Understanding Nutrition and Metabolism of Threatened, Data-Poor Rheophilic Fishes in Context of Riverine Stocking Success-Barbel as a Model for Major European Drainages?

Large-bodied, river-migrating, rheophilic fishes (cyprinids) such as barbel Barbus barbus, nase Chondrostoma nasus, asp Leuciscus aspius, and vimba bream Vimba vimba are threatened in major European drainages. This represents the subject of our present study. Their hatchery nutrition prior to river-release is mostly on a hit-and-trial or carp-based diet basis. The study demonstrates an alternative approach to decide optimum nutrition for these conservation-priority and nutritionally data-poor fishes. The study revealed barbel as a central representative species in terms of wild body composition among other native rheophilic cyprinids considered (asp, nase, vimba bream). Taking barbel as a model, the study shows that barbel or rheophilic cyprinids may have carnivorous-like metabolism and higher requirements of S-containing, aromatic, branched-chain amino acids (AAs) than carps. Besides, there are important interactions of AAs and fatty acids (FAs) biosynthesis to consider. Only proper feeding of nutritionally well-selected diets may contribute to river stocking mandates such as steepest growth trajectory (≈less time in captivity), ideal size-at-release, body fitness (≈blend-in with wild conspecifics, predator refuge), better gastrointestinal condition, maximized body reserves of functional nutrients, and retention efficiencies (≈uncompromised physiology). Considering important physiological functions and how AA–FA interactions shape them, hatchery-raised fishes on casually chosen diets may have high chances of physiological, morphological, and behavioral deficits (≈low post-stocking survivability). Based on the observations, optimum nutrient requirements of juvenile (0+ to 1+ age) barbels are suggested. Future efforts may consider barbels as a nutrition model for conservation aquaculture of threatened and data poor rheophilic cyprinids of the region.

Harvest Rates of Rheophilic Fish Vimba vimba, Chondrostoma nasus, and Barbus barbus Have a Strong Relationship with Restocking Rates and Harvest Rates of Their Predator Silurus glanis in Lowland Mesotrophic Rivers in Central Europe

The European catfish Silurus glanis (Linnaeus, 1758) is an expanding apex piscivorous predator whose predation may drive fish harvest rates and fish populations. This study aimed to analyze the relationships between intensive catfish stocking/harvesting and harvest rates of putative catfish prey–three rheophilic fish species: vimba bream Vimba vimba, nase Chondrostoma nasus, and barbel Barbus barbus (Linnaeus, 1758). The GAM (generalized additive model) was used to analyze the relationships between the harvest rate and the stocking intensity rate of the catfish and the three rheophilic fish species. The harvest rates and stocking intensity rates were obtained from mandatory angling logbooks collected from 38,000 individual recreational anglers by the Czech Fishing Union on 176 fishing sites over the years 2005–2017 in central Bohemia and Prague (the Czech Republic). Our results show that a higher intensity of catfish stocking and harvesting resulted in a lower harvest rate of rheophilic fishes. Conversely, the stocking rates of rheophilic fishes were not significantly correlated to their harvest rates. In conclusion, a significant negative relationship was found between the harvest rate and the restocking rates of rheophilic fishes and their predator, suggesting that fisheries managers should not perform intensive stocking of both catfish and rheophilic fishes on the same rivers.

SPECIES COMPOSITION AND RELATIVE POPULATION SIZE OF FISHES IN THE OSTER RIVER (THE DESNA RIVER BASIN): 50 YEARS ANALYSIS

Inroduction. Changes in the species composition and population size of freshwater fihes are determined by deformations of the habitat in Ukraine and are characterized by a pronounced negative dynamics. Deformation of ichthyofauna is caused by extinction of a number of aboriginal fihes and emergence of alien species.Aim. To establish the current species composition and relative population size of fih species in the Oster River and the dynamics of these characteristics over a 50-yearlong period in the context of negative transformations of the ichthyofauna of the rivers of Ukraine.Results. Comparative study of the species composition and relative population size of fih species in the fih catches by small-river fihing gear in the Oster river was conducted during the period since 1971-72 till 2019. During this time considerable changes in species composition took place. The following species disappeared from the catches: Leuciscus leuciscus, Leuciscus idus, Chondrostoma nasus, Carassius carassius, Blicca bojerkna and Neogobius flviatilis, they were replaced by three invasion species (Percottus glenni, Pseudorasbora parva, Proterorhinus marmoratus). The changes in the dominant species took place, thus, in the Oster ichthyocene the species with the short life cycle started to prevail, the share of invasion species increased from 1.4 to 37%, and the share of initial marine fih among them is very low. The comparison with the river systems of the Stugna and the Lower Dnipro represents the fact that the mentioned negative tendencies are common for the whole Dnipro system, however the situation in the Lower Dnipro must be considered less critical than in the Oster and the Stugna rivers. The fact that the catches of industrial fih decreased more than 10 times in the Desna river during this period of time gives the reason to consider that the dramatic reduction of the absolute number of their populations occurred in the Oster river as well. That is why even relatively safe species (Abramis brama, Rutilus ritilus, Scardinius erythrophthalmus, Esox lucius, Perca flviatilis, Alburnus alburnus, Squalius cephalus) are in critical situation in this transformed river system.Сonclusions. In the ichthyocene of the Oster River over a 50-year period there have been signifiant changes in species composition, relative and absolute population numbers associated with the extinction and reduction of population sizes of rheophilic species and fih that are adapted to life in the flodplain. The modern Oster River is dominated by invasive and short-cycle species. The obtained tendencies in the dynamics of the ichthyofauna of the Oster River are similar to the nature of changes in other river systems of Ukraine, although they occur at a faster pace, which is characteristic of the smallest plain rivers.

Correlation between Heavy Metal-Induced Histopathological Changes and Trophic Interactions between Different Fish Species

This study assessed the distribution of heavy metals in the gills, kidney, and liver, correlated with the severity of histopathological changes, of three fish species with different feeding habitats (Barbus barbus, Squalius cephalus, and Chondrostoma nasus) from the Crișul Negru river, Romania. The levels of copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in fish tissues were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Histopathology and the expressions of TNF-α and proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were investigated by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. Our data suggest a significant correlation between the bioconcentration level of metals and structural changes. The carnivorous species was the most affected compared to the omnivorous and herbivorous ones, and the most affected organ was the kidney. Moreover, the correlation of tissue damage with the PCNA and TNF-α expression levels revealed that the herbivorous species presented less extended lesions, likely due to higher activated repair mechanisms and lower levels of inflammation. In conclusion, our data and the subsequent statistical analysis suggest that feeding behavior could be correlated with the histopathological alterations and might be used for a more profound evaluation of aquatic environment safety and analysis of aquatic ecosystems.

B Chromosomes and Cytogenetic Characteristics of the Common Nase Chondrostoma nasus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Supernumerary B chromosomes (Bs) are very promising structures, among others, in that they are an additional genomic compartment for evolution. In this study, we tested the presence and frequency of B chromosomes and performed the first cytogenetic examination of the common nase (Chondrostoma nasus). We investigated the individuals from two populations in the Vistula River basin, in Poland, according to the chromosomal distribution of the C-bands and silver nucleolar organizer regions (Ag-NORs), using sequential staining with AgNO3 and chromomycin A3 (CMA3). Furthermore, we analyzed the chromosomal localization of two rDNA families (45S and 5S rDNA) using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with rDNA probes. Chondrostoma nasus individuals showed a standard (A) chromosome set consisting of 2n = 50: 12 metacentric, 32 submetacentric, and 6 acrocentric chromosomes (NF = 94). Fourteen out of the 20 analyzed individuals showed 1–2 mitotically unstable submetacentric B chromosomes of different sizes. Six of them, in 14.1% of the analyzed metaphase plates, had a single, medium-sized submetacentric B (Bsm) chromosome (2n = 51) with a heterochromatic block located in its pericentromeric region. The other seven individuals possessed a Bsm (2n = 51) in 19.4% of the analyzed metaphase plates, and a second Bsm chromosome (2n = 52), the smallest in the set, in 15.5% of metaphase plates, whereas one female was characterized by both Bsm chromosomes (2n = 52) in 14.3% of the analyzed metaphase plates. AgNORs, GC-rich DNA sites, and 28S rDNA hybridization sites were observed in the short arms of two submetacentric chromosome pairs of A set. The constitutive heterochromatin was visible as C bands in the centromeric regions of almost all Chondrostoma nasus chromosomes and in the pericentromeric region of several chromosome pairs. Two 5S rDNA hybridization sites in the pericentromeric position of the largest acrocentric chromosome pair were observed, whereas two other such sites in co-localization on a smaller pair of NOR chromosomes indicate a species-specific character. The results herein broaden our knowledge in the field of B chromosome distribution and molecular cytogenetics of Chondrostoma nasus: a freshwater species from the Leuciscidae family.

Genetic diversity of endangered Chondrostoma nasus in the River Rhine system: Conservation genetics considerations on stocking and reintroduction

Reintroduction, stocking and translocation of freshwater fish are of growing concern given their importance for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem functioning. For successful management and stocking programmes, it is essential to incorporate genetics-based approaches. The nase (Chondrostoma nasus) constituted one of the most common fish species in European rivers. Its highly specialised and migratory nature exposed the species to human pressures, and thus, promoted its decline. Current knowledge of the genetic structure of C. nasus is considerably limited for Europe as a whole and for Germany specifically. To overcome this lack of information we present original data on C. nasus from different tributaries of the River Rhine. We analysed nine microsatellite markers and mtDNA Cytochrome b sequences to assess the distribution of genetic diversity and structure of this species across the study area. With the exception of the Lake Constance/Alpine Rhine population, C. nasus exhibited high gene flow within the Rhine system, and therefore, limited geographical genetic differences between populations where migration is not prevented by human intervention. The present study provides new insights into the levels of genetic variability of C. nasus in the Rhine system, providing useful information for guiding reintroduction and stocking programmes. Population genetic information will improve future preservation and management of this valuable freshwater fish species in Germany and beyond.