SPECIES COMPOSITION AND ECOLOGICAL-FAUNISTIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ICHTHIOFAUNA OF THE RLP «PRIIRPINNYA» (KYIV REGION)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31861/biosystems2025.02.269Keywords:
Irpin, biotopes, fish, rare species, species richnessAbstract
The Priirpinnya Regional Landscape Park is an important conservation area in the Irpen River valley (Kyiv region), encompassing the river basin and its tributaries, the Trostinka and Bobrytsa. The aim of this study was to inventory the fish population of the Priirpinnya Regional Landscape Park and provide an ecological and faunistic characterization of its ichthyofauna. From 2022 to 2025, an inventory of the ichthyofauna was conducted at 11 experimental stations within the park. Twenty-five fish species from seven families were identified in the water bodies. Species richness at individual stations ranged from 8 to 21 species. Native species dominated the ichthyofauna (59.4–97%), while the proportion of nonnative species was 2.9–40.5%. Cyprinidae dominated in abundance at most experimental stations. The most frequently encountered species were Rutilus rutilus, Rhodeus amarus, and Scardinius erythrophthalmus, recorded at all stations. Background alien species included Perccottus glenii, Proterorhinus semilunaris, and Pseudorasbora parva. The presence of alien species, particularly distant invaders (Perccottus glenii, Carassius auratus and Pseudorasbora parva), is due to the location of ponds within the park that serve as breeding grounds for these species. Ponto-Caspian species are localized in the main channel of the Irpen, where the appropriate biotopes (current and depth) necessary for their existence are present. Six rare species were found within the watercourses, including Leuciscus leuciscus and Alburnoides rossicus (species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine), Misgurnus fossilis, Cobitis taenia, Rhodeus amarus, Leucaspius delineatus, and Neogobius fluviatilis. Cobitis taenia, Rhodeus amarus, Leucaspius delineatus, and Neogobius fluviatilis were most frequently encountered within the park. Some of these were among the dominant species. A distinctive feature of the regional park is the presence of a reproductive group of Alburnoides rossicus. This is the only protected area in the Irpin River basin where this species is protected.
To conserve rare and vulnerable species, it is necessary to improve recreational fisheries management, strengthen scientific research on the population status of key species, and organize ongoing monitoring of non-native taxa. Another important step for the protection and reproduction of ichthyofauna is the expansion of the park's geographic boundaries, which will allow for the inclusion of valuable riverbed areas where indigenous fish populations are present.
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