Conservation of genetic diversity in populations of stellate sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus) of the NW Black Sea and Lower Danube River
Author: Daniela Holostenco
Redactor: None
Year: 2011
Country: Romania
Language: English
Type: Text Document
Keywords: stellate, stellatus, sturgeon, genetic diversity, genetic, stocking, conservation
Description: The stellate sturgeons as well as the other sturgeon populations inhabiting the Lower Danube River system (LDR) and the NW part of the Black Sea have experienced a severe decline due to heavy fishery, river regulation and water pollution. Traditionally, sturgeons have represented a great economic value for the countries along the Danube, being fished mainly for their eggs, the “black caviar”. The human population along the Danube River took advantage of the anadromous behaviour of these fishes and over decades of overfishing they depleted the stocks. In 2006 the Romanian government banned the commercial fishing of sturgeons for a period of 10 years and started a Supportive Stocking Programme of Danube with farmed juveniles originating from wild parents. The present study focuses on whether there are genetically isolated subpopulations among the adult cohorts of stellate sturgeons migrating into the LDR in the year 2010, and whether the genetic characteristics of YOY samples in the same year supports the existence of such subpopulations.
Copyright: Yes