Prospects of biodiversity research in water basins of the Karabakh region

Abstract

The article is devoted to the prospects of scientific research of biodiversity in the water basins of the Karabakh territory liberated from the 30-year Armenian occupation. Both flora and fauna barbarously looted and destroyed by the invaders are subjects to comprehensive restoration, and the elaboration of scientifically based approaches to the development of the once-prosperous region remains with the scientists of the Republic. The primary tasks facing scientists are the analysis of the state of biodiversity of the water basins located in the territories of Karabakh, in particular, the establishment of species and stocks of fish belonging to the local ichthyofauna, the study of the potential of the food base. The article gives the names of rivers and other water sources of the Karabakh zone, where natural fish farming and aquaculture can be developed. A list of multidisciplinary studies necessary for the restoration and development of aquatic biodiversity in the liberated territories of Karabakh is proposed. The article is preceded by a brief review of works on the research of the physiology and ecology of fish in the reservoirs of the Republic, focusing on sturgeon, which is of industrial importance for the country.