Determination of habitat suitability index of spined loach Oxynoemacheilus bergianus (Derjavin, 1934) from Totkabon River (a tributary of Sefidrud River basin)

Document Type : scientific research article

Author

Abstract

In fisheries and protection programs of aquatic ecosystems, knowledge on habitat requirement of aquatic animals plays important role. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the habitat preference and suitability indexes of habitat features and habitat suitability index (HSI) of Oxynoemacheilus bergianus in its distribution range in the Totkabon River. To study the habitat characteristics of this species in this River, its abundance and habitat variables, including elevation, depth, width, flow velocity, average diameter of substrate stones and water temperature at 13 stations from the downstream to upstream were examined during November 2013. According to the results, the suitability index of environmental features of this species were altitudes ranging 150-175 meters asl, velocity in range 0.48-0.56 m/s, with average diameter beds stone in range 20-25 cm, depths in range 24-34 cm, river width 4/2-7 m and with temperature in range 16-18°C. In this study, three variable height and depth of factors were associated with the abundance of this species. Presence of these conditions with HIS of 0.801 indicates that Totkabon River is very good habitat for O.bergianus.

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