Germ stem cells are the progenitors of gametes that can be isolated and transplanted between phylogenetically related species. The transplantation of these cells presents significant promise in reproductive biotechnology, enabling the production of gametes and offspring of the donor origin through surrogates. Zebrafish are a popular research model due to their beneficial characteristics and extensive genomic resources. Yet, their diminutive size restricts sperm yield.  In our research, we leveraged the technique of surrogate production to enhance sperm production in zebrafish by utilizing the larger Devario species, specifically the giant danio, which is three times its size. We extracted spermatogonial cells from mature zebrafish males and introduced them into sterile giant danio larvae. Half a year after the transplantation, the recipient generated sperm of zebrafish with thrice the volume and tenfold the concentration compared to zebrafish. The presented study is the first of its kind to produce zebrafish donor-derived gametes via a surrogate from different genera.

Detailed information can be found in the original article: Enhancement of zebrafish sperm production via a large body-sized surrogate with germ cell transplantation. Communications Biology 6: 412. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-04800-7

Picture: Schematic of the study.

Written by: Assoc. Prof. Martin Pšenička

As part of the activities of the integrated project LIFE Living Rivers (101069837-LIFE21-IPE-SK-LIFE Living Rivers), whose main goal is to improve the life of Slovak rivers and their inhabitants, a total of 20 thousand juveniles (juveniles aged 50 days after hatching) of the endangered sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) on 3 profiles of the Slovak part of the Danube - below the Čunovo reservoir, at the confluence of the Old Danube and the waste canal of Gabčíkovo hydropower plant near Sáp and then on the Veľkolelský island near Komárno. The descendants of genetically pure generation fish originating from the Danube, which are now bred by the Pohořelice Fishery Company and which form the genetic reserve of this species in captivity, returned home to the Danube. The sterlet is currently the only species of the original five sturgeon species that is still found in the Slovak part of the Danube. The sterlet is also the flagship species for the entire Danube basin and is the focus of many organizations throughout Europe - e.g. the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR) or the Danube Sturgeon Task Force. The event took place under the leadership of the team of the laboratory of freshwater ecosystem of the Faculty of Fisheries and Water Protection of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, with the simultaneous support of other project partners. The event was also met with extraordinary response from the public and the media, when children from the local primary school came to Veľkolelský ostrov to release "their" sturgeons, and the entire event was reported on by RTVS and JOJ televisions, among others. A big thank you also goes to the fishermen on both sides of the Czech-Slovak borders - Rybníkářství Pohořelice and the Slovak Fishing Association - for their support, help and sympathy for the project's goals.

A link to the report in the main TV news on 14.6.2023 on RTSV (in Slovak only).

A link to the report in the main TV news on 18.6.2023 on TV JOJ (in Slovak only).

#LIFE_LivingRivers
#LivingRivers
#LIFEproject
#LIFEprogramme
#ziverieky

S potěšením oznamujeme, že naše absolventka doktorského studia Effrosyni Fatira, MSc, PhD získala prestižní evropský projekt Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) - Individual Fellowships. S podporou tohoto projektu nastoupí na univerzitu v Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, kde bude pracovat na tématu "Impact of climate change on twilight zone fishes during early-stage development". Přejeme Effrosyni hodně zdaru v tomto projektu a v její další výzkumné kariéře.

We have just opened an admission procedure for doctoral study programs. Applications can be submitted by May 9, 2022. Detailed information and topics of the doctoral theses can be found here.

The Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters USB open the admission procedure for BSc. and MSc. study programs. You can find more information here.

At the end of August, the Faculty of Fisheries and  Protection of Waters USB presented itself again at the 48th annual international agro fair Země živitetelka 2022 in České Budějovice. At a joint exhibition with the Faculty of Agriculture and Technology USB in the pavilion R3, we offered the full range of products from our fish shop, including novelties in the form of several innovative products based on fish meat in brine. As part of cooperation with the South Bohemian Region, these products were also popularized at another location of the agrosalon in the prestigious T1 pavilion. Our exhibition stand also served as a meeting place with important persons. The most important visit was the meeting with the Minister of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, Mr. Ing. Zdeněk Nekula, who was welcomed by the dean of the faculty, prof. Ing. Pavel Kozák, Ph.D.

Naši kolegové, Ing. Radek Gebauer, Ph.D. s Mgr. Miroslavem Bočkem, připravili rozhovor pro časopis Reflex o fakultních akvapóniích. Přečtěte si jejich rozhovor zde.

Další článek o našich akvaponiích si můžete přečíst zde.

Another TNA project within the Aquaexcel3.0 has been implemented at the FFPW USB.

The lead researcher is Dr. Thomas Meinelt from German Leibniz Institut of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries.

Dr. Thomas Meinelt succeeded with the project called “Towards sustainable aquaculture - Stimulating the mucosal immunity of juvenile rainbow trout to reduce the use of therapeutics”.

The responsible researcher for the FFPW USB is Dr. Thora Lieke.

Dr. Thomas Meinelt will spend two weeks in the Laboratory of controlled reproduction and intensive fish culture where he will analyze the effects of fulvic acid bath exposure on the mucosal immunity of rainbow trout. An improved mucosal immunity allows the fish to defend themselves better against invading pathogens. This project's results will help improve aquaculture's sustainability, increase survival and animal welfare, and help reduce reliance on chemicals and therapeutics to treat diseases.

The access is free of charge. The AE3.0 project will pay for the experimental costs as well as the travel and subsistence costs.

The TNA call is continuous so you can apply for access to 40 partners' installations at any time within the duration of the AE3.0 project. More information at the project website.

Within the long-term cooperation of the Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters USB with Turkish colleagues in crayfish research and colleagues from Charles University in Prague, we developed a method of artificial incubation of crayfish eggs to reduce the transmission of crayfish plague from infected females to their offspring. In Turkey, the commercial harvesting of crayfish, namely the narrow-clawed crayfish, is a significant part of commercial aquaculture. They are mainly exported and represent an important source of income. These exports grew until the mid-1980s when the accidental introduction of the crayfish plague caused dramatic declines in crayfish populations. Although crayfish densities in some Turkish lakes have recovered to levels where fishing is economically viable, persistent chronic crayfish infections have not allowed full recovery of the local populations. Consequently, considerable financial resources have been invested in developing alternative methods of crayfish farming in closed aquaculture systems.  

However, the development of these farms has been hampered by the high mortality rates of both wild-caught broodstocks and juveniles. This is caused by the onset of crayfish plague symptoms. We have focused on solving this problem. We have shown that the artificial incubation of separated eggs from females held in a flow-through system with plague-free water, in a possible combination of egg disinfection in formaldehyde or peracetic acid, reduces the transmission of infection from mothers to their offspring.

The utilization of this method has significant potential in commercial crayfish farms in regions with crayfish plague presence, potentially resulting in the disease transmission- via infected broodstocks or infected water. This is another particular success of the FFPW USB scientists in protecting native crayfish species and mitigating the negative impacts of the spread of non-native crayfish species and crayfish plague.

More detailed information can be found in the original article: Kozák, P., Erol, K.G., Uzunmehemtoglu, O.Y., Tangerman, M., Mojžišová, M., Özkök, R., Kouba, A., Cinar, S., Petrusek, A., 2023. Short-term artificial incubation before hatching limits vertical transmission of Aphanomyces astaci from chronically infected females of a host species susceptible to crayfish plague. Aquaculture 569: 739373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2023.739373

Written by: prof. Pavel Kozák

One of the traditional points of the “Země Živitelka” program was also the presentation of awards for extraordinary research and experimental development results for the year 2023. Our colleague, Ing. Martin Prchal, Ph.D., took over from the Minister of Agriculture Mgr. Marek Výborný and the chairman of ČAZV RNDr. Jan Nedělník, Ph.D. honourable mention for the peer-reviewed article: "Simplified method for genetic slaughter yields improvement in common carp". The study was focused on using ultrasound tomography in the selection program of common carp to increase its slaughter yields.

Congratulations!

The traditional Natura Viva exhibition of hunters, fishermen, beekeepers and gardeners was opened on 25^th May 2023 in Lysá nad Labem.

As part of the opening ceremony was awarded Prof. Zdeňka Svobodová DVM, DrSc. for lifelong contribution to Czech Fisheries. The prize was handed over from the director of the Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology in Vodňany Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Tomáš Randák, Ph.D. Prof. Svobodová was a key worker of the institute for many years.

Congratulations.

On November 3, 2023 the Dean Committee for awarding of scholarships for talented students recommended 4 students, namely Lukáš Beránek, Bc. Anna Hovorková, Bc. Jakub Kocour a Jan Škrabánek, who might be awarded with the scholarship according to the Measure of the Dean No. 2/2019.

Decisions about awarding the scholarships to students were passed personally by the dean of the faculty prof. Pavel Kozák and the vice-dean for study affairs Assoc. Prof. Martin Kocour.

We congratulate to all awarded students and hope they will keep collaborating with our faculty also during this academic year!

On November 11, 2022 the Dean Committee for awarding of scholarships for talented students recommended 4 students namely Bc. Lucie Bártová, Bc. Anna Hovorková, Bc. Jakub Kocour a Jan Škrabánek which applicants out of students of FFPW USB might be awarded with the scholarship according to the Measure of the Dean No. 2/2019.

Decisions about awarding the scholarships to students were passed personally by the dean of the faculty professor Pavel Kozák and the vice-dean for study affairs Assoc. Prof. Martin Kocour.

We congratulate to all awarded students and we hope that they will keep collaborating with our faculty in this academic year!

The Meeting of the Scientific committee of the USB was held on 15. 3. 2023 and three of our scientists achieved significant success.

The researcher Ganna Fedorova, MSc., Ph.D. received the Rector's Award of the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice for the prestigious scientific publication of 2022 for her publication Water reuse for aquaculture: Comparative removal efficacy and aquatic hazard reduction of pharmaceuticals by a pond treatment system during a one-year study. You can read more about this publication here.

Assoc. Prof. Tomáš Policar successfully fulfilled all the conditions for obtaining the title of professor, and therefore the appointment as a professor, which will be carried out by the President of the Republic, remains.

Dr. Ján Regenda won the Honorable Mention in the JU INNOVATION competition for the innovative technology "Přelivový žlab pro skrápění biofiltru a skrápěcí biofiltr s tímto přelivovým žlabem".

Congratulations.

The prizes for the best presentation at the Ph.D. seminars were awarded as part of the Meeting of Academic and Scientific Workers and Ph.D. students from the FFPW USB on Wednesday, 7^th June 2023: The awarded students were:

• Anatolii Sotnikov - Optimization of sperm cryopreservation for aquaculture-scale artificial reproduction;
• Abhiphsa Dey – Species-specific effect of DNA damage sensitivity in response to model genotoxicant;
• Amankwah K. Beatrice - UV filters: Occurrence and (anti-)progestogenic activities in waters and bioaccumulation in fish;
• Martin Musil - Interactions between invasive crayfish and predators;
• Lenka Kajgrová - Seasonal stoichiometric imbalances of phosphorus and nitrogen in Czech fishponds;
• Anil Axel Tellbüscher - Assessing the sources, fate, and behavior of plant nutrients in aquaponic systems;
• Kifayatullah Mengal - Hemocyte coagulation and phagocytic behavior in early stages of injury in crayfish (Arthropoda: Decapoda) affect their morphology;
• Ismael Soto Almena - Trends and impacts of biological invasion.

This meeting was followed by the Faculty meeting, at which not only work anniversaries were recognized, but also the dean's prizes for extraordinary activities were awarded to the following employees:

• The largest publication activity – Stejskal V.
• Best publication 2022 - Fedorova, G., Grabic, R., Grabicová, K., Turek, J., Van Nguyen, T., Randák, T., Brooks, B.W., Žlábek, V., 2022. Water reuse for aquaculture: Comparative removal efficacy and aquatic hazard reduction of pharmaceuticals by a pond treatment system during a one year study. Journal of Hazardous Materials 421: 126712. (IF 2021 = 14.224; AIS 2021 = 1.515)
• The best publication of the author under 35 years in 2022 - Roy, K., Vrba, J., Kajgrova, L. and Mraz, J., 2022. The concept of balanced fish nutrition in temperate European fishponds to tackle eutrophication. Journal of Cleaner Production, 364, p.132584. (AIS 2021 = 1.376 ; IF 2021 = 11.072; Category = Q1)
• Best student publication in 2022 - Jia, H., Roy, K., Pan, J., Mráz, J., 2022. Icy affairs: Understanding recent advancements in the freezing and frozen storage of fish. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety 21: 1383–1408. (IF 2021 = 15.786; AIS 2021 = 2.341) - top 3rd based on AIS and JIF 1) This article was published in the top Journal "Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety" (Q1, IF2021=15.786, AIS2021=2.341) ;
• The best application result - Evaluation of the effectiveness of GAU filters in terms of eliminating micropollutants. Commercial contract for the South Bohemian Waterworks Association, Plav Water Treatment Plant – a key producer of drinking water for the South Bohemian region. Švecová H. et al.
• Presentation of the faculty - the best positive visibility - Martin Musil's work at the Permanent Representation of the Czech Republic to the EU in the area of fisheries and fisheries policy.
• Significant international activity - European Aquaculture Society – Student Group 1st Winter Workshop, Anil Tellbüscher (NC Germany), Lenka Kajgrová (NC Czechia) and Tomáš Pěnka (NC Czechia), MEVPIS/FFPW USB, 15.-18.12.2022, 15 attending National Coordinators (NCs) from 10 countries

Congratulations to all awardees.

Central European standing water bodies, the main part of it consisting of carp ponds, suffer from strong eutrophication (an excess of available nutrients, especially nitrogen and phosphorus). This eutrophication is often associated with the currently conducted feeding (farming) management in these fishponds, which does not consider the balanced nutritional needs of the growing fish. Our present study provides an understanding of how to fish nutrition shapes nutrient excretion and eventually eutrophication. The study concludes that in spring and autumn, the status quo diets lead to inefficient resource use and indirectly to poor ecological conditions. Improved ecosystem resource use efficiency and tackling eutrophication may be achieved by ‘bio-manipulating’ these fishponds towards a more balanced fish nutrition. The study calls for balanced pond feeds that optimize resource utilization efficiency and stimulates fish to exploit better the natural food – in such a way that ecosystem services are maintained.

The authors feel future researchers could carry the baton forward with a novel understanding this article offers. Especially the ecological management of these important pond ecosystems and cleaner aquatic food production from pondscapes of Central Europe.

A graphical summary of the presented concept. High= beginning of the vegetative season (lacking carbohydrate energy in ponds). Low= end of the vegetative season (lacking some indispensable amino acids in ponds). Balanced= short transition time (beginning-to-mid summer) when zooplankton-zoobenthos is sufficient and cereals are introduced in a pond. Suspended losses= losses through faeces (undigested nutrients). Reactive losses= losses through gills and urine (discarding of digested nutrients). Nutrient loading from fish stock to a pond ecosystem is minimum when the pond diet is balanced.

Detailed information is available in the original article: Roy, K., Vrba, J., Kajgrova, L., Mraz, J., 2022. The concept of balanced fish nutrition in temperate European fishponds to tackle eutrophication. Journal of Cleaner Production 364, 132584. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132584   

Written by: Koushik Roy, Ph.D.

Cover photo courtesy: Dipl.-Ing. Tomáš Kolařík

The Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Biochemistry (LECHB) at the RIFCH organized a bilateral meeting between Norwegian and Czech partners at the beginning of May (4-7.5.2022). Representatives of COWI attended the workshop AS and Aquateam COWI on the Norwegian side and LECHB staff on the Czech side, and laboratory partners in the field of water monitoring and treatment – Povodí Vltavy, State Enterprise, Povodí Labe, State Enterprise, CHMI, and ENVI-PUR Ltd. The workshop dealt mainly with issues related to reducing the negative impact of human activities on water quality and the possibilities of mutual cooperation in monitoring and water treatment.

During the workshop, participants presented several papers, followed by discussions on the topic. The workshop's first day (May 5^th) was dedicated to water monitoring and new micropollutants in the aquatic environment. In the morning, prof. Tomáš Randák (FFPW) welcomed the participants and introduced the Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters (FFPW) and its parts. An excursion around the FFPW facilities in Vodňany followed. In the afternoon, some participants presented their contributions:

• Beata Szatkowska, Renata Tomczak-Wandzel (Aquateam COWI)
  • Aquateam laboratory competencies – applied science
  • Aquateam selected ongoing projects – in context of micropollutants
• Pavla Chaloupková (State environmental fund of the Czech Republic) – Norway grants - Bilateral cooperation
• Roman Grabic (FFPW) – Non-target screening as a tool in monitoring and technology solutions
• Vít Kodeš (CHMI) – Pesticides in ground water
• Marek Liška, Lumír Kule (Povodí Vltavy) – Water quality in reservoir and catchment of Želivka
• Martin Ferenčík (Povodí Labe) – Analyses of Organic micropollutants in water compartments by chromatographic methods with MS detection

The next day (May 6^th, 2022) continued with contributions and discussions about water treatment and the solution of water pollution hot-spots:

• Lukáš Moniak (EnviPur) – Introduction of EnviPur
• Daniel Vilím (EnviPur) – EnviPur Technology, Examples of pilot plant application, Further development within EnviPur in general
• Liv Bruaas Henninge, Stein Broch Olsen (COWI AS) – Collaborations between COWI and FFPW USB + Povodi Labe
• Petra Nováková (FFPW) – Target and non-target screening in drinking water treatment plants

After lunch, the participants took a break during a tour of the nearby Kratochvíle Castle so that they could continue until the evening to address specific issues regarding cooperation (e.g., NEA screening) but also the future (PFC in water, soil, and sludge screening, calls from Norwegian funds, …). Newly emerging micropollutants and ways to prioritize them were also discussed. The output is a List of emergent pollutantssuitable for monitoring in Czech and Norwegian conditions.

The meeting was beneficial not only from a professional point of view, but it was possible to meet again in person and strengthen mutual relations after a long pause caused by the covid situation. You can see the video from the meeting here.

Strengthening of the collaboration between the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice and COWI AS in Water Monitoring, project n. 1404572019

Project from the Bilateral Fund of the Programme „Environment, Ecosystems and Climate Change“ supported by the Norway Grants 2014 – 2021.

Laboratoř environmentální chemie a biochemie (LECHB) při VÚRH pořádala na začátku května (4.-7.5.2022) bilaterální setkání mezi norskými partnery a českými partnery. Workshopu se účastnili za norskou stranu zástupci firem COWI AS a Aquateam COWI a za českou stranu jednak pracovníci LECHB a také partneři laboratoře z oblasti monitoringu vod a jejich úpravy – Povodí Vltavy, s.p., Povodí Labe, s.p., ČHMÚ a ENVI-PUR s.r.o. Workshop se zabýval především otázkami spojenými se snižováním negativního vlivu lidské činnosti na kvalitu vod a možnostmi vzájemné spolupráce v oblasti monitoringu a čištění vod.

Během workshopu účastníci přednesli řadu příspěvků, následovaných diskuzí nad tématem. První den (5.5.) workshopu byl věnovaný monitoringu vod a novým mikropolutantům ve vodním prostředí. Dopoledne prof. Tomáš Randák (FROV) přivítal účastníky a představil Fakultu rybářství a ochrany vod (FROV) a její součásti. Následovala exkurze po pracovištích FROV JU ve Vodňanech. Odpoledne předneslo své příspěvky část účastníků:

• Beata Szatkowska, Renata Tomczak-Wandzel (Aquateam COWI)
  • Aquateam laboratory competencies – applied science
  • Aquateam selected ongoing projects – in context of micropollutants
• Pavla Chaloupková (SFŽP) – Norway grants - Bilateral cooperation
• Roman Grabic (FROV JU) – Non-target screening as a tool in monitoring and technology solutions
• Vít Kodeš (ČHMÚ) – Pesticides in ground water
• Marek Liška, Lumír Kule (Povodí Vltavy) – Water quality in reservoir and catchment of Želivka
• Martin Ferenčík (Povodí Labe) – Analyses of Organic micropollutants in water compartments by chromatographic methods with MS detection

Druhý den (6. 5. 2022) pokračoval příspěvky a diskuzí okolo úpravy vod a řešení hot-spots znečišťujících vody:

• Lukáš Moniak (EnviPur) – Introduction of EnviPur
• Daniel Vilím (EnviPur) – EnviPur Technology, Examples of pilot plant application, Further development within EnviPur in general
• Liv Bruaas Henninge, Stein Broch Olsen (COWI AS) – Collaborations between COWI and FFPW USB + Povodi Labe
• Petra Nováková (FROV JU) – Target and non-target screening in drinking water treatment plants

Po obědě si účastníci oddechli při prohlídce nedalekého zámku Kratochvíle, aby mohli pokračovat až do večera řešením konkrétních otázek ohledně již proběhlé spolupráce (např. NEA screening), ale i té budoucí (PFC ve vodách, screening půd a kalů, výzvy z Norských fondů, …). Dále se diskutovaly nově vznikající mikropolutanty a způsoby jejich prioritizace. Výstupem je Seznam mikropolutantů, který jsou vhodný pro sledování v českých i norských podmínkách.

Setkání bylo přínosné nejen po odborné stránce, ale umožnilo se po delší odmlce způsobené covidovou situací opět setkat osobně a upevnit vzájemné vztahy. Video ze setkání můžete zhlédnout zde.

Strengthening of the collaboration between the University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice and COWI AS in Water Monitoring, project n. 1404572019

Project from the Bilateral Fund of the Programme „Environment, Ecosystems and Climate Change“ supported by the Norway Grants 2014 – 2021.