitats in Europe and North America. It is an invasive species in many areas that has a significant impact on new environments. The round goby inhabits various ecosystems with different environmental conditions. Here, we investigated the optimal temperatures for round goby reproduction. Our experimental study on the development of round goby embryos demonstrated a high tolerance to different temperatures at this stage of ontogenesis. The development of round goby embryos was highly successful (over 90% of larvae hatching) at temperatures ranging from 12°C to 20°C. In contrast, embryo development was less successful at 25°C, while no effective embryo development was observed in temperatures below 12°C. We found that larvae hatching at temperatures between 12°C and 20°C have yolk remnants, which provide an additional supply of energy in the first days after hatching. A wide range of temperature tolerance, along with tolerance to other changing factors, are the features that contribute to successful population growth. Thus, temperature should not be a factor limiting the expansion of round goby in the temperate climate zone.