Ebook: Biology, Conservation and Sustainable Development of Sturgeons

Sturgeons are considered "living fossils", sharing many morphological and biological features with ancestral fish. Furthermore, sturgeons are of the utmost interest from an economic perspective, not only for the caviar but for flesh, too. However, the wild populations of the majority of the species are at serious risk of extinction all over the world. So, it is urgent to develop strategies for both farming culture and conservation and recovery in natural habitats. This book provides a comprehensive view of the biology and sustainable development of these fish putting emphasis on the Southern Europe autochthonous species such as Acipenser nacarii and Acipenser sturio that share geographical distribution. Other relevant species (such as Huso huso, A. oxyrhinchus, A. ruthenus, A. stellatus) and areas (Germany, Russia, North America) are also considered. The contents are organised in three sections: Taxonomy and Biogeography (including the morphological and genetic analyses that clarify the taxonomy and phylogeny of sturgeons, focused on those from Southern Europe), Biology and Aquaculture (where several aspects of the developmental biology, feeding, and reproduction are considered in relation to the improvement of sturgeon farming), and Recovery and Conservation (that collates and analyses different recovery research actions, the ecology of the rivers for restoration as well as the problems related to the trade of caviar).

---

Sturgeons are considered "living fossils", sharing many morphological and biological features with ancestral fish. Furthermore, sturgeons are of the utmost interest from an economic perspective, not only for the caviar but for flesh, too. However, the wild populations of the majority of the species are at serious risk of extinction all over the world. So, it is urgent to develop strategies for both farming culture and conservation and recovery in natural habitats. This book provides a comprehensive view of the biology and sustainable development of these fish putting emphasis on the Southern Europe autochthonous species such as Acipenser nacarii and Acipenser sturio that share geographical distribution. Other relevant species (such as Huso huso, A. oxyrhinchus, A. ruthenus, A. stellatus) and areas (Germany, Russia, North America) are also considered. The contents are organised in three sections: Taxonomy and Biogeography (including the morphological and genetic analyses that clarify the taxonomy and phylogeny of sturgeons, focused on those from Southern Europe), Biology and Aquaculture (where several aspects of the developmental biology, feeding, and reproduction are considered in relation to the improvement of sturgeon farming), and Recovery and Conservation (that collates and analyses different recovery research actions, the ecology of the rivers for restoration as well as the problems related to the trade of caviar).

---

Sturgeons are considered "living fossils", sharing many morphological and biological features with ancestral fish. Furthermore, sturgeons are of the utmost interest from an economic perspective, not only for the caviar but for flesh, too. However, the wild populations of the majority of the species are at serious risk of extinction all over the world. So, it is urgent to develop strategies for both farming culture and conservation and recovery in natural habitats. This book provides a comprehensive view of the biology and sustainable development of these fish putting emphasis on the Southern Europe autochthonous species such as Acipenser nacarii and Acipenser sturio that share geographical distribution. Other relevant species (such as Huso huso, A. oxyrhinchus, A. ruthenus, A. stellatus) and areas (Germany, Russia, North America) are also considered. The contents are organised in three sections: Taxonomy and Biogeography (including the morphological and genetic analyses that clarify the taxonomy and phylogeny of sturgeons, focused on those from Southern Europe), Biology and Aquaculture (where several aspects of the developmental biology, feeding, and reproduction are considered in relation to the improvement of sturgeon farming), and Recovery and Conservation (that collates and analyses different recovery research actions, the ecology of the rivers for restoration as well as the problems related to the trade of caviar).

Content:
Front Matter....Pages i-xviii
The Regression of Sturgeons in Southern Europe....Pages 3-23
Morphological and Morphometric Characters in Sturgeon Taxonomy and Phylogeny....Pages 25-49
Molecular Markers and the Study of Phylogeny and Genetic Diversity in North American Sturgeons and Paddlefish....Pages 51-61
Forensic Strategies Used for DNA Extraction of Ancient and Degraded Museum Sturgeon Specimens....Pages 63-83
Mechanisms of Polyploid Evolution in Fish: Polyploidy in Sturgeons....Pages 85-96
Histological, Histochemical and Ultrastructural Changes in the Digestive Tract of Sturgeon Acipenser naccarii During Early Ontogeny....Pages 97-117
Hormonal Induction of Ovulation In Vitro in Sturgeon Fishes....Pages 121-136
Dispermic Androgenesis as a Method for Recovery of Endangered Sturgeon Species....Pages 137-153
Influence of Temperature on the Sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus L.) Ovarian Follicles State....Pages 155-174
On Nutrition and Feeding Studies as the Basis for the Culture of Different Sturgeon Species....Pages 175-185
Restoration of Adriatic Sturgeon (Acipenser naccarii) in Italy: Situation and Perspectives....Pages 187-204
Conservation of the Sturgeon Fish in Lower Volga....Pages 205-214
Experience of Conservation of Acipenser naccarii in the Ticino River Park (Northern Italy)....Pages 215-234
Identification of Sturgeon Caviar Using DNA Markers....Pages 237-245
International Trade in Caviar and Business Perspectives in Russia....Pages 247-263
The Ecological Problems of Introduction and Reintroduction of Sturgeons....Pages 265-273
Hydrological and Production Characteristics of the Main Basins for Reproduction and Fattening of Sturgeons....Pages 275-298
Towards the Definition of Optimal Size-Weight Standards of Hatchery-Reared Sturgeon Fry for Restoration....Pages 299-319
Acceptability and Prerequisites for the Successful Introduction of Sturgeon Species....Pages 321-337
Prerequisites for the Restoration of the European Atlantic Sturgeon, Acipenser sturio and the Baltic Sturgeon (A. oxyrinchus ? A. sturio) in Germany....Pages 339-343
Sturgeon Recovery Plan in the Rhone River (France): Preliminary Results on Species Determination and Habitat Suitability....Pages 345-357
Main Steps and Proposals for a Recovery Plan of Sturgeon in the Guadalquivir River (Spain)....Pages 359-368
Back Matter....Pages 369-384
....Pages 385-401