Annual gonadal cycle of the invasive catfish brown bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus from an oxbow lake of Vistula river, Poland

Abstract The brown bullhead is a fish native to North America that became an invasive species after being introduced into the waters of Europe and other regions. Studies on its sexual cycle and fecundity were conducted on a population from an oxbow lake of the central Vistula River in Poland. The fi...

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Main Authors: Lucyna Kirczuk, Katarzyna Dziewulska, Przemysław Czerniejewski, Adam Brysiewicz, Jacek Rechulicz, Janusz Ligięza
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10597-8
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author Lucyna Kirczuk
Katarzyna Dziewulska
Przemysław Czerniejewski
Adam Brysiewicz
Jacek Rechulicz
Janusz Ligięza
author_facet Lucyna Kirczuk
Katarzyna Dziewulska
Przemysław Czerniejewski
Adam Brysiewicz
Jacek Rechulicz
Janusz Ligięza
author_sort Lucyna Kirczuk
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The brown bullhead is a fish native to North America that became an invasive species after being introduced into the waters of Europe and other regions. Studies on its sexual cycle and fecundity were conducted on a population from an oxbow lake of the central Vistula River in Poland. The fish ranged in age from 1 + to 9+. The average body length (SL) was 14.4 ± 3.4 cm. Individuals as young as 1 + were already mature. Females lay eggs multiple times from mid-April to mid-June, with absolute fecundity averaging 3227 oocytes and relative fecundity at 46 oocytes g−1. The highest mean GSI of 1.9 during spawning was recorded in June. The reproductive tract of males takes the shape of lobes and consists of a paired cranial region formed by testes and a caudal region of undefined function. In males, semi-cystic spermatogenesis occurs, with secondary spermatocytes leaving cysts. Males overwinter with tubules filled with spermatids and initiate spermatozoa formation. The highest average GSI of 0.49 was recorded in early April. The brown bullhead observed in the new habitat was characterized by multiple egg laying, earlier maturation of individuals, and spawning in the earlier part of the calendar year, i.e. mid-April to mid-June, compared to its native habitat.
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spelling doaj-art-059e7df2e5fa4b4ea5f7af97e73eebcd2025-08-20T04:03:03ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111510.1038/s41598-025-10597-8Annual gonadal cycle of the invasive catfish brown bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus from an oxbow lake of Vistula river, PolandLucyna Kirczuk0Katarzyna Dziewulska1Przemysław Czerniejewski2Adam Brysiewicz3Jacek Rechulicz4Janusz Ligięza5Department of Hydrobiology, Institute of Biology, University of SzczecinDepartment of Hydrobiology, Institute of Biology, University of SzczecinDepartment of Commodity, Quality Assessment, Process Engineering and Human Nutrition, Westpomeranian University of Technology in SzczecinInstitute of Technology and Life Sciences - National Research InstituteDepartment of Hydrobiology and Protection of Ecosystems, University of Life Sciences in LublinNational Inland Fisheries Research InstituteAbstract The brown bullhead is a fish native to North America that became an invasive species after being introduced into the waters of Europe and other regions. Studies on its sexual cycle and fecundity were conducted on a population from an oxbow lake of the central Vistula River in Poland. The fish ranged in age from 1 + to 9+. The average body length (SL) was 14.4 ± 3.4 cm. Individuals as young as 1 + were already mature. Females lay eggs multiple times from mid-April to mid-June, with absolute fecundity averaging 3227 oocytes and relative fecundity at 46 oocytes g−1. The highest mean GSI of 1.9 during spawning was recorded in June. The reproductive tract of males takes the shape of lobes and consists of a paired cranial region formed by testes and a caudal region of undefined function. In males, semi-cystic spermatogenesis occurs, with secondary spermatocytes leaving cysts. Males overwinter with tubules filled with spermatids and initiate spermatozoa formation. The highest average GSI of 0.49 was recorded in early April. The brown bullhead observed in the new habitat was characterized by multiple egg laying, earlier maturation of individuals, and spawning in the earlier part of the calendar year, i.e. mid-April to mid-June, compared to its native habitat.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10597-8Brown bullheadInvasive speciesReproductive cycleOvaryTestisTesticular gland
spellingShingle Lucyna Kirczuk
Katarzyna Dziewulska
Przemysław Czerniejewski
Adam Brysiewicz
Jacek Rechulicz
Janusz Ligięza
Annual gonadal cycle of the invasive catfish brown bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus from an oxbow lake of Vistula river, Poland
Scientific Reports
Brown bullhead
Invasive species
Reproductive cycle
Ovary
Testis
Testicular gland
title Annual gonadal cycle of the invasive catfish brown bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus from an oxbow lake of Vistula river, Poland
title_full Annual gonadal cycle of the invasive catfish brown bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus from an oxbow lake of Vistula river, Poland
title_fullStr Annual gonadal cycle of the invasive catfish brown bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus from an oxbow lake of Vistula river, Poland
title_full_unstemmed Annual gonadal cycle of the invasive catfish brown bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus from an oxbow lake of Vistula river, Poland
title_short Annual gonadal cycle of the invasive catfish brown bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus from an oxbow lake of Vistula river, Poland
title_sort annual gonadal cycle of the invasive catfish brown bullhead ameiurus nebulosus from an oxbow lake of vistula river poland
topic Brown bullhead
Invasive species
Reproductive cycle
Ovary
Testis
Testicular gland
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10597-8
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