Current research projects of the Sturgeon Research Group (SRG) / Danube Delta National Institute (DDNI), Tulcea / Romania
1. SCITES - Sustainable management of Danube Sturgeons under CITES regulations
In October 2001, Romania and N-W Black Sea and lower Danube River (LDR) countries Bulgaria. Serbia & Montenegro and Ukraine started a regional cooperation in the framework of CITES in order to jointly protect and manage their sturgeon populations in a sustainable way. This process lead to establishing of the Black Sea Sturgeon Management Action Group (BSSMAG) and the adoption of a Regional Strategy for the Conservation and Sustainable Management of Sturgeon Populations of the N-W Black Sea and LDR in accordance with CITES. The Strategy includes a Regional Monitoring System of effects of current regional catch quotas on the natural survival of each species (Beluga Sturgeon (Huso huso), Russian Sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii), Stellate Sturgeon (A. stellatus) and Sterlet (A. ruthenus).
Objectives:
- Monitor annual status of sturgeons spawning in the LDR using (i) fishery independent (juvenile production index) and (ii) fishery dependent (sex ratio, age structure, and distribution of length and weight) data.
- Analyze periodically (twice a year) national sturgeon fishery management involving all stakeholders (fishery authorities, CITES MA and SA, research institutes, fishermen associations, traders, aquaculture), including creation and maintaining of a dedicated web page on Romanian Sturgeons and CITES.
- Establish non-detrimental regional catch quota in consultation with partner countries of the region (via BSSMAG).
Partners (mainly for exchange of data):
Institute of Zoology, Sofia / Bulgaria; Institute of Zoology - Belgrade University, Belgrade / Serbia; Black Sea and Azov Sea Laboratory - Southern Research Institute of Marine Fishery and Oceanography (YUGNIRO), Kerch / Ukraine.
Donor:
Romanian Ministry of Environment and Water Management (2000 - 2005)
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| Female Stellate Sturgeon (TW= 7,6kg; TL=126cm; =7 years old/first time spawner) captured in the gillnet (75mm mesh opening) at Km 58 on the St George branch of the Lower Danube River (Romania) | Implanting of sonic tag (code 116) in female Stellate Sturgeon shown in first photo |
2. Genetics, Eco-toxicology and Migration of Danube River Sturgeons (GEMS )
From 1997 - 2000, the biology section of the World Bank funded a project on management of LDR sturgeons. At DDNI Tulcea, the section has created a logistic co-ordination and research base in order to continue and further develop fundamental research on genetic structure of populations, bio-contamination with pollutants and ecology of natural spawning of sturgeons in the region.
Objectives:
- Sample, extract and preserve DNA to establish a DNA collection for LDR sturgeons.
- Sample tissues from LDR sturgeons and analyze their heavy metal content.
- Study natural spawning of sturgeons in the LDR using telemetry of adults and capture of early life stages (ELS) in the LDR in connection with monitoring of environmental factors (water level / discharge. temperature).
Partners (scientific advice and logistic support):
Dr. Boyd Kynard, USGS, Conte Anadromous Fish Research Center, Turnners Falls, MA, USA kynard@forwild.umass.edu
Project funded by the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research (2003 - 2005). The "Danube Delta" - Nucleus Programme of this ministry, launched in 2003, has provided funding for a three year project on the biology of sturgeon spawning in the LDR.
Contact:
Radu Suciu, head of SRG / DDNI Tulcea, member of SSG / IUCN
Radu@indd.tim.ro ; http://rosturgreons.danubedelta.org
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| Weighing Stellate Sturgeon female with an abdominally implanted sonic transmitter before releasing it in the St George branch, Lower Danube River (Romania), at Km 59 | Determining current velocity, temperature and oxygen content at different depths in the St George branch, Lower Danube River (Romania), Km 65 |
3. Naturally occurring sturgeon hybrids of the Lower Danube River ( HYDN)
Naturally occurring interspecific and intergeneric hybrids between different sturgeon species of the Lower Danube River (LDR) were observed and morphologically described in 1909 by Grigore Antipa. Nearly 100 years later the SRG succeeded to distinguish hybrid Young of the year (YOY) sturgeons by counting their chromosome number (Ene & Suciu, 2001). This was possible only when hybrids between species possessed different chromosome numbers. Complementary studies on the morphology of hybrids and parental species were carried out to identify hybrids that were the result of crossings between species with equal numbers of chromosomes.
The absence of YOY Beluga Sturgeons (Huso husso) from and the presence of hybrids of this species x Russian Sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) in the LDR in 2003, it was concluded that hybrids are probably the result of disturbed spawning of one or more species. In 2003 this led to fertilization of Russian Sturgeon females by Beluga Sturgeon males. Due to severe temperature and water flow conditions, Beluga Sturgeon females did not spawn in 2003 in the LDR.
Scientific support was obtained from the Department of Systematics and Evolution of the Natural History Museum of Paris, a previous partner, in order to enable cytogenetic characterization or diagnosis of all sturgeon hybrids, using in situ hybridization (FISH). The aim of the project is to evaluate the significance and the role of hybrids for the conservation of species and for the fishery and caviar trade.
Combining cytogenetic with molecular genetic techniques in a small-scale project is an objective for the next phase. For this a self-funded partner experienced in using molecular genetic markers in the diagnosis of sturgeon hybrids is being sought - please contact the SRG if interested.
Objectives:
- Capture and sample YOY sturgeons (hybrids and parental species) for chromosome suspensions and DNA.
- Cytogenetic characterization of hybrids and parental species using FISH technique.
- Use molecular genetic markers to distinguish / study hybrids and parental species (For this objective a partner is sought - please contact the SRG if interested).
- Biometrics / meristic characterization of hybrids and parental species
- Extend sampling to adults in order to evaluate the significance & role of sturgeon hybrids for the LDR fishery.
Current Partners:
Laboratory of Molecular Systematics / Department of Systematics and Evolution / Museum Nationale d’Histoire Naturelle - Paris (Catherine Ozouf Costaz, ozouf@mnhn.fr)
Joint Lab. Genet., Physiol. and Reprod. Fishes / Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Libechov / Czech Republic (Petr Rab, rab@iapg.cas.cz )
Project supported by the GEMS project, funded by the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research and MNHN Paris.
Contact:
Adriana-Cristina Ene, SRG / DDNI Tulcea, cristina-ene@indd.tim.ro
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