A fry travois and an X‑80 ichthyoplankton net were used for accounting: with its help, rolling larvae of semi-aquatic fish were caught. During the work, four daily stations were carried out, recording the flow velocity (0.6–1.4 m/s) and the water temperature (19-25 °C). At the same time, the food supply for juveniles was evaluated, water samples were taken for hydrochemical analyses, and the spawning conditions of late—spawning species such as carp, catfish, silver carp, gaster, rudd, tench, and others were studied.
The largest accumulation of juveniles was recorded in early July in the coastal sections of watercourses and in the cool zone of the Main, Gandurinsky and Kirovsky banks. Preliminary data show an increase in the number of juvenile roach, pike, rapeseed and perch compared to last year. The number of pike juveniles is especially noticeable — individual individuals reached 20 cm by the beginning of July.
The research took place during a period of decline in water levels: temporarily flooded reservoirs disappeared, and laced (residual) reservoirs formed — juveniles accumulated in them before they could escape into the river network. Most of these reservoirs were found in the Ikryaninsky, Travinsky and Gandurinsky spawning massifs; silver crucian carp, gaster, carp and pike predominated there. In some preserved low—lying areas, there were also producers of late-spawning fish - rudd, carp, carp, catfish.
The collected materials will help assess the effectiveness of natural fish reproduction in the conditions of 2026.
VNIRO Press Service
