Download Analysis of Fish faunas in Kaftar Wetlands: A case study of Fars

International Journal of Agriculture and Crop Sciences.
Available online at www.ijagcs.com
IJACS/2013/6-6/338-341
ISSN 2227-670X ©2013 IJACS Journal
Analysis of Fish faunas in Kaftar Wetlands: A case
study of Fars Province (Iran)
SarehRahimi ⃰1, OmidTabiee2
1. Young Researchers Club, Arsanjan branch, Islamic Azad University, Arsanjan, Iran
2. Instructor, Department of Natural Resources , Environmental Science, Arsanjan Branch, Islamic Azad
University, Arsanjan, Iran
Corresponding author email: [email protected]
ABSTRACT: Kaftar wetland with an area of 4800 hectares is situated southeast Eghlid in Fars province.
°
Its geographical positions are 30 23´ E and 52° 45´ N. For the wetland management as the first step
situation of species is studied and investigated as species diversity, so that comprehensive data about
the species frequency can be obtained. In this survey fish fauna of Kaftar wetland has been studies. The
method of fish fauna study in this area was classical method of taxonomic studies. Fish fauna were
recognized by using of indispensable references. In this study 2 order, 3 families, 10 genera and 12 fish
species were identified. Among fish fauna recognized in Kaftar wetland 4, 3 and 5 species are endemic,
native and exotic species respectively. From the 12 species of fish fauna in Kaftar wetland 4 species
about 33 % of identified species in wetland are endemic in Iran. The number of endemic species in Kaftar
wetland is 16% of endemic species identified in Iran. The distribution of the wetland species is restricted
to Palearctic region. The largest family is Cyprinidae with 10 species and 8 genera. This investigation was
done for introduce and determination of fish fauna of Kafter wetland.
Keywords: Fish, Fauna, Kaftar, Wetland, Fars.
INTRODUCTION
An analysis of fauna and flora geography and the identification of fauna and flora ecosystems in a given
area is not only a basis for ecological investigations but also as a suitable method to determine the potentials of the
area from various biological and ecological aspects. Besides, such an analysis is considered as an effective factor
in measuring and evaluating the current situation and predicting future conditions for the management of
ecosystems. Fishes as prominent biological species in aquatic ecosystems with a abundant biodiversity have not
been yet identified in many regions or otherwise have not been reported. However, a careful and thorough study of
different species from a biological and ecological point of view is highly significant for the correct management and
planning of ecosystems. Therefore, to manage ecosystems and in particular wetland ecosystems, the conditions of
species should be investigated under the title of biodiversity and collect the necessary information in this regard.
Fishes are the most frequent species among the vertebrates (List of Freshwater Fishes for Iran, 2007). They are
also one of the most diverse and the most frequently found vertebrates in Iran that live in river, like, wetland, and
marine ecosystems. Iran’s territory despite of being located in the world dry belt enjoys a significant biodiversity.
Given the lack of information on biodiversity of fishes living in wetland ecosystems, this paper attempts to present
the latest information and statistics related to the biodiversity of fishes living in Kaftar Wetland as one the most
important wetlands in terms of fisheries and environmental issues especially concerning its significance as habitat
for water and side-water migratory birds.
Intl J Agri Crop Sci. Vol., 6 (6), 338-341, 2013
Figure 1. Aerial map of Namdan Plain and the location of Kaftar Wetland
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Kaftar or Shakam Wetland is located in the easternmost part of Namdan Plain, 35 kilometers far from the
southeast of Eghlid (a town in Fars Province: Iran). The area of the wetland is approximately 7,500 acres.
However, in most references the area of wetland has been estimated as 4800 acres. Kaftar or Shakam Wetland is
2300 meters high above sea level and is 24 km long and 6 km wide. The wetland is located at N30' 33" and E52'
45" (Abdoli, 1999; AbziGostar Consulting Engineers,1998; Firouz, 1999). Kaftar Wetland is a part of Zagros
region whose mountains parts have been eroded due to strenuous tectonic activities. This wetland is one of the
mountainous fresh water lakes in Iran which has been located in Namdan Plain (Eghlid, Fars Province: Iran) in the
vicinity of three villages of Kaftar, CheshmehRana, and Khongesht. Kaftar Wetland is in the basin of Kor and
Sivand Rivers with a height of 2300 meters above sea level. The water sources of the wetland come from
ShadkamRier, springs and rainfalls in the region. The wetland is one of the water sources of Sivand River and is
connected to this river through underground drainage. Namdan Region has a semi-arid or a semi-humid climate
similar to the Mediterranean climate because of environmental parameters and different climatic systems. Given
the significance of creating a database on biodiversity and gaining awareness about species diversity of Kafter
wetland ecosystem, the present study was conducted using a library and internet-based method. The biodiversity
of fishes living in the Kaftar Wetland was examined using the available resources and studies done in this field
(AbziGostar Consulting Engineers,1998; Coad, 2007; Froese and Pauly, 2008; Lalli and parsons,1993). A total
number of 1828 different fishes were identified and hunted in the wetland through monthly samplings performed by
AbziGostar Consultant engineers within 15 months (from August 1998 to November 1999). of Vector Monthly
Kaftar the lake, and fish samples were identified by the number 1828. The process of identification was performed
with the assistance of the Czechoslovakian ichthyologist, Dr. Holcic and the expert of the identification group.
Sampling instruments
A number of hunting instruments with different mesh sizes were used to cash fishes based on their
habitats, their size, species, and age as follows:
Waiting net (mesh size = 80 mm, length =30 m and, width 2 m)
Waiting net (mesh size = 40 mm, length =30 m and, width 2 m)
Tensile (blade) net (mesh size = 20 mm, length =50 m and, width 2 m)
Fine-meshed tensile (cleaning) net (length =25 m and, width 2 m)
Gregor net (mesh size = 10 mm and 0.6×0.6×1.2 m)
Projectile (missile) net with small and medium-sized meshes
Waiting and tensile methods and in some cases Gregor method were used in order to hunt fishes from the
lake. Besides, projectile and blade methods were used to hunt fish from Shadkam River.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table 1 shows the results related to different fish species identified in Kaftar Wetland:
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Intl J Agri Crop Sci. Vol., 6 (6), 338-341, 2013
Table 1. fish species identified in Kaftar Wetland
No.
1
2
3
4
Scientific name
Cobitislinea
Capoeta aculeate
Eapoetasadi
Alburnus
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Chondrostomaorientalis
Acanthobrama
Ctenopharyngodonidella
Cyprinuscarpio
Hypophthalmichthysmolitrix
Hypophthalmichthysnobilis
Pseudorasboraparva
Lebiassophiae
Name
Garfish
Black fish
Black Fish Sardeh
Southern Gypsy
King
----------Amor
Ordinary carp
Phyto fag
Big head carp
Top mouth gud
Zebra fish
Order
Cypriniformes
Cyprinodontiformes
Family
Cobitidae
Cyprinidae
Cyprinodontidae
Description
Endemic
Native
Native
Native
Endemic
Endemic
Non-native
Non-native
Non-native
Non-native
Non-native
Endemic
Fish faunas in Iran enjoy wide-range diversity due to extension of the country and the prevailing climatic
and ecological conditions. Iran has been located in an important region of animal geographical exchanges so it has
a wide range of interesting fish faunas which have not been known well so far. To determine the conditions of the
fish fauna, some information is needed to be collected about their frequency and their distribution in different
regions. Therefore, the identification and introduction of fish species seems highly important. Kaftar Wetland with
an area of approximately 48 square kilometers is one of freshwater lakes in Fars Province which s located in the
south-east of Eghlid. The wetland is considered a perfect habitat for various plants and animals and it is a safe
refuge for migratory birds to overwinter there. Besides, the wetland is very significant for agriculture, ecotourism,
and educational visits. The results of the present study show that faunas in the region under study include 12 fish
families. Accordingly, 2 orders, 3 families, 10 genera, and 12 species of fish live in Kaftar Wetland. The most
frequent species is carp family (Cyprinidae) with 10 species which comprises 83% of the species Identified. The
carp family is an important family of fish in Iran and in the world that possesses a considerable number fish fauna
throughout the world. The carp family is the largest family of vertebrates in the world. The studies conducted
around the world have identified and reported 2420 species and 220 genera of carp family (Lalli and
parsons,1993). Of 12 species identified in Kaftar Wetland, there are four endemic species which account for 33
percent of endemic species in Iran. Endemic species are those whose dispersion rate is limited and they are not
found in other places. Of the remaining seven species, three species are indigenous to Iran and the other five
species are hybrid non native species that were transplanted to Iranian water ecosystems including Kaftar Wetland.
The release and hybridizing of non-native carp Chinese fish including ordinary carp, top mouth gud, bighead carp,
and Phyto fag was started since 1994 by Iranian Fishery Organization to increase fish production in Kaftar
Wetland. Iran is located in a region that is very important in terms of animal geography. However, little information
is available concerning fish fauna as very interesting and diversified phenomenon. Due to its unique geographical
position, Iran enjoys a considerable diversity of fauna species with a very different geographic origin. Iran is
interfaced with three Palearctic, Oriental (Indomalaya) and, Ethiopian (Afrotropical) wildlife regions. A major part of
Iran is located in wildlife Palearctic region and it is natural that most faunas depend on this wildlife region. However,
Oriental and Ethiopian element have extended their utmost distributions in southeast and southwest parts of Iran
(AbziGostar Consulting Engineers,1998).
CONCLUSIONS
Understanding the different components of the biosphere and various aspects of ecosystems is the first
step for optimal use of renewable resources of a country. Accordingly, the study and the identification of animals
and plans living in ecosystems are of special significance for the management of environmental resources.
Biogeographically, the faunas in the region under study are of Palearctic type. Fishes in the Kaftar Wetland come
from Shadkam River and biogeographically belong to aquatic species of Iran’s rivers. Iran’s native fishes are
distributed in nineteen river basins. Indigenous fishes identified in Kaftar Wetland are among native fishes of Kor
basin. However, some species such as Capoeta aculeate, Capoetadamascina, and Chalcalburnusmossulensis are
the same as species in Isfahan basin and species such as Capoetadamascina and Chalcalburnusmossulensis are
the same as species in Maharlu basin (8). Kaftar Wetland is one of the highly enriched lakes which can produce
annually more than a thousand tons of fishes if environmental and rainfall conditions are suitable. The lake located
near Kaftar Village has an area of 48 square kilometers and is the second largest freshwater lake after Parishan
Lake. Kaftar Lake is the natural habitat of migratory birds and a suitable place for farming carp and top mouth gud
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(Firouz, 1999). Approximately, 260 hunters from villages around Wetland Kaftar are making their living. Fishes are
hunted through waiting nets in permitted fishing seasons in summers and autumns. Excessive use of plants and
water in the vicinity of the lake has endangered the wildlife in the lake. Although the high porosity of highlands and
mountainous areas near lakes enable them to absorb precipitations, indicating that the wetland can continue its life
thanks to the many water springs unless large-scale climatic changes happen. However, the occurrence of draught
and the lack of seasonal rainfalls have made Kaftar Wetland suffer from a severe reduction in water so that over
90% of the lake water has been dried. Given the global significance and the value of wetland, the dehydration of a
wetland is regarded as an environmental tragedy that should be addressed as quickly as possible by taking
appropriate strategies in order reduce the adverse consequences of such disasters.
No reliable report has been published so far about fish species of Kaftar Lake. As far as we know, this is the first
study that introduces fish faunas existing in the lake fish fauna and discusses their origins. Besides, the present
study presents a list of fishes living in the lake based on the studies done by Armentrate (1981) and Abduli (1996).
REFERENCES
Abdoli A.1999. Iran’s Inland water fishes.Publication of the Museum of Nature and Wildlife.
AbziGostar Consulting Engineers.1998. A comprehensive studies of Kaftar Lake.Limnology Report. Iranian Fisheries Company. Department of
Aquaculture Reproduction: p162.
AbziGostar Consulting Engineers.1998. A comprehensive studies of Kaftar Lake.Environmental Report. Iranian Fisheries Company. Department
of Aquaculture Reproduction: p137.
Coad BW. 2007. Freshwater fishes of Iran. http://www.briancoad .com
Firouz A. 1999. Wildlife and vertebrates in Iran. Tehran University Publication Center (1st edition).
Froese R, Pauly D.2008. Fishbase Editor, World Wide Web electronic publication. http
Kamali Sarvestani K. (n.d). Kaftar Lake. Fars Encyclopedia Website: http:// www.fars-encyclopedia.com
Lalli CM, parsons TR.1993. Biological occanography, An Introduction. Pergamo press.
List of Freshwater Fishes for Iran, 2007.http://www.fishbase.com
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