A. O. Zvezdin

On methods of determination of the rheoreaction type in fish

Type of rheoreaction is investigated in some species of salmonids, cyprinids, and percids. Three types of rheoreaction are discerned: positive (the fish prefer to move against the current), static (the fish retain their position in the current), and negative (the fish prefer to move downstream). It is shown that the type of rheoreaction is probabilistic and is determined by the motivational state of fish. Procedures used in investigation of the rheoreaction type are discussed.

Patterns of movements of fish with negative type of rheoreaction

Experiments carried out on underyearlings of four fish species—roach Rutilus rutilus, carp Cyprinus carpio, bream Abramis brama, and perch Perca fluviatilis—at illumination of 200–300 lx showed that the specimens with negative type of rheoreaction move downstream mainly (47–93%) in the active form, with their heads downstream, and rarer (3–37%) in the active-passive form, with their tails downstream. Increase of motivation for downstream movement caused by starvation leads to a higher part of fish with an active form of movement and to greater speed of movement of underyearlings. Active downstream movement is a manifestation of rheoreaction.

Polymorphism of spawners of the resident form of European river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis (Petromyzontidae)

Data on polymorphism (plastic and meristic characters) are obtained for spawners of resident nonparasitic form of European river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis from the Serebristaya River. The new data verify the diagnosis of this species and contribute to the formulation of a hypothesis on the presence of several phenotypic groups: dwarf, small-sized, and common. Analysis of plastic characters and of the number of trunk myomeres demonstrated that the values of these characters reliably depend on position of lampreys in a certain discerned group. Some aspects of biology of this species are discussed: spawning and interaction between resident nonparasitic river and migrating parasitic lampreys.

On the mechanism of orientation and navigation of sockeye salmon underyearlings (Oncorhynchus nerka Walb.) during feeding migration in the inlet–lake–outlet system

Mechanisms that define the choice of migration direction of sockeye underyearlings in the water system of Lake Kurilskoe have been experimentally explored. The choice of direction of feeding migration and maintenance of lake habitats by sockeye are determined by the combination of two factors: water current and lake odor. In the presence of lake odor, early juveniles select migration against the water current; without lake odor they select downstream migration. Such a combination of factors is universal for the orientation of the early juveniles of sockeye that have emerged in the outlet, inlets, and right in the lake.

Rheoreaction type of early juveniles of sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka in the Ozernaya River and Lake Kurilskoe

Rheoreaction of early juveniles of sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka is experimentally investigated, including different spatial groups (denatant migrants, contranatant migrants, specimens living in bays and at closed river banks, juveniles from the coastal zone of the lake). Investigation is made in water of the river flowing from the lake and in water of the stream flowing into the lake. It is shown that the rheoreaction (the type of rheoreaction) is one of behavioral mechanisms performing feeding migration of early juveniles of sockeye salmon. Contranatant migrants that reached the feeding lake retain the positive type of rheoreaction, which favors the exit of juveniles from the zone of discharge exclusion and prevents the drift of juveniles to the river at night at poorer conditions for orientation. Juveniles placed into the water of the inflowing stream manifest a sharply negative rheoreaction type contributing to their rapid lakeward migration for feeding. In water of two steams (taking its beginning in the lake and flowing into it) such type of rheoreaction is observed which ensures migration of sockeye juveniles to their principal feeding water body-Lake Kurilskoe.

Photopreferendum of migratory and nonmigratory larvae of European river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis

In the light gradient installation, the larvae of European river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis of 0+ age, migrating downstream (downstream migrants), are distributed predominantly over the zone of dusk illumination (150–1 lx) and less so over the daylight zone (2500–150 lx) and night illumination zone (<1 lx). In 0+ larvae that passed over to the sedentary lifestyle, the photopreferendum changes: they avoid the dusk and daytime illumination and prefer nighttime illumination. Such photopreferendum is retained in later larvae of lamprey (1+ and older).

Comparison of behavioral and physiological–biochemical indices in fingerlings of roach Rutilus rutilus (L.) from the Ild River and Ild Bay in the Rybinsk Reservoir

It is found that the size–mass, physiological–biochemical, and behavioral parameters in roach fingerlings from the upper and lower (mouth) reaches of the Ild River differed during the autumn season. Compared with the roach from the upper reach of the river, the fingerlings of the same age from the mouth part have larger lengths and weights and a higher concentration of cations in the body. In experiments, the fish from the mouth part selected a lower (~4°C) temperature and showed a lower resistance to the water flow. The reason for differences in behavioral responses in two groups of juveniles of roach is probably, on the one hand, their physiological and biochemical characteristics and, on the other hand, the motivational component of fish behavior in different environments—hydrological, thermal, and hydrochemical conditions and different food items in geographically remote parts of the same river. It is assumed that in autumn roach fingerlings migrate from the littoral of the mouth part of the river into deeper parts under a decrease in water temperature before the downstream migration of the fingerlings in the rivers. This is probably due to the earlier achievement of the migration status of fingerlings from the mouth part than that in fish from the upper reach of the river and due to the peculiarities of their physiological state. Negative rheoreaction, manifested in the experiment in ~80% of the fish from the bay of the reservoir and ~55% of the fish from river, confirms the fish readiness to migrate and is likely due to the behavioral mechanism of fish migration from the littoral and downstream the river.

Biological characteristics of smolts of European river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis from the Chernaya River basin (Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea)

Smolts of European river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis from the Chernaya River basin are described. Expansion of variation limits is suggested on the basis of comparative analysis of taxonomically significant characters of this population and the species area. Structure of gonads and intestine of specimens preparing themselves for the feeing phase of their life cycle is described and some changes during the feeding phase are reconstructed. The scheme of analysis and description of smolts is suggested, the last may be applied to other lamprey species. The term “smolt” is rightfully used for juvenile anadromous lampreys making downstream migration. Biology of parasitic nonanadromous species of lampreys during the feeding phase (juvenile postmetamorphic phase) differs from biology of smolts.

Migration patterns and phenotypic diversity of underyearlings of sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka in the Ozernaya River basin (Kamchatka)

Migratory behavior, size composition, and feeding patterns of the underyearlings of sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka from different intraspecific phenotypic groups in the Ozernaya River basin are studied. Complex organization of main phenotypic groups is demonstrated: several labile spatial-temporal groups are defined within them. The discovered phenotypic polymorphism is temporal and manifested by the sockeye salmon underyearlings only during the period in which they reach the main rearing grounds.

Experimental study of the European river lamprey, Lampetra fluviatilis (L.), migratory behavior in the period of initial dispersion of juveniles

Mechanisms of the initial dispersion of early larvae resident and anadromous forms of the European river lamprey have been experimentally explored. The flow (channel flow and underflow), type of bottom, and illumination are the key factors influencing the beginning and the end of downstream migration. Larvae leave the pebble ground of the spawning area when there is underflow and illumination is reduced to the night level, and then they migrate downstream in the channel stream. It is shown that the individuals dispersing from the spawning areas have switched to exogenous feeding. The end of the dispersion occurs after larvae reach oozy habitats of the riverbed, where they can find optimal feeding conditions.