THE FIRST FINDING OF THE BLACK SEA GOLDEN GREY MULLET CHELON AURATUS (MUGILIDAE) IN THE LOWER REACHES OF THE DON RIVER

Background. Due to the ongoing salinization of the Azov Sea and Taganrog Bay waters, an expansion of the habitat of many marine fish species has been observed. Relevance. Some sea-originated fish species, in the process of expanding their range, spread deep into continental water bodies where they have never been recorded, which enhances our understanding of the ecological characteristics of these species and the limiting factors of their habitat. The aim of this article is to describe the first case of finding the Black Sea golden grey mullet Chelon auratus in the Lower Don. Methods. Information about the first finding of golden grey mullet in the Lower Don was obtained over the course of monitoring of the spawning migrations of anadromous and semi-anadromous fish species at the fish-lifting lock (FLL) of the Kochetovsky Hydrotechnical System in autumn. Results. This species of the Black Sea mullets has not been previously recorded in the Don River. This is the first finding of golden grey mullet in the Don River at a distance of more than 178 km upstream from Taganrog Bay (Azov Sea). Conclusion. The observed trend of expansion of the range of some marine fish species in the Azov Sea Basin and their new findings in the water bodies where they have not been previously recorded result from the ongoing salinization of the Azov Sea waters.