Medovnyk D. Ecological and physiological characteristics of the fish population of small rivers of urbanized territories

The work is devoted to the study of populations, morpho-physiological and biochemical characteristics of fish adapted to residence of small rivers of urbanized territories, and the formation patterns of fish population species and ecological structure in these watercourses, depending on the anthropogenic pressure level, in particular the character of riverbed transformation. The research results indicate that the features of the fish population species structure of the studied watercourses are largely consistent with the riverbed transformation character. On the basis of the data obtained, it is reasonable to conclude that the only short-cycle representatives of ichthyofauna was fully adapted to residence in the small rivers of urbanized areas. Aboriginal medium-cycle fish that can restrain the mass reproduction of invasive species due to competition and elimination can temporarily enter small rivers only if migratory routes from the receiving reservoir are preserved. The obtained data testify to the importance of preserving the continuity of small rivers and of connecting their sections with the reserves to maintain the fish population species diversity.