Fisheries and Aquaculture Journal
Open Access

Abstract

Fish Species Composition, Distribution and Abundance in Shadegan Wetland

Seyed Ahmadreza Hashemi, Rasoul Ghorbani, Farhad Kymaram, Seyed Abass Hossini, Gholareza Eskandari3 and Aliakbar Hedayati

Composition, distribution and abundance of fish species was carried out from April 2012 to Mars 2013 in the Shadegan wetland. Samples were collected from five stations; Mahshar, Rogbe, Khorosy, Salmane and Ateish in this local in Khuzestan provinces (Iran). A total of 3312 fish individuals comprising 26 species from 6 families were sampled throughout the entire study period. The most abundant species was Carasobarbus luteus (Cyprinidae) comprising 28.20% of the total fish caught. The mean CPUE (catch per unit effort) for all species was 29 nu/day and maximum and minimum CPUE values were 47.60 ± 11.61 nu /day (spring) and 18.40 ± 5.94 nu /day (winter), respectively. Maximum and minimum Shannon-Weinner values were 2.21 (spring) and 2 (autumn), respectively. The Shannon-Weinner value differ significantly between different station (P<0.05) and Margalef’s, Evenness, Simpson’s index didn’t differ significantly between different station (P>0.05). A comparison of value salinity is significant between different station (P<0.05) and other parameters is no significant different station (P<0.05). The Wetland Fish Index (WFI) calculated for the entire wetland using total abundance was 2.99. The WFI should prove to be an effective tool to aid in the management and protection of important fish habitat in Shadegan wetlands.