Comparative characteristics of reproductive indicators in domesticated and farmed females of Caspian Beluga.

The purpose of the work: assessment of age-related changes in reproductive parameters and the fertilization of eggs in farmed beluga females in comparison with domesticated females, in relation to their potential use for reproduction.
Methods used: The methodology included fisheries biological and molecular genetic research methods, as well as the analysis of materials on artificial spawning between 2015 and 2023 for domesticated and aquacultural female beluga, uses material from the RNCRGM FGBNU VNIRO (Russian National Collection of Reference Genetic Materials). The mtDNA control region was sequenced using ABI3500xL genetic analyzers (Applied Biosystems, USA).
Novelty: the elements of novelty are generalized modern materials on age-related changes in biological parameters and their effect on reproduction of artificially grown beluga females.
Results: A comparative analysis of domesticated and bred beluga females showed an increase in body weight, working fertility, oosomatic index, average oocyte mass and fertilization of eggs from the first to the third maturation of females and confirmed that existing problems with the survival of offspring of bred belugas disappear with age and are adjusted by the selection of crossing schemes taking into account individual haplotypes.
Practical significance: The positive dynamics of an increase in fertility and a decrease in embryonic mortality with an increase in the age of female beluga whales raised “from caviar” confirms the expediency of their prolonged and repeated use for reproduction. The reduced genetic polymorphism of a group of females born in 2004 relative to fish of a different age requires more careful planning of crosses during reproduction of breeders of this large group in order to avoid reducing the heterogeneity of the natural beluga population in the Caspian Sea.

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