Chemical element content in bony fin rays of Acipenser gueldenstaedtii (Brandt, 1833)

One of the reasons for the decline in the number of sturgeon fish species is the complex ecological situation in the Volga-Caspian basin. Changes in the hydrochemical composition of the Volga-Caspian basin water are accompanied by critical disturbances in the microelement balance of the fish organism and lead to irreversible pathological consequences in the populations of valuable fish species. In order to preserve the population and monitor the condition of sturgeon fish species, a detailed study of the microelement composition of their organs and tissues is necessary. The concentration of chemical elements in the bony rays of the fins of Russian sturgeon Acipenser gueldenstaedtii (Brandt, 1833) of different sexes and age composition (3-10 years) was determined using the atomic absorption method according to GOST 30178-96. Iron, copper, manganese, zinc, nickel, cobalt, chromium, lead, cadmium were determined in each sample. It is noted that all nine studied metals are able to accumulate in sturgeon bone rays to one degree or another. Iron in sturgeon bone rays was present in large quantities relative to other chemical elements. Lead occupied the second place in terms of content in the rays, followed by zinc and cobalt in descending order, and cadmium was found in the lowest concentrations. Copper, zinc, and manganese were shown to have higher metal concentrations in the rays of males, and nickel, chromium, cobalt, lead, and cadmium in the rays of female Russian sturgeon. The differences revealed between the average iron concentrations in the studied organs of females and males of all studied age groups are statistically insignificant. It was noted that with increasing age, weight, and length, the metal content in the bone rays of both males and females increased.