The Species Diversity of the Birds ‎of Anzali International Wetland

Ashoori, Abbas; VARASTEH MORADI, HOSSEIN; Hosseini Tayefeh, Farhad

doi:10.30473/eab.2021.56016.1808

Document Type : Article

Authors

¹ Gilan Provincial Office of the Department of the Environment, ‎Rasht, Iran

² Associate Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences, ‎Faculty of Fisheries and Environmental Sciences, Gorgan ‎University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran‎

³ Assistant Professor, Research Group of Biodiversity and ‎Biosafety, Research Center for Environment and Sustainable ‎Development (RCESD), Department of Environment, Tehran, ‎Iran

https://doi.org/10.30473/eab.2021.56016.1808

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 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.

Keywords

20.1001.1.23222387.1400.10.2.4.6

References

Ahmadpour, M.; Karimi, M. H. S.; Ghasempouri, S. M.; Ahmadpour, M.; Yaghobzadeh, Y. (2011). A three years study of the diversity and density of waterfowl and waders in Sorkhrud International Wetland (October 2007 March 2010). Scientific Research and Essays; 6(30): 6317-6324.

Ashoori, A.; Zolfinezhad, K. (2006). A three- year survey of the status of birds in Bujagh National Park. Journal of Environmental Sciences; 11 (2): 11-22.

Ashoori, A.; Barati, A.; Reihanian, H-R. (2007). Recent observations of the Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius at Bujagh National Park, Gilan Province, and Agh Gol wetland, Hamedan Province and its status in Iran. Podoces; 2(2): 148–150.

Ashoori, A.; Nezami, Sh.; Zolfinezhad, K. (2008). Identification of Bujagh National Park Kiashahr birds. Journal of Environmental Studies; 46: 101–112. [In Farsi, English summary].

Ashoori, A. )2008(. Birds Offered for Sale in the Langarud Market, Southwestern Caspian Sea. Podoces; 3: 92-96.

Ashoori, A. (2009). Endangered and protected birds of Gilan province. Katibeh Gil, Iran. [In Farsi].

Ashoori, A.; Abdoos, A. (2013). Important wetland habitats for the waterbirds of Gilan. Katibeh Gil, Iran. [In Farsi].

Ashoori, A; Varasteh Moradi, H. (2014). Diversity study of wintering waterfowls and waders in Anzali wetland, Iran. Wetland Ecobiology; 6(2): 55-66.

Ashoori, A.; Watanabe, H. (2017). A breeding record of Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus at a Caspian coastal area, Iran. Sandgrous; 39: 45-47.

Ashoori, A.; Varasteh Moradi, H.; Rezaiee, H. R.; Salmanmahiny, A. (2017). Dietary Segregation of Four Ardeid Species Breeding in Anzali International Wetland, Northern Iran. Waterbirds; 40: 377-389.

Ashoori, A.; Varasteh Moradi, H.; Rezaiee, H. R.; Salmanmahiny, A. (2017). Nest position, breeding success and diet of the Black-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax in the Anzali Wetland, Northern Iran (Aves: Ardeidae). Zoology in the Middle East; 63: 283-290.

Ashoori, A. (2018). Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca breeding in the Anzali wetland, coastal Caspian, Iran. Sandgrouse; 40: 5-6.

Ashoori, A. (2018). The birds of Bujagh national park, Iran, 2004–2016. Sandgrouse, 40 (2): 144-156.

Ashoori, A.; Rakhshbhar, Y.; Abbasi, K. (2019). Severe decline in the breeding population of the White-tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) in Iran, together with observations of a nest. Sandgrouse; 41 (2): 176-180.

Ashoori, A.; Varasteh Moradi, H.; Rezaiee, H. R.; Salmanmahiny, A. (2019). Breeding Ecology of the Little Egret Egretta garzetta in the Anzali Wetland, Northern Iran. Podoces; 14 (1): 1-9.

Ashoori, A.; Rakhshbhar, Y.; Galeotti, P.; Fasola, M. (2019). Effects of protective nesting associations with Terns on the breeding success of Great Crested Grebes in Iran. Ardea; 107 (3): 328-332.

Ashoori, A.; Amini, H.; Khaleghizadeh, A.; Manolopoulos, A.; Catsadorakis, G. (2019). What caused the impressive increase of Dalmatian pelicans Pelecanus crispus wintering in Iran in the period 1998-2017. Zoology in the Middle East; 65 (4): 307-318.

Ashoori, A. (2019). Evidence of breeding of Savi’s Warbler Locustella luscinioides in Iran. Sandgrouse Sandgrouse; 41 (1): 15-17.

Ashoori, A.; Yousefi, M.; Hosseini Tayefeh, F. (2020). Changes in the diversity and abundance of wintering waterbirds within protected areas in Anzali International Wetland complex. Experimental Animal Biology; 9 (1): 29-40. [In Farsi].

Behrouzi-Rad, B.; Riahi, A.; Khaleghizadeh, A. (2002). Survey of biodiversity changes of waterfowls and waders in Selkeh and Siah-Keshim (Espand Class) International wetlands. Journal of Environment Studies; 29: 21-33. [In Farsi with English summary].

Elembergi, P. N.; Poeysae, H.; Sjoeberg, K. (1994). Relationship between species number, lake size and resource diversity in assemblages of breeding eater. J. Biol; 21: 75-84.

Firouz, E. (2000). Wildlife of Iran, Vertebrates. Iran University Press, Tehran, 491 pp.

Fretwell, S. D.; Lucas, H. L. (1970.) On territorial behavior and other factors influencing habitat distribution in birds. Acta Biotheoretica; 19:16-36.

Goss-Custard, J. (1975). The ecology of the Wash 3. Density related behaviour and the possible effects of the loss of feeding grounds on wading birds (Charadrii). Journal of Applied Ecology; 14: 721-739.

Goss-Custard, J. D.; jones, I. L. E.; Newberry, P. E. (1977). The ecology of the Wash. I. Distribution and Diet of wading birds (Charadrii). Journal of Applied Ecology; 14: 681-700.

Guareschi, S.; Abellan, P.; Laini, A.; Green, A. J.; Sanchez-Zapata, J. A.; Velassco, J.; Millan, A. (2011). Cross-taxon congruence in wetlands: Assessing the value of water birds as surrogates of macro invertebrate biodiversity in Mediterranean Ramsar sites. Ecological Indicators; 49: 204-215.

Khaleghizadeh, A.; Scott, D. A.; Tohidifar, M.; Musavi, S. B.; Ghasemi, M.; Sehhatisabet, M. A.; Ashoori, A.; Khani, A.; Bakhtiari, P.; Amini, H.; Roselaar, C.; Aye, R.; Ullman, M.; Nezami, B.; Eskandari, F. (2011). Rare Birds in Iran in 1980−2010. Podoces; 6(1): 1-48.

Krebs, J.Ch. (2001). Ecological Methodology, Published by Harper & Row publishers, London. Pp. 93-370.

Magurran, A.E. (2004). Measuring Biological Diversity. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.

Mansoori, J. (2008). A Field Guide to the Birds of Iran. Farzaneh Publishing, Tehran. [In Farsi].

Mori, Y. N.; Sodhi, S.; Kawanishi, S.; Amagishi, S. Y. (2001). The effect of human disturbance and flock composition on the flight distances of water flow species. J. Ethol; 19: 115-119.

Mullarney, K. L.; Svensson, P.; J Grant, J.; Zetterström, D. (1999). Collins Bird Guide. HarperCollins, UK.

Naziri, F.; Ashoori, A.; Lampila, P. (2017). First record of Dusky Warbler, Phylloscopus fuscatus (Aves: Sylviidae), from Iran. Zoology in the Middle East; 63: 372-373.

Ohlmann, M.; Miele, V.; Dray, S.; Chalmandrier, L.; O’Connor, L.; Thuiller, W. (2019). Diversity indices for ecological networks: a unifying framework using Hill numbers. Ecology Letters; 1-11.

Porter, R.S.; Christensen, S.; Schiermacker-Hansen, P. (1996). Birds of the Middle East. Christopher Helm, an Important of A and C Black Publisher Ltd.

Scott, D.A. (2008). Rare birds in Iran in the late 1960s and 1970s. Podoces; 3(1/2): 1-30.

Scott, D. A.; Moravej-Hamadani, H.; Adhami-Mirhosseyni, A. (1975). The Birds of Iran. Iran Department of Environment, Tehran. (In Farsi, with Latin, English and French names)

Sinclair, A. R.; Nkwabi, A.; Mduma S. A.; Magige, F. (2014) Responses of the Serengeti avifauna to long-term change in the environment. Ostrich; 85(1): 1-11

Torres, R. (1995). Waterfowl community Structure of lagunasanto Domingo (Cordoba) during an annual cycle. Rev. ASOC. SCI. hitor. St. Tome; 26: 33-40.

Watkinson, A. R.; Sutherland, W. J. (1995). Source sinks and pseudo-sinks. Journal of Animal Ecology; 64: 126-130.

Yousefi, M.; Sheykhi Ilanloo, S.; Valizadegan, N.; Shokrane, M. (2015). Bird species richness in Bavanat County, north east of Fars province. Experimental Animal Biology; 14: 69-78. (In Farsi).

Experimental animal Biology

The Species Diversity of the Birds ‎of Anzali International Wetland

References

References

Volume 10, Issue 2 - Serial Number 38
November 2021
Pages 39-54

The Species Diversity of the Birds ‎of Anzali International Wetland

References

References

Volume 10, Issue 2 - Serial Number 38November 2021Pages 39-54

Volume 10, Issue 2 - Serial Number 38
November 2021
Pages 39-54