Serum Ionic Content of Endemic Chalcalburnus tarichi During Spawning, Prespawning and Postspawning Terms, Living in Highly Alkaline Waters of Lake Van (pH 9.8), Turkey

In this study, serum inorganic ion values of the endemic cyprinid Chalcalburnus tarichi, the only fish species living in highly alkaline Lake Van and migrating to freshwater rivers for spawning, were determined during spawning, prespawning, and postspawning terms. A decrease in serum Na super(+), K super(+), Cl super(-), Ca, Mg super(++), Pi concentrations were observed in C. tarichi migrating to freshwater rivers for spawning. Serum ion composition of C. tarichi living in Lake Van resembles that of many marine teleost species except high serum Na+ value, but it seems likely that osmoregulatic pathways are different. Similarities in the decrease of serum inorganic ion concentrations in spawning migration in C. tarichi with anadromous fish were detected, and C. tarichi has high osmoreguletory capacity compering to other fishes.