Ecological and Genetic Mechanisms of the Dynamics of Population Abundance in Silver Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus gibelio (Bloch, 1782)) from the Tsimlyansk Reservoir

摘要

Silver crucian carp is the dominant commercial fish of the Tsimlyansk Reservoir (the Don River). A retrospective analysis of the ecological and genetic factors determining the dynamics of the silver crucian carp population at different stages of reservoir functioning was performed. At the most recent stage, the lake-swamp environmental conditions suitable for crucian carp and a lack of any dependence on other cyprinid fishes during the reproduction of this species determine its domination in the reservoir's fish community. The size, sex, and genetic structures of the crucian carp population, characterized by numerous age groups and low linear and weight growth rates, are presented.