Aquarium „Kragujevac PMF”
“CENTER FOR CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY AND FISHING IN INLAND WATERS”
Contact
Dr. Vladica Simić1, Assoc.prof. and dr Momir Paunović2
e-mail:simic@kg.ac.rs; mpaunovi@ibis.bg.ac.rs
Phone: +382 34 336 223; + 382 63 271950
Address
1Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac
Radoja Domanovica 12, 34 000 Kragujevac, Serbia
2 Institute for Biological Research „Siniša Stankovic“ Belgrade
Bulevar despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia
History
The idea to form the „Kragujevac PMF” aquarium was developed out of the need to actively protect, grow and reproduce the increasing number of hydro-bionics in tightly controlled artificial conditions. Since there were no objects in Serbia for the ex situ preservation of aquatic biodiversity, the ecological and scientific importance of such an object is obvious.
The „Kragujevac PMF” aquarium was opened on December 1st, 1999, turning into “Center for Conservation of Biodiversity and Fishing in Inland Waters” in 2010. The center is a separate organizational unit of Institute for Biology and Ecology of Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac. It covers an area of around 500 m2. Within the Center, the following research laboratories and subunits have been organized and functioning:
1. Laboratory for hydroecology and water protection
2. Laboratory for artificial reproduction of aquatic organisms (especially: decapod crayfish, fish, amphibian and reptiles)
3. Laboratory for cryopreservation of aquatic organisms gametes (primarily fish)
4. The collection of hydrobionic populations – The Aquarium showroom contains a rich collection of freshwater organisms of Serbia, Balkan peninsula, Europe, Asia, Africa, America and Australia.
The scientific and professional activity of ”Center for Conservation of Biodiversity and Fishing in Inland Waters” takes place within the following activities:
Monitoring
• Biological and ecological monitoring of freshwater
• Aquatic toxicology
Conservational ecology
• Freshwater biodiversity and conservation
• Algae biodiversity
• Zoo-benthos biodiversity
• Fish biodiversity
• Invasive species of aquatic ecosystems
• Conservation of hydrobionics in ex situ and in situ conditions
• Ecosystem diversity
Reproduction biology and cryopreservation
• Cryopreservation and Conservation genetics (Cryopreservation of Aquagametes)
• Reproductive biology and pathology of endangered species of fish and decapods crayfish
Applied hydroecology
• Applied hydrobiology, open water fishing
• Production of fishing area management programs
• Production of coldwater and freshwater fishpond projects
• Production of projects concerning open water fishing
• Spawn and reproduction of aquarium fish species
• Spawn and reproduction of fish species important for fishing
• Consulting services in the field of open water fishing
Programs and projects of the center in the field of conservation of endangered taxa of aquatic ecosystems:
• Conservation program of species Umbra krameri, Valbaum, 1792 (pisces, Umbridae) artificial spawn, breeding and reintroduction
• Conservation program of Salamandra salamandra
• Conservation program of Triturus spp.
• Conservation program of Astacus astacus
• Conservation program of Tinca tinca. Collaboration with the Szent Istvan University, Godollo, Hungary
• Conservation program of small and isolated populations of Barbus balcanicus in small rivers.
The Center’s research team consists of: 3 associate professors, 1 senior research fellow, 1 assistant, 8 research associates, 2 technical associates and one volunteer Master’s student
Image gallery: http://baes.pmf.kg.ac.rs/ http://www.pmf.kg.ac.rs/akvarijum/
Relevant publications
1. Lujić J., Radojković N., Simić V., Marinović Z., Bjelić-Čabrilo O., Kostić D., Ćirković M., 2013. The application of cryopreservation in aquaculture. In: Proceedings. 9. Međunarodni gospodarsko-znanstveni skup o ribarstvu “Hrvatska akvakultura u Evropskoj uniji – sadašnjost i budućnost”; 9-10.5.2013. Vukovar, Croatia. pp. 19.
2. Lujić J., Bernáth G., Marinović Z., Kollár T., Kása E., Simić V., Ćirković M., Urbányi B., Horváth Á, 2014. Post-thawing storage test in tench (Tinca tinca L.): significance for aquaculture. Acta Agriculturae Serbica (accepted for publication).
