Issues:
Sections:
Issue 90
GENERAL BIOLOGY
UDK: 574.32
ECOLOGICAL APPROACH TO ENHANCING STURGEON SURVIVABILITY IN NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
GALAKTIONOVA Maya L.,
GERASKIN Petr P.,
USHIVTSEV Vladimir B.,
SINITSYNA Tatjyana A.,
KOTENKOV Sergey A.
The article objective is to determine and represent the obtainment of juvenile sturgeon phenotypes with high survivability in order to increase efficiency of their artificial reproduction. The methods of underwater observation were used in the work. A new ecological approach to enhancing sturgeon survivability in the natural environment is based on studying behavioral responses of juvenile Russian sturgeon in the marine conditions. According to the observations made, the juvenile sturgeon behavior patterns may be used to improve the species survivability. The proposed approach considers ecological features and is based on the sturgeon phenotype flexibility. The approach uses the recently discovered and reported phenomenon of the optimum conditions influencing development of phenotypes with enhanced survivability at early ontogenetic stages. The enhanced survivability is defined as an ability to resist extreme environmental factors. Optimum salinity, temperature in the release area of hatchery-reared juvenile sturgeon, and plentiful feeding were used as natural stimulating agents. The proposed approach implies obtaining the phenotypes with enhanced survivability through juvenile sturgeon transfer to the sea areas with heavy feeding ground, their release in the specially prepared adaptation area with dense food patches for fish with weakened food-seeking instinct. In the course of adaptation to marine conditions juvenile sturgeon developed strong behavioral responses of seeking and catching food items in the benthos. Underwater observations allowed to assess sturgeon state with a possibility to influence their survivability and to record the fingerlings headed out to the sea from this area.
Pages: 6 - 13
Date: 15.09.2023