European sturgeon (Acipenser sturio L.) young of the year performance in different rearing environments –study within a stocking program

摘要: The European sturgeon is critically endangered and the French ex-situ conservation approach involves developing a captive stock to produce offspring for release boost natural populations. purpose of our study was assess effects rearing environment before stocking on survival, growth, behavior three-month-old sturgeons from two different crossings. Enriched designed mimic variability using river water, photoperiod, substrate, variable water current depths. Traditional carried out with bare tanks, underground dark conditions, without at constant depth. Fish survival determined monthly growth estimated weekly. Behavior assessed exploration novel prey tests in solitary video tracking. Results demonstrated that enriched condition resulted bigger fish first month. Growth curve analysis revealed made both crossings grow similar manner. In contrast, differed traditional which may reflect genotype-environment interaction. Behavioral data highlighted enriched-reared were slower explore new but more individuals engaged doing so than traditional-reared fish. also showed high (>80 %) during all trial. However, lower second month environment. Our findings advocate integration practices within juvenile production order performance linked fitness. Stocking life history research must work together favor adaptive aquaculture approaches, support species conservation.