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Features of the Biology of Alien Species Prussian Carp (Cyprinidae, Actinopterygii) from the Water Bodies of Armenia

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Abstract

The age and sex composition of the schools, food activity, the age of sexual maturity, breeding period and fecundity of the alien species Prussian carp indicate the presence of favorable environmental conditions for its wide distribution in the reservoirs of Armenia. The ratio of female/male of Prussian carp in most of the studied reservoirs was 3 : 1; most of the fish were diploids. The age composition of Prussian carp usually has 4 age groups, with maximum of 7 groups, and a minimum of 3 age groups. The age of sexual maturity of Prussian carp differs in the northern (1+ to 4+) and southern (0+ to 3+) populations in Armenia, as well as in flowing and stagnant water bodies. In some reservoirs, the percentage of Prussian carp in catches has increased over the past decades, which negatively affects the local fish species composition. This fact may indicate the formation of the invasive populations of Prussian carp in Armenia.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful to Thermine Panosyan, PhD (Biol.) (Nalbandyan State University of Shirak Foundation, Gyumri) for the help during work implementation. We are grateful to two anonymous reviewers for critical reading of the manuscript and the valuable comments.

Funding

Partial financial support for conduct of this study was received from the Science Committee of the Republic of Armenia in the frames of the research project 21AG-1F033.

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Contributions

Conceptualization: [S. Pipoyan]; Methodology: [S. Pipoyan, I. Stepanyan, A. Grigoryan, L. Benoyan]; Observations on the changes in the Karnut Reservoir’s fish stock and provided the fish caught from the Karnut Reservoir: [G. Chakhalyan]; Formal analysis and investigation: [S. Pipoyan, L. Benoyan, A. Grigoryan, M. Nersisyan, I. Stepanyan, G. Chakhalyan]; Writing—original draft preparation: [S. Pipoyan, I. Stepanyan, K. Ambartsumyan]; Writing—review and editing: [S. Pipoyan, I. Stepanyan, M. Arakelyan]; Funding acquisition: [M. Arakelyan]; Supervision: [S. Pipoyan].

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Correspondence to S. Kh. Pipoyan, L. Kh. Benoyan, A. F. Grigoryan, M. R. Nersisyan, G. H. Chakhalyan, K. S. Hambartsumyan, M. S. Arakelyan or I. E. Stepanyan.

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All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. The objectives of this study did not require the approval of scientific ethics committees because the experimental work was carried out within the framework of the Convention on the Conservation of Biodiversity (June 5, 1992, Rio de Janeiro, Article 8, Item h); i.e., it includes the elimination of alien species that threaten ecosystems, habitats, or species.

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Pipoyan, S.K., Benoyan, L.K., Grigoryan, A.F. et al. Features of the Biology of Alien Species Prussian Carp (Cyprinidae, Actinopterygii) from the Water Bodies of Armenia. Russ J Biol Invasions 15, 119–133 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1134/S2075111724010120

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