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

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.