DOI: 10.2478/cjf-2025-0001
Original scientific paper
Distribution and risk assessment of potential invasiveness of the Sander lucioperca Linnaeus, 1758 in freshwater ecosystems of Bosnia and Herzegovina
2025, 83 (1) p. 1-8
Aldijana Mušović, Lejla Smailagić Vesnić, Senad Šljuka, Adi Vesnić, Mahir Gajević, Selma Pilić, Samir Đug
Abstract
Pike-perch (Sander lucioperca) is a native species originally present in Black sea basin in Bosnia and Herzegovina. It was introduced into the Neretva river and its reservoir system in the 1990s as a non-native species for the Adriatic basin. After 2009, the species presence was recorded in Boračko lake and Buško Blato reservoir as well. The aim of the paper is to analyse the Pike-perch distribution in Bosnia and Herzegovina on the basis of literature data (from 1975 until today) and define areas where it has been introduced in order to assess the risk of potential invasiveness (using the Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit, AS-ISK). The obtained results indicate that pike-perch belongs in the high-risk category. Since the same has been confirmed in recent research on aquatic ecosystems in other geographical areas, the conclusion is that pike-perch could soon represent a potential threat to native species and aquatic ecosystems of Bosnia and Herzegovina if mitigation measures and are not set.