<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p> Huchen, Hucho hucho (L.), also known as Danube salmon, is an iconic, endemic species inhabiting the Danube basin of Central Europe. Historically, the Danube huchen inhabited a significant portion of the Danube drainage basin stretching to the Iron Gate and the majority of large and medium-sized tributaries. Larger populations in the natural zoogeographical distribution of Danube huchen were once found in Austria, Bavaria, the former Yugoslavia, Slovakia, and western Ukraine. Currently, the species is severely fragmented within the Danube drainage, where most populations exclusively depend on stocking and natural reproduction is very limited due to habitat alterations and flow regime changes. In the Czech Republic and Poland, Danube huchen occurrence is the result of introducing the species to several rivers in the Baltic Sea and North Sea drainage basins. Danube huchen is a threatened species throughout is range of occurrence, and, according to IUCN criteria, it is classified as endangered (EN). Habitat degradation is the most serious negative factor impacting huchen populations. Dam construction, pollution, and river regulation have led to loss and degradation of spawning sites. Detailed research on population abundance and structure is greatly needed to help identify the populations which are most threatened and to help to develop the best protection systems.</p></abstract>

Huchen, Hucho hucho (L.), also known as Danube salmon, is an iconic, endemic species inhabiting the Danube basin of Central Europe. Historically, the Danube huchen inhabited a significant portion of the Danube drainage basin stretching to the Iron Gate and the majority of large and medium-sized tributaries. Larger populations in the natural zoogeographical distribution of Danube huchen were once found in Austria, Bavaria, the former Yugoslavia, Slovakia, and western Ukraine. Currently, the species is severely fragmented within the Danube drainage, where most populations exclusively depend on stocking and natural reproduction is very limited due to habitat alterations and flow regime changes. In the Czech Republic and Poland, Danube huchen occurrence is the result of introducing the species to several rivers in the Baltic Sea and North Sea drainage basins. Danube huchen is a threatened species throughout is range of occurrence, and, according to IUCN criteria, it is classified as endangered (EN). Habitat degradation is the most serious negative factor impacting huchen populations. Dam construction, pollution, and river regulation have led to loss and degradation of spawning sites. Detailed research on population abundance and structure is greatly needed to help identify the populations which are most threatened and to help to develop the best protection systems.

Past and present of and perspectives for the Danube huchen, Hucho hucho (L.), in the Danube basin

Museum of Natural History University of Wrocław ul. Sienkiewicza 21, 50-335 Wrocław, Poland Tel.: +48 71 375 41 53

Department of Biology and Ecology Faculty of Science, University of Novi Sad Trg D. Obradoviaa 2, Novi Sad, Serbia

Department of Fisheries, Beekeeping Game Management and Special Zoology Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb Svetošimunska 25, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

Institute for Multidisciplinary Studies of the University of Belgrade Kneza Višeslava 1, 11030 Belgrade, Serbia

Institute of Zoology, Faculty of Biology University of Belgrade Studentski Trg 16, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia

Department of Ichthyology Inland Fisheries Institute in Olsztyn, Poland

Fisheries & Aquatic Life

Huchen, Hucho hucho (L.), also known as Danube salmon, is an iconic, endemic species inhabiting the Danube basin of Central Europe. Historically, the Danube...

Past and present of and perspectives for the Danube huchen, Hucho hucho (L.), in the Danube basin

Published Online: Nov 27, 2013

Page range: 129 - 142

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aopf-2013-0010

Keywords
conservation, distribution, habitat loss, Hucho, population status, salmonids

This content is open access.

Past and present of and perspectives for the Danube huchen, Hucho hucho (L.), in the Danube basin

Published Online: Nov 27, 2013

Page range: 129 - 142

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aopf-2013-0010

Keywordsconservation, distribution, habitat loss, Hucho, population status, salmonids

This content is open access.

Keywords
conservation, distribution, habitat loss, Hucho, population status, salmonids