Genetic monitoring of progeny derived from natural spawning of Acipenser ruthenus Linnaeus, 1758 and Acipenser stellatus Pallas, 1771 as well as their hybrids in the Lower Volga river during the period 2017 to 2019 |
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| Authors: | Alexey A Sergeev Anna E Barmintseva Stanislav A Vlasenko Sergey S Fomin Maria E Tolochkova Natalia I Chavychalova Nikolai S Mugue |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Molecular Genetics, Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography, Moscow, Russian Federation;2. The Laboratory of fish reproduction, Volga-Caspian Branch of Russian Federal Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography, Astrakhan, Russian Federation |
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| Abstract: | The state of natural spawning of sturgeons in the Lower Volga River was investigated through genetic monitoring of juveniles (larvae, fingerlings, subadults) captured at seven traditionally used monitoring locations. Sampling was performed during the period 2017–2019. In total, 460 individuals were caught and genotyped using a set of six microsatellite loci (Afug41, Afug51, Afug135, An20, AoxD161, AoxD165) and mtDNA control region sequencing. The observed species-specific microsatellite alleles revealed the presence of juvenile sturgeons originating from natural spawning also included some hybrids between Acipenser stellatus and A. ruthenus. Thus, the majority of sterlet breeding takes place in natural spawning grounds but also sterlet hybridizes with a small number of stellate sturgeons. Juveniles of other sturgeon species were not identified, and it is concluded that natural spawning activities of Russian sturgeon, beluga and ship sturgeon were insignificant or even absent in the Lower Volga during the observation period. |
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| Keywords: | hybrids Lower Volga natural spawning stellate sturgeon sterlet |
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