Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF FOOD RESOURCES OF VALUABLE SANDER LUCIOPERCA IN THE NATURAL HABITAT AND IN PONDS OF THE SOUTH-EASTERN KAZAKHSTAN

Zhanara Mazhibayeva, Sayle Asylbekova, Larisa Kovaleva, Tynysbek Barakbayev and Luidmila Scharapova

Abstract

The paper shows the comparative assessment of the food resources of the valuable Sander lucioperca in the natural habitat (the Kapshagay reservoir) and ponds (Shelek pond farm) in the Southeast of Kazakhstan. The materials for the study were hydrobiological, ichthyological and fish farming biological data. The paper shows the results of development of the food resources and the characteristics of feeding S. lucioperca at several stages of development in their natural habitat, for introducing living organisms into the diet of the species grown in the conditions of the pond. Development of the ponds’ food resources for assessing availability of the live food required for fish is also analyzed. In order to restore and increase the catches of the species, it is proposed to develop methods of catching Daphnia, mysids and scuds, preferred by walleye pike, from their natural habitat for creating the optimum natural feeding conditions in ponds, and increasing productivity and growth of the species grown in the polyculture. The need to develop the bioengineering methods of catching these aquatic organisms arose for reducing the stress in the fish during their release into the wild, and, consequently, for obtaining viable bions of the species, and reducing the cost of artificial food at fish farms of Kazakhstan.