In this regard, the attention of scientists to the biology of these species in modern conditions of existence, forecasting the dynamics of the number and structure of populations, and assessing the effectiveness of spawning requires close study.
Specialists from the Laboratory of Physiology and Biochemistry of the Southern Branch of the Scientific Research Center of the Russian Federation "All–Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography" (VNIRO) conducted an expedition to the main reservoirs - the spawning grounds of walleye and taran. These are the Vostochny, Akhtarsky, Beisugsky and Yeisk estuaries of the Sea of Azov. During the multi-day trip, material was selected to assess the health status of fish, the content of energy and plastic resources of the body in the conditions of spawning.
As explained by Anna Voikina, head of the Laboratory of Physiology and Biochemistry, each of the areas of physiological and biochemical research reflects certain aspects of the vital activity of these species. For example, the content of ergoplastic (reserve nutrients) substances in the body of fish significantly determines their ability to make spawning migrations, often in the absence or reduced nutrition, as well as, and this has been proven by numerous studies, to form a fund of germ cells (eggs and spermatozoa) for current spawning. After all, in fish that experience a shortage of such resources, germ cells can slow down or even completely stop developing, even if the fish is of active reproductive age and has a large body size.
Another interesting area of research is the influence of the ecological situation in reservoirs on the health of fish. One of the indicators here may be blood, which reflects all the processes taking place in the body. According to peripheral blood parameters, conditions such as the presence or absence of inflammation, stress in response to environmental factors, and the presence or absence of genotoxic disorders that can affect the development of embryos can be noted.
All the material collected during the expedition was delivered to Rostov-on-Don for further laboratory processing. The scientists promised to share the results after receiving accurate data.
For reference: in parallel with these works, a comprehensive expedition study was conducted with the participation of employees of the Aquaculture Center and the Krasnodarsky department at all four spawning and growing farms Krasnodar Territory: Beisugsky, Vostochno-Akhtarsky, Chernoerkovsky and Yeisk experimental farms for fish breeding and reproduction. Experts collected data on fish breeding and biological indicators of walleye and taran producers entering the spawning area, as well as on the state of the habitat in the waters of the NVH.
VNIRO Press Service