Jan Kusznierz

The First Attempt to Artificially Reproduce the Endangered Cyprinid Lake Minnow Eupallasella Perenurus (Pallas)

The standard artificial reproduction technique with the use of Ovopel (GnRH analogue) was evaluated for the critically endangered cyprinid species in Poland, the lake minnow Eupallasella perenurus. Wild spawners were angled at the beginning of the spawning season. Only females with a condition coefficient value higher than the mean were included in the experiment and then stimulated with Ovopel. Group A (n = 20) was given standard treatment (0.2 pellet kg−1 and 1.0 pellet kg−1 after 12 h), whereas group B (n = 8) was treated with a single dose of 2.0 pellets kg−1. After fertilisation with the dry method, the glutinous eggs attached to the bottom of flow-through aquaria were incubated at 17.1–18.4°C. Throughout incubation (85D°), dead eggs were removed and counted. The same was done with dead larvae, those with deformed bodies or those with empty alimentary tracts after 2 days of external feeding. Two injections of Ovopel resulted in a significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher ovulation rate in comparison with the single dose (70 and 25% in groups A and B, respectively). The individual hatching rates were very high (98.4–100%), as was the share of good quality larvae (91.1 and 96.5% of stripped eggs in groups A and B, respectively). These results indicate that the standard propagation method used with commercially important cyprinid species can also be used to successfully breed E. perenurus.

On the variation and distribution of the lake minnow, Eupallasella percnurus (Pall.)

On the variation and distribution of the lake minnow, Eupallasella percnurus (Pall.) The lake minnow, Eupallasella percnurus (Pall.), has a vast distribution range which extends from Poland to the Chukchi Peninsula, Sakhalin, Hokkaido, and Korea. This area and its adjacent regions are inhabited by an array of other minnow species which are morphologically close to the lake minnow and are currently included in the genera Phoxinus and Rhynchocypris. However, their systematic relationships remain largely obscure. The vast distribution range of the species, including numerous river systems divided by many mountain ranges that provide it with a very diverse and rich hydrographic and glaciological history, favors the evolution of locally differentiated forms. As a result, five subspecies have been distinguished within the lake minnow: E. p. percnurus; E. p. stagnalis; E. p. ignatowi; E. p. mantschuricus; E. p. sachalinensis. Because of great morphological variation, their status is still the subject of debate. The most recent morphological studies suggest a separate specific status of the Volga minnow E. p. stagnalis. O zróżnicowaniu i rozmieszczeniu strzebli błotnej Eupallasella percnurus (Pall.) Strzebla błotna Eupallasella percnurus (Pall.) odznacza się bardzo szerokim zasięgiem występowania sięgającym od Polski po Półwysep Czukocki, Sachalin, Hokkaido i Koreę. Na tym rozległym obszarze oraz terenach bezpośrednio do niego przyległych występuje ponadto szereg innych gatunków strzebli morfologicznie zbliżonych do strzebli błotnej, zaliczanych aktualnie do rodzajów Phoxinus i Rhynchocypris. Ich relacje systematyczne w znacznej mierze pozostają ciągle niejasne. Ogromny zasięg występowania gatunku obejmujący szereg dorzeczy wielkich rzek, podzielony wieloma pasmami górskimi i w związku z tym odznaczający się bardzo zróżnicowaną, bogatą historią hydrograficzną i glacjologiczną, z założenia sprzyja powstaniu zróżnicowania lokalnych form. W efekcie u strzebli błotnej wyróżniono pięć podgatunków E. p. percnurus, E. p. stagnalis, E. p. ignatowi, E. p. mantschuricus, E. p. sachalinensis. Ze względu na dużą zmienność morfologiczn ą status tych form w dalszym ciągu budzi wiele wątpliwości. W prezentowanej pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań morfo-metrycznych przeprowadzonych z wykorzystaniem metody Truss Network oraz analizy kanonicznej, do których użyto 100 osobników strzebli błotnej reprezentujących 5 populacji pochodzących z dorzeczy Peczory, Wołgi, Obu i Leny oraz z wybrzeża Morza Ochockiego. Uzyskane rezultaty wskazują zasadność nadania strzebli wołżańskiej E. p. stagnalis statusu samodzielnego taksonu, najprawdopodobniej na poziomie gatunkowym. Uzyskany obraz zróżnicowania morfometrycznego potwierdza większe podobieństwo populacji z dorzecza Peczory do populacji występujących na wschód od Uralu niż do znacznie bliższej, w sensie geograficznym, populacji z dorzecza Wołgi. Wskazuje to na możliwość zasiedlenia dorzecza Peczory, a prawdopodobnie także Północnej Dźwiny, Dniepru, Dniestru, Wisły i Odry przez strzeble pochodzące z dorzecza Obu, które do dorzecza Peczory mogły dostać się przez połączenie tych dorzeczy usytuowane na północnych stokach Uralu.

Parasites of lake minnow, Eupallasella percnurus (Pall.): The state of knowledge and threats

Parasites of lake minnow, Eupallasella percnurus (Pall.): The state of knowledge and threats The lake minnow, Eupallasella percnurus (Pall.), has not been subject to any comprehensive ichthyoparasitological study; most information on its parasites comes from studies focused on other fish species. The knowledge of the geographical distribution of its parasites is especially incomplete. This paper presents the most up-to-date list of E. percnurus parasites throughout its distribution range. Most of the trematodes, tapeworms, and nematodes found in this host are larval forms. This means that the parasites use the E. percnurus mainly as an intermediate or paratenic host, and not the definitive host, which is important in light of potential parasite pathogenicity. Pasożyty strzebli błotnej Eupallasella percnurus (Pall.) - stan zbadania i zagrożenia Strzebla błotna jest przykładem ryby, która nie doczekała się jak dotąd żadnego kompleksowego opracowania ichtioparazytologicznego, a większość informacji o jej pasożytach pochodzi z badań, których głównymi obiektami były inne gatunki ryb. Szczególnie niekompletna jest wiedza o rozmieszczeniu geograficznym pasożytów tego żywiciela. W pracy przedstawiono możliwie najbardziej aktualną listę pasożytów strzebli błotnej z całego areału jej występowania. Zwrócono uwagę na fakt, że zdecydowana większość stwierdzonych u tego żywiciela przywr, tasiemców i nicieni stanowiło formy larwalne. Oznacza to, iż dla pasożytów strzebla błotna pełni przede wszystkim rolę żywiciela pośredniego lub paratenicznego, a nie głównego żywiciela ostatecznego, a cecha ta wydaje się być istotna w odniesieniu do potencjalnej patogenności pasożytów.

Broad-Scale Morphometric Diversity in the Lake Minnow Eupallasella percnurus (Cyprinidae : Pisces)

The lake minnow Eupallasella percnurus is distributed throughout a vast area that includes most of Europe and northern Asia and displays a wide range of morphological variation, which resulted in five distinguished subspecies. There are no previous conclusive morphometric analyses of samples from different parts of the distribution area. This paper presents results of multidimensional analyses of morphometric characters of 19 widely scattered populations of the species. The results of the analyses show considerable inter-population differences. Morphometric evidence suggests that three morphologically different groups exist within the studied species. The population from the Volga river basin represents a distinct species tentatively called the ‘Volga lake minnow’. The populations from Poland; central, northern and northeastern Russia; and northern Kazakhstan form a group closely related to the nominative subspecies E. percnurus percnurus, whereas populations from southeastern Russia (including Sakhalin) and Hokkaido probably form a separate subspecies.

Morphometric Exploration of Diversity of the Eurasian Minnow Phoxinus phoxinus: A Case Study of a Widely Distributed Palaearctic Fish

The Eurasian minnow Phoxinus phoxinus is widely distributed across most of Europe and northern Asia. It displays considerable morphological diversity and variable colouration. Despite this it is still believed that its whole distribution holds only one monotypic species. There are no previous conclusive morphometric analyses of samples from different parts of its distribution area. This paper presents results of multidimensional analyses of morphometric characters of 14 widely scattered populations of the species. Our analyses show considerable inter-population differences. Morphometric evidence suggests that populations from the Amur River system and central Asia may represent new, distinct species or subspecies. The status of the remaining populations remains unclear.

Parasites of Hucho hucho (L.), Hucho taimen (Pall.), and Parahucho perryi (Brevoort) (Salmonidae, Actinopterygii) – the state of knowledge

Abstract Representatives of the genera Hucho and Parahucho are examples of fish that have yet been subjects of comprehensive parasitological examination. This paper presents the most current list of parasites of the three best documented species of the genera Hucho (Hucho hucho, Hucho taimen) and Parahucho (Parahucho perryi) from the entire range of their occurrence. Notably, the decided majority of the parasitic worms, or helminths, identified in these hosts (trematodes, cestodes, nematodes) are represented by intestinal adult forms. This indicates that the fish of the genera Hucho and Parahucho are the definitive hosts of these parasites, as opposed to that of intermediate or paratenic host. This fact is significant in terms of potential parasitic pathogenesis and the consequent lowered host resistance to disadvantageous environmental impacts.

Ichthyofauna of Wrocław - the Odra River, its tributaries and the selected city reservoirs.

The ichthyofauna of the Odra River, its major tributaries (Olawa, Widawa, Bystrzyca, Śleza) and selected reservoirs (sand and clay pits, city park ponds, recreational reservoirs, city moat) within the city of Wroclaw is described on the basis of data obtained in our own studies (electrofishing and net-catching), quality control catches of the Polish Angling Association, analysis of stocking registers, control and analysis of angling inquiries and interviewing anglers in 1980-2010. Forty six fish and lamprey species were recorded: 42 in the Odra River, and 41 in its tributaries. Twenty eight species were recorded from the city reservoirs; they represented euryoecious and stagnophilous ecological groups. The study area holds nine species which are legally protected in Poland (Lampetra planeri, Acipenser oxirynchus, Gobio albipinnatus, Rhodeus sericeus, Eupallasella percnurus, Cobitis taenia, Sabanejewia baltica (=aurata), Misgurnus fossilis, Barbatula barbatula) and five species regarded as endangered in the country (Barbus barbus, Vimba vimba, Chondrostoma nasus, Hucho hucho, Salmo salar). Eleven species occurring in the water courses and reservoirs of Wroclaw are protected within the EU Habitats Directive (92/43/EWG). Ten species introduced accidentally or on purpose occur in the city. Despite the high anthropopressure, including intensive angling, the Wroclaw waters still hold diverse, and the Odra River itself - even rich - fish communities.