Department of Cyprinid Fauna

Hydrobiological Institute, Ohrid, R.Macedonia

Head of the department: Trajche Talevski PhD
Assistant: Research Ass. Blagoja Trajchevski MSc
The Department of Cyprinid Fauna is composed of two laboratories:
- Laboratory of Fish Taxonomy and Morphology
- Laboratory of Fish Physiology
The Department of Cyprinid Fauna, and conducts
investigations and research regarding the freshwater
cyprinid fishes. These investigations covers the following
topics:
 Fish ecology
 Fish taxonomy
 Fish morphology
 Fish physiology
 Monitoring of fish populations
 Fish management and sustainable use
 Fish stock assessment

The Department of Cyprinid Fauna participates in state and

international projects
METHODS OF FISH SAMPLING

Gill nets Beach Seine

HIO’s Scientific Boat Electrofishing

FISH ECOLOGY,
TAXONOMY AND
MORPHOLOGY
 Measurements and calculations that determine the state of the
populations of fish species in lake and river ecosystems.
• Species compositon
• Sex composition
• Age composition
• Fish nutrition

Wlog Wlog Wlog

1.80 2.5 2
1.60
f(x) = 2.73 x − 1.73 2 f(x) = 2.95 x − 1.88
1.40 1.5
R² = 0.89 R² = 0.97
1.20 f(x) = 3.6 x − 2.55
1.5 R² = 0.99
1.00
1
0.80
1
0.60
0.40 0.5 0.5
0.20
0.00 0 0
0.95 1 1.05 1.1 1.15 1.2 1.25 0.8 0.85 0.9 0.95 1 1.05 1.1 1.15 1.2 1.25 1.3 0.9 0.95 1 1.05 1.1 1.15 1.2 1.25 1.3

Alburnus scorazna Rutilus ohridanus Pachychilon pictum

Kmean= 0,9477 Kmean= 1,3424 Kmean= 1,1826

• Length-weight realtionship
• Condition factors
• Gonadosatomic index
Measurements of different morphometric and meristic parameters for
fish species determination and comparison.
• morphometric parameters are measurable characters of a fish
• meristic parameters are countable characters

Morphometric and meristic parameters in fishes are important because

they can be used for the differentiation of taxonomic units and are able
to spot differences between fish population
 Composition of Fish Species in Lake
Ohrid
18 autochthonous species from 5 families:
- Petromyzontidae (1)
- Anguillidae (1)
- Salmonidae (2)
- Cyprinidae (12)
- Nemacheilidae (1)
- Cobitidae (1)
Lake Ohrid has high level of endemism regarding the fish
species
5 allochthonous species from 3 families:
- Salmonidae (1)
- Poeciliidae (1)
- Cyprinidae (3)
AUTOCHTHONOUS (NATIVE) FISH SPECIES
IN LAKE OHRID
ALLOCHTHONOUS (INTRODUCED) FISH SPECIES
IN LAKE OHRID
Fish
Physiology
 Fish Hematology
- Red Blood Cell Count
- Haemoglobin Concentration
- Hematocrit
- MCH
- MCHC
- MCV
- White Blood Cell Count

Use in monitoring of fish health and welfare

Stress indicator

Use as a potential biomarker

Ecotoxicology
FISH BLOOD HUMAN BLOOD
40x magnification
Male vs female difference

Seasonal difference
 Fish Gross Energy Content

- Determination of the energy content of the

fish

- The values for the energy content can be a

solid indicator for the condition of the fish
and its health and welfare, and are directly
related to the nutritional status, growth,
and stress factors afecting the fishes

- Normal values 4-7 MJ/kg

 Example
Seasonal variations of length-weight relationship and gross energy content of Ohrid Roach
(Trajchevski and Talevski, 2017)
HANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION