Assessing ecological niche shift for the Caspian Kutum (Rutilus frisii) in southern waters of the Caspian Sea over a decadal period

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

1 Post-doctoral Researcher, Iran’s National Elites Foundation and Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

Abstract

Objective: Assessment of influencing environmental fluctuations on organisms in aquatic ecosystems is of high importance in the management and conservation of them. The present study aimed to investigate ecological niche shifts of Caspian Kutum (Rutilus frisii) under the effects of environmental condition changes in southern waters of the Caspian Sea during a decadal period (catch seasons 2002/03 and 2011/12).
Method: The ecological niche modeling was applied using commercial catch data and remotely-sensed environmental data. The random forest method was used to evaluate ecological niche relationships.
Results: The results showed significant (P < 0.001) decreases in day-time sea surface temperature (SST) and near-surface chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a) during the study period. The importance levels of SST, slope, and distance to riverine entrance locations in defining fish ecological niche were increased over the decadal period, while Chl-a and particulate organic carbon (POC) content had lower importance levels at the end of the period. The estimations of optimum ecological ranges of SST indicated considerable decreases over the period, but for other parameters, there were increasing patterns of optimum levels with extending their ranges compared to the initial catch season. Also, spatial shifts were obtained in the occurrence of the ecological niche conditions over the coastal regions.
Conclusions: The findings of this study indicated considerable changes in the ecological niche of the Caspian Kutum during the decadal period and its spatial distribution over the southern coastal waters of the Caspian Sea.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Iranian journal of Ecohydrology
Volume 11, Issue 3
October 2024
Pages 395-410

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History

  • Receive Date: 23 July 2024
  • Revise Date: 18 August 2024
  • Accept Date: 27 August 2024
  • First Publish Date: 22 September 2024
  • Publish Date: 22 September 2024

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