Bee products have a millennia-old tradition in human apitherapy, thanks to their numerous curative properties. The aim of this study was to perform a physicochemical characterization, including the percentage of water content, dry matter, pH, acidity, impurity content, protein, ash, and macro and micro minerals, and to evaluate the antioxidant activity of apiculture products, including apilarnil, royal jelly, and propolis. Samples were collected from our apiary in the Banat region of Romania in 2022 as well as from the market. Apilarnil and royal jelly were analyzed in pure and freeze-dried form, and propolis in pure and tincture form. Our results show that there is a large variability in the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the three bee products studied, depending on the form of presentation and source of origin. In the case of commercial bee products, the best results were obtained in terms of chemical composition, including the content of macro and micro nutrients. All the samples analyzed showed acidity, pH, and impurity content values within the limits allowed by the quality standards. Apilarnil from our own apiary recorded the highest values for antioxidant activity, followed by propolis tincture and fresh propolis from own apiary.

The alarming decline in sturgeon populations doubled by growing demands for sturgeon products, urge us to prevent the loss of these species. Fish stocking in natural habitats and developing fish farms are viable solutions, which can be successfully implemented with the help of reproductive biotechnologies. Despite the fact that semen cryopreservation is admittedly an important step for saving the Russian sturgeon, a reproducible standard method with good results has yet to be identified. Sperm quality assessment is essential for quantifying the impact of cryopreservation on spermatozoa. The purpose of our study was to provide additional information regarding semen cryopreservation and semen quality evaluation for the Russian sturgeon. Our study method is based on the use of two yolk-free extenders (with different cryoprotectants: DMSO and methanol) for freezing semen, using a simple freezing protocol. Parameters such as volume, concentration, motility, morphology and membrane integrity were evaluated. In conclusion, cryopreservation of Russian sturgeon spermatozoa using an extender containing methanol as cryoprotectant led to high egg fertilization percentages (72.67 ± 5.4%) even if the total motility values recorded for thawed semen were quite low (18–25%). Additionally, we identified two optimal stains for morphological studies and morphometry (Spermac stain kit and Trypan Blue Solution).

A study on Sander lucioperca age classes to assess preference for background color was imagined. Two groups: G1 (92 days old, average weight: 6.2 ±1.6 g) and G2 (461 days and 101.7 ±27.1 g), were continuously observed for 24 hours after one day of acclimation, using 90 fish / group (30 fish / replication / 24 hours), their behavior being recorded with cam-recorders. For the study, the walls and bottom of a rectangular research tank were colored equally in: grey, light and dark blue and green. During the study, were made 216 observations / group (72 observations / replication) and were statistically analyzed using Duncan test, with a confidence level of P˂ 0.05 or lower. Results revealed that a significant number from G1 was located on the green space, in order, preferred background color being: green, grey, dark and light blue. The G2 group expressed also high affinity for the green color (P< 0.001) concluding that, green background can give a safety feeling to the pikeperch, thus, rearing or transport of pikeperch categories in green tanks could have the benefit of stress decreasing and added benefit for this fish species in the aim of advancing the Recirculating Aquaculture Systems.

Our study used mortality and developmental abnormalities present in fertilized zebra fish eggs as a possible useful bio-indicator to assess water pollution from the vicinity of five great swine units using 48-hour in vitro zebra fish eggs acute toxicity test. In assay, 1,300 (Test) and 220 (Control) healthy fertilized zebra fish eggs were used. During the test duration, a number of dead eggs or embryos and/or any other disturbance in the embryonic development that could indicate pollution were ascertained. In parallel, embryonic mortality was assessed for each swine unit possible farm effluent source, using double samples and 10 different water dilutions provided from the environs river. It was found in some situations that fertilized fish egg development was disturbed by the water components at the assay moment. Statistical results, analyzed according to the Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test (significant P<0.05, or lower), revealed that, from the five observed units at the sample collection moment, the river water was polluted in the surroundings of swine Units 1 and 4, which was also confirmed by the acute toxicity endpoints presence in developed embryos in the water samples provided. This qualitative assay could be a helping tool for small-scale environmental risk assessment due to the opportunity to achieve, in a short amount of time, an accurate analysis.

The severe decrease in natural sturgeon stocks has led to intensified efforts toward the development of sturgeon aquaculture and the application of reproductive biotechnologies to ensure sustainable production. In cultured male Acipenser ruthenus (sterlet), spermiation must be hormonally induced to obtain high-quality semen; however, reducing hormonal dosages while maintaining or improving sperm quality remains a major challenge. In this study, we investigated the effects of reduced doses of carp pituitary extract (CPE) and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist (LH-RH) combined with Apilarnil supplementation on spermiation and semen quality in A. ruthenus. Semen volume, pH, sperm concentration, total sperm output, total motility, and spermatozoa velocity were evaluated. Administering a reduced CPE dose (1.1 mg·kg⁻¹) combined with 1 g of Apilarnil significantly increased semen volume, sperm concentration, and total sperm output, as well as improved sperm kinematic parameters (total motility and velocity) compared with the conventional hormonal protocol. Furthermore, treatments using 50% of the standard LH-RH dose supplemented with 1 g or 2 g of Apilarnil resulted in significantly higher sperm motility and velocity than observed in the control group. These results demonstrate that Apilarnil supplementation allows for a substantial reduction in exogenous hormonal doses while enhancing spermiation efficiency and semen quality in sterlet, supporting the spermiation-induction protocol for sturgeon aquaculture.