animal biosystematic
Mona Izadian; Farhad Hosseini Tayefeh; Saber Ghasemi; Seyyed Ghasem Ghorbanzadeh Zaferani
Abstract
Persian Salamander (Persian Brook Salamander Paradactylodon persicus) is one of the unique genetic treasures of Iranian amphibians whose Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran are the last end of its southwestern distribution in Asia. Until 2019, two separate species including the Iranian Salamander P. persicus ...
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Persian Salamander (Persian Brook Salamander Paradactylodon persicus) is one of the unique genetic treasures of Iranian amphibians whose Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran are the last end of its southwestern distribution in Asia. Until 2019, two separate species including the Iranian Salamander P. persicus in the west and center and the salamander of Gorgani P. gorganensis in the east of Hyrcania were introduced, but based on the NGS and phylogenetic sequencing data, these salamanders are classified as the single species of the Iranian salamander Paradactylodon persicus. The eastern population is Critically Endangered (CR) and the central and western population is Near Threatened (NT) on the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and it is necessary to planning of conservation programs. Based on the guidelines proposed by Species Survival Working Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN/SSC), this research identifies the threats and provides management plan in the form of strategic programs for the conservation and management of the Iranian Salamander population. The most important threats to the species include sample collection, the presence of domestic and wild animals, destruction of springs, lack of water resources (decreased water flow) and easy access to the habitat. The most important strategies for the conservation and management of Iranian Salamanders is 1) to identify threats and provide solutions to reduce the effects of each threat on the species and habitat, 2) identify new habitats, monitor the population and assess the status of the habitat, 3) scientific studies on various biological and ecological aspects, and create a database and 4) raising the level of awareness, knowledge and attracting the participation of stakeholders in the conservation of the species and habitat. The results of this study will be used in the management of Iranian Salamander habitat and population, reducing the effects of threats, revising management plans and developing cooperative conservation.
Abbas Ashoori; HOSSEIN VARASTEH MORADI; Farhad Hosseini Tayefeh
Abstract
Anzali International Wetland is one of the most important bird sites in Iran and the region, but so far no comprehensive study has been conducted to determine the diversity and status of its birds. In this study, all parts of the wetland were monitored monthly from January 2014 to December 2015 with ...
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Anzali International Wetland is one of the most important bird sites in Iran and the region, but so far no comprehensive study has been conducted to determine the diversity and status of its birds. In this study, all parts of the wetland were monitored monthly from January 2014 to December 2015 with the aim of identifying and surveying the status of the birds in the wetland. A total of 243 bird species including 112 waterbirds and 131 terrestrial species were identified. The highest number of species was recorded in April and the lowest number in June, and more than 70% of the birds in the wetland were passage and wintering migrants. The highest number of birds was counted in January (134,167 individuals) and the lowest number in May (6,979 individuals). Twenty-six percent of the birds were globally threatened, near-threatened and nationally protected in Iran, and nine species of were named: Sociable Lapwing in the critically endangered, White-headed Duck, Saker Falcon and Steppe Eagle in the endangered, and Common Pochard, Horned Grebe, Greater Spotted Eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle and European Turtle Dove in the vulnerable category. Breeding of Ferruginous Duck, Savi’s Warbler, Little Crake and Little Tern was recorded for the first time in this wetland and more than one percent of the global population of Whiskered Tern, Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Whooper Swan, Pygmy Cormorant, Great cormorant and Dalmatian Pelican occur in this wetland. This study shows that Anzali wetland, despite being included in the Ramsar Convention’s Montreux Record of listed sites experiencing change in ecological character, is still one of the most important sites for birds, especially waterbirds, and still satisfies all the waterbird-related criteria of the Ramsar Convention. Therefore, maintaining the quality and extent of the wetland and its valuable habitats is essential.
Abbas Ashoori; Seyed Farshid Fallah; Farhad Hosseini Tayefeh
Abstract
This study aimed to describe the breeding biology of the Great Crested Grebe during the breeding season from April to September 2015 in the western part of Anzali wetland. A total of 56 nests were identified during this survey. Totals of 18 and 20 Great Crested Grebe nests were built simultaneously in ...
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This study aimed to describe the breeding biology of the Great Crested Grebe during the breeding season from April to September 2015 in the western part of Anzali wetland. A total of 56 nests were identified during this survey. Totals of 18 and 20 Great Crested Grebe nests were built simultaneously in two separate colonies from mid-April to early May, and in addition at least two months later, a further 18 nests with a minimum distance of 100 meters from each other within Whiskered Tern colonies. The mean clutch size was 3.91±0.85 (n= 56), the average weight of the eggs was 38.8±3.01 g (n= 68) and the average volume of eggs was 37.00±3.6 cm3 (n= 68). This study showed that Great Crested Grebes have a long breeding period in the western part of Anzali wetland (more than 170 days). Breeding success is affected by the large area of the water body which has large waves in spring, as well as the presence of predators such as Marsh Harrier. The first nests in the colony are constructed in the margins of the wetland and among small clumps of reeds. Subsequently, with the gradual increase in the growth and biomass of submerged water plants in the water body and the start of Whiskered Tern nesting on these water plants, the grebes build individual nests among the large colonies of Whiskered Terns. This may represent a specific breeding strategy of the Great Crested Grebe to increase the number of chicks reared during the breeding season.
Abbas Ashoori; Masoud Yousefi; Farhad Hosseini Tayefeh
Abstract
Waterbirds are among the most vulnerable species of birds, and their species richness and population size are important indicators of the quality and conservation value of aquatic ecosystems. The populations of waterbirds are severely in decline, and in recent years more species have been added to the ...
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Waterbirds are among the most vulnerable species of birds, and their species richness and population size are important indicators of the quality and conservation value of aquatic ecosystems. The populations of waterbirds are severely in decline, and in recent years more species have been added to the IUCN Red List. It is therefore imperative that the populations of these birds be monitored and protected. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the trends in the diversity and density of wintering migratory waterbirds in four protected areas in the Anzali International Wetland Complex, namely Selkeh, Sorkhankol, Choukam and Siahkieshim. To this end, data from the mid-winter census during a 10-year period (2003-2005 and 2008-2013) were used. We also compared the similarity of waterbird communities among the four protected areas using the Morista Index and PCA test. In total, 65 species of waterbirds were identified in all of these four areas of the wetland. Selkeh had the highest species richness (57 species) and Siahkeshim had the highest mean abundance (31,504 individuals). Also the highest abundance of these four areas combined was in 2013 (103,332 individuals) and the lowest was in 2005 (42,842 individuals). Anatidae were represented by the highest number of species (18 species) and Threskiornithidae and Sternidae families were lowest with one species each. The results of Morista Index and PCA test also revealed that, Sorkhankol wildlife refuge had the least similarity with the other protected areas based on species richness. The results suggest the importance of the Sorkhankol area for providing habitats and supporting diving waterbird species, in particular its value for diving ducks. So, this part of Anzali Wetland may need to be protected more than before. Implementation of comprehensive wetland management plans and establishment of integrated ecosystem management systems are among the most important strategies for preserving these four areas for aquatic birds and overwintering.
