Leuciscinae is a subfamily belonging to the Cyprinidae fish family that widely distributed in Circum-Mediterranean region. Many efforts have been carried out deciphering evolutionary history of this group. Thus, different biogeographical scenarios tried explain colonization Europe and Mediterranean area by cyprinids, such as "north dispersal" or "Lago Mare models. Most recently, Pleistocene glaciations influenced distribution leuciscins, especially North Central Europe. Weighing up these...

Abstract 80 taxa of fish have been recorded in the Iranian South Caspian Basin (both inland and coastal waters), belonging to 17 families 53 genera. The two most diverse are Cyprinidae with 39.7% all species, followed by Gobiidae 13.2%. Seven only one genus species. Alien species a wide distribution range contribute 18.7% total number All were classified according their IUCN Red List Categories: four critically endangered, seven vulnerable, conservation dependent, near threatened, 24 least concern

Nowadays, aquatic organisms are used as bio-indicators to assess ecological water quality in western regions, but have hardly been an Iranian context. We, therefore, evaluated the suitability of several indices for case study.Measured data on biotic (fish and macroinvertebrates) abiotic elements (28 physicochemical habitat parameters), were calculate six assessment impact human activities Tajan river, Iran. GIS, uni- multivariate statistics correlations between biological environmental...

The objectives of this study were to assess the biological water Iranian Tajan River using different metrics, i.e., a Multimetric Macroinvertebrate Index (MMI) and traits-based method. Twenty-eight physico-chemical parameters, 10 habitat factors, abundance macroinvertebrates obtained for 17 sites. Shahid-Rajaie dam divides into an up- downstream part, with land uses. Eighteen metrics used represent four components ecosystem quality, including tolerance (Hilsenhoff, SIGNAL), diversity...

Co-occurring biodiversity and global heating crises are systemic threats to life on Earth as we know it, especially in relatively rare freshwater ecosystems, such Iran. Future changes the spatial distribution richness of 131 riverine fish species were investigated at 1481 sites Iran under optimistic pessimistic climate scenarios for 2050s 2080s. We used maximum entropy modeling predict species' potential distributions by hydrologic unit (HU) occupancy current future conditions through use...

Diplozoidae are common monogenean ectoparasites of cyprinoid fish, with the genus Paradiplozoon being most diversified. Despite recent studies on from Europe, Africa and Asia, diversity, distribution phylogeny this parasite group appears to be still underestimated in Middle East. The objective study was investigate endemism host specificity diplozoids parasitizing fish East, considering region as an important historical interchange fauna, elucidate phylogenetic position Eastern species...

Abstract The grey wolf C anis lupus has the largest geographical range of large mammalian carnivores in west A sia. However, it is one least studied species, particularly I ran. Feeding ecology a critical aspect predator and important implications when formulating species ecosystem management strategies. Also, predation on livestock crucial cause wolf–human conflicts throughout wolf's global range. Accordingly, we investigated diet G hamishlou, an area with high population densities wild...

Abstract The changes in some of the biological traits mature females critically endangered Caspian Brown Trout, Salmo trutta caspius Dorofeeva, 1967, during recent decades were analysed. results demonstrated that mean length has significantly (p<0.05) declined over past 60 years, from 77.6 cm 1947 to 59.8 2007 (22.4%). same trend was observed for total weight which reduced 4880.2 g 2486.8 (49.5%). Also, level absolute fecundity sharply decreased 7041.8 4526.1 1973 and 2941.2 1986. Whereas...

Abstract Records of exotic and transplanted fish species in Iran are reviewed. At least 24 have been reported including the first records here Stone Moroko, Pseudorasbora parva Threespine Stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus. Exotics imported to for food, sport, research, ornamentation, weed control, health reasons or accidental introductions incidental these purposes. Recommendations given protect native fishes from exotics which may introduce parasites diseases, compete food habitat, consume fishes.

Abstract Risk screening tools play a crucial role in identifying potential high‐risk non‐native (NN) fish species. In this study, potentially invasive NN species the Anzali Wetland Complex (AWC), which is located on south coast of Caspian Sea (Iran), were identified using Aquatic Species Invasiveness Screening Kit (AS‐ISK). Twenty‐nine freshwater screened 13 exist AWC and 16 close proximity to it (“horizon” species). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that AS‐ISK could...

Abstract Background Freshwater fauna of the Middle East encompass elements shared with three continents—Africa, Asia, and Europe—and is, therefore, considered a historical geographic crossroad between these regions. Even though various dispersion scenarios have been proposed to explain current distribution cyprinids in peri-Mediterranean, all them congruently suggest an Asian origin for this group. Herein, we investigated using monogenean parasites genus Dactylogyrus, which is host-specific...

A population of bullhead Cottus gobio inhabiting a mountainous river network, was examined for the influence maternal condition (total length, L T , and age class in years) environmental factors (water temperature fish density) on fecundity, egg size net annual reproductive effort ( E R defined as ratio total production mass to body mass) within several stocks. Regardless location drainage reproduction synchronous, with only single batch fecundity ranging from 69 896 eggs per female. As...

Interrelationships, origin and phylogenetic affinities of brown trout Salmo trutta populations from the southern Caspian Sea basin, Orumieh Namak Lake basins in Iran were analysed complete mtDNA control region sequences, 12 microsatellite loci morphological characters. Among 129 specimens six populations, seven haplotypes observed. Based on haplotype data, did not differ significantly, but basin-Karaj population presented a unique closely related to other (0·1% Kimura two-parameter, K2P...

Two blind Iran cave barbs, Garra typhlops and lorestanensis, exist in sympatry a single subterranean habitat, raising the hypothesis that they may represent case of sympatric speciation following colonization event. Their different mental disc forms have prompted some authors to propose alternative two separate events. In this study, we analysed genome-wide panel 11,257 SNPs genotyped by means genotyping-by-sequencing combined with mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase sub-unit I sequence data,...

Abstract The present study proposes and evaluates an integrated framework to assess dam construction removal, encompassing the simulation of downstream river habitats reservoir operation in three distinct statuses: conventional optimization, optimal release considering environmental aspects within optimization model, natural flow conditions. Fuzzy physical habitat was employed habitats, while ANFIS-based model utilized simulate thermal tension dissolved oxygen at habitats. Particle swarm...

Two populations of Aphanius sophiae from two different habitats (one in a spring with stable environmental conditions and the other river variable conditions) were examined to determine whether these elicit differences life history traits. Age composition revealed that females live longer. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters showed L(∞) population was higher than population. GSI shorter reproduction period A. system. Egg diameter significantly larger These results confirm hypothesis response...

An initial checklist of mayflies (Ephemeroptera) Iran is compiled based on critical review available literature data, complemented with new data from 38 localities Gilan and Ardabil provinces. At present, altogether only 46 species 25 genera are known Iran, 18 reported as to in this study. Some previously published critically evaluated doubtful taxa excluded the list. Basic analysis distribution biogeography recorded given. Procloeon (Pseudocentroptilum) caspicum Sroka, sp. n. described...

The variability of growth variables and age structure in bullhead Cottus gobio was studied a single river catchment by comparing populations inhabiting reaches with different thermal regimes. Age were determined examining 540 sagittal otoliths from specimens ranging between 19 146 mm total length. Growth young (0+ 1+ years) higher the warmest sites, especially relation to water temperature during growing season (spring summer). older (2+ 5+ negatively related mean site. performance over its...