The mammals of Anzali Wetland, in the Southern Caspian Sea

The mammals of Anzali Wetland in the Southern Caspian Sea

S. Naderi¹, A. Mirzajani², H. Rajabi Maham³, E. Hadipour⁴

1. Environmental Sciences Department, Natural Resources Faculty, University of Guilan, Iran

2. Inland Water Aquaculture Research Center, Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute, Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Bandar Anzali, Iran

3. Department of Animal Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Iran

4. Guilan Provincial Directorate of Department of Environment, Rasht, Iran

Corresponding author’s E-mail: naderi@guilan.ac.ir           

(Received: Jan. 28. 2017 Accepted: July 22. 2017)

INTRODUCTION

One percent of global wetlands is located in Iran. The characteristics of Anzali Wetland with about 19095 ha area, located in 36 ^°55' to 37^° 32' N and 48^° 45' and 49^° 42' E are as follow: -23 m altitude from open seas, 2.75 m maximum depth, 70 km² water body areas, distributed in north-west to south-east vector (Kimbal & Kimbal 1974). The most important entering rivers to this wetland are: Chafroud, Bahambar, Morghak, Masal, Palangvar, Masolehrodkhan, Pasikhan, Siahdarvishan, Lakanroud and Siahroud (NGO-IRAN 2003).

This important natural ecosystem acts as an ecotone, between different ecosystems: terrestrial, the Caspian Sea, brackish and fresh water environments, containing composition of different biota. Anzali Wetland, with many different ecologic, economic, aesthetics, anthropologic values is one of the first recorded wetlands in Ramsar convention on 1975 (Ramsar Convention Bureau 2014).

Unfortunately, during last decades, this wetland confront with many problems and negative factors (Sabetraftar 1999; Jica et al. 2005; Mirzajani et al. 2010), and was listed in Montreux record as a priority site for conservation measures in 1993 (Ramsar Convention Site). Based on the conservation strategies, some parts of this wetland were considered as protected areas: (Siakeshim protected area: 4500 ha), and three wildlife refuges (Sorkhankol: 1214 ha, Chokam: 449 ha, and Selkeh: 360 ha) under DOE conservation management (DOE of Guilan Information).

Although many short and comprehensive biological, ecological and management studies were performed on Anzali Wetland, however there is not any comprehensive study on its mammal fauna. There are general statements in some literatures on species of this wetland (Lay 1967, Etemad 1985, Karami et al. 2008, Ziaei 2008). According to the first report (Yekom consulting Engineers Corporation 1989), the mammal species of Anzali Wetland were listed in two different categories including distinctive (16) and probable (8) species.  It only reported the list of mammals, without field-based data on distribution of different species. However, it was the basic reference for many other studies and reports (Monavari 1991; Behrouzi rad 1997; Riazi 1997; Sabetraftar 1999; Mirzajani et al. 2010).

According to Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) studies on ecological management of Anzali Wetland, a precise check - list of different fauna and their spatial and temporal distribution seems to be important for achieving the conservation strategies (Jica et al. 2005). So, the present study has been conducted as a first field and laboratory research on mammals of entire Anzali Wetland.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Based on a mapping system, different parts of Anzali Wetland were seasonally patrolled from January 2015 to January 2016. In total, about 200 km around the wetland was surveyed by car for finding different signs of mammal species including feces, footprints, den holes as well as soil and plant displacement and scars. The accessibility of the wetland changes in different seasons as it was restricted in spring and summer due to decrease in water level, progressive vegetation growth and because of cultivation activities. Moreover, four different water bodies of Anzali wetland including Siakeshim protected area, western, central and southern parts, as well as the eastern and Sheijan were searched for fauna using a motorboat. Totally, about 165 km over 250 points were surveyed for any evidence to show the presence of mammal species (Fig. 1). Furthermore, 10 digital scouting camera traps were used.

For rodent species, two kinds of traps (40 live and 25 mouth traps) were installed in different parts of the wetland, where the rodent signs such as footprints, feces and also den holes were observed. All of the captured specimens were transported to Shahid Beheshti University biosystematic laboratory, thereafter, their body and skull morphometric characteristics were measured and using available references and key identifications recognized.

For bat species, some kinds of local mist nets with mesh size of 10-15 mm were installed and checked in evening and night, from May to September 2015. All collected samples were transported to Wildlife Laboratory in University of Guilan and then Berlin Museum Biosystematics Laboratory and the species were identified using morphometric measurements and also genetic examinations.

As an additional work, to completion of obtained data on mammal fauna distribution, the local people were interviewed by showing some color pictures from A Field Guide to Mammals of Iran (Ziaei 2008) and presenting their morphological description.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In total, 20 species from 5 orders and 13 families of mammals have been recognized. These species belong to Orders Eulipotyphla (3 species), Chiroptera (4 species), Rodentia (6 species), Carnivora (6 species) and Artiodactyla (1 species) (Figs. 2A, B, C, D, E and F). The obtained data for each species are separately described according to the modern taxonomic classification keys presented in “Mammal Species of the World” (Wilson & Reeder 2005).

1) Order Eulipotyphla

1.1) Family Erinaceidae

1.1.1) Southern white-breasted Hedgehog, Erinaceus concolor (Martin, 1838)

There are two morphotypes based on cranial variability for this species and the Asiatic samples are concolor morphotype, revised from the west of Iran (Kryštufek 2002).

Because of its nocturnal activities only two samples were observed from the western part and also central region of Anzali Wetland (Fig. 2A). According to local people, it exists in different parts of the wetland, but its population has declined remarkably over the last years.

1.2) Family Soricidae

1.2.1) Caspian Shrew, Crocidura caspica (Thom- as 1907)

Its type locality is Iran, southern coast of the Caspian Sea. During the present survey, the only dead sample of this small totally chocolate-brown shrew was found in the central part of Anzali Wetland (Fig. 2A).

Based on the last molecular studies, it is known as a distinctive species, Crocidura caspica (Bannikova et al. 2006).

It has been recorded as an endemic species of south-west coast of the Caspian Sea in Iran and Azerbaijan. Very little information is available on its distribution, population size and trends, and potential threats (Hutterer 2005; Bannikova et al. 2006; Ziaei 2008; Kennerley 2016).

1.3) Family Talpidae

1.3.1) Mole (Talpasp.)

According to different studies, three mole species were recently identified in Iran: Talpa levantis Thomas 1906 (Kryštufek 2001), T. davidiana Milne-Edwards, 1884 (Kryštufek et al. 2001; Sözen et al. 2012), and T. caucasica Satunin, 1908 (Kryštufek & Benda 2002). The recent phylogenetic study on genus Talpa (Bannikova et al. 2015) showed that the moles which distributed along the south-western banks of the Caspian Sea from southern part of Azerbaijan to the Central Elburz Mountains in Iran, actually belong to T. talyschensis and not to T. caucasica or T. levantis, as previously proposed.

Fig 1. Field survey in different parts of Anzali Wetland for mammal species (Black: human settlements; Dark grey: water body; Light grey: around of wetland. Different parts of the wetland: S = Siahkeshim, E = Eastern or Sheijan, C = Central, W = Western areas for conservation programs: SiPA = Siakeshim protected area, SoWR = Sorkhankol wildlife refuge, SeWR = Selkeh wildlife refuge, ChWR = Chokam wildlife refuge).

The single found mole in western region of Anzali Wetland (Fig. 2A) has the dental formula and appearance very similar to T. davidiana, however, based on mitochondrial cytochrome b gene sequencing and phylogenetic tree analysis in the present study, it has been recognized as a different species. It places in a clade near, but discrete to T. davidiana and also T. talyschensis. Thus, more samples are indispensable for achieving a clear and detailed knowledge about this found individual.

2) Order Chiroptera

All bat samples were captured at the end of spring until mid-autumn. Based on morphologic and genetic studies, in total, four species were recognized. The most frequent recognized species from different regions of Anzali Wetland were from family Vespertilionidae.

2.1) Family Rhinolophidae 

2.1.1) Lesser Horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus hipposideros (Borhausen, 1797)

This species had been previously reported from other regions including north-west (Lay 1967) and west part of Iran (DeBlase 1980). In our study, this species was only sampled in Khomam region in the eastern part of Anzali Wetland (Fig. 2B), near human community. It is generally common in both towns and cities; in parks, forests, outside of buildings, limestone mines, cracks in walls, and cellars (Ziaei 2008; Benda et al. 2012).

2.2) Family Vespertilionidae

2.2.1) Kuhl’s Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus kuhlii (Kuhl, 1817)

There are numerous reported sites of it throughout Iran. However, its distribution in north of Iran is rather scarce (Lay 1967; DeBlase 1980; Karami et al. 2008).

An individual of this species was captured in Sorkhankol, central region of Anzali Wetland (Fig. 2B).

2.2.2) Nathusius’s Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus nathusii (Keyserling and Blasius, 1839)

This species was captured from Sorkhankol, the central region of Anzali Wetland (Fig. 2B). Nathusius’sPipistrelle distributes in eastern, central and southern Europe, common along the Baltic Sea, southern Scandinavia and northern Germany. It also inhabits the Balkans and on Corsica. It migrates to Sardinia and Sicily and Iberia (Dietz & Von Helversen 2004; Dietz 2005). Although its presence in Iran has been suspected before (Benda et al. 2012), our finding is the first record of this species in Iran (Naderi et al. 2017).

2.2.3) Soprano Pipistrelle, Pipistrellus pygmaeus (Leach, 1825)

This species was found in all regions around Anzali Wetland, including woodland of river banks and rural houses (Fig. 2B). The first records of this species in Iran reported by Hulva et al. (2007) from two sites in Guilan and Golestan Provinces. Benda et al. (2012) referred to the same two records and suggested a possible presence of this species along the whole Caspian shore areas, in north of Iran.     

3) Order Rodentia

In total, 53 rodents from four families and six species were captured by traps.

3.1) Family Cericetidae

3.1.1) Eurasian water vole, Arvicola amphibius (Linnaeus, 1758)

This species inhabits around the rivers, creeks and wetlands with dense plant covers. It is distributed from Europe to Russia and west Asia (Musser & Carleton 2005; Ziaei 2008; Batsaikhan et al. 2016). Its presence in Guilan Province was also reported previously (Lay 1967). It was sampled from southern part of Anzali Wetland, in Kolesar region (Fig. 2C).

3.2) Family Muridae

3.2.1) House mouse, Mus musculus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Based on molecular studies, several sub-species with worldwide distribution have been introduced for this species. The most accepted sub-species are: Mus musculus domesticus (in Western Europe, North Africa and the Middle East), M. m. musculus (in Eastern Europe and North of Asia) and M. m. castaneus (in South-east Asia) (Boursot et al. 1993; Rajabi Maham et al. 2008). According to Lay (1967), this species has a widespread distribution ranges in Iran. Two different sub-species, M. m. musculus and M. m. domesticus were found in different regions of Anzali Wetland (Fig. 2C).

3.2.2) Brown rat, Rattus norvegicus (Berkenhout, 1769)

This species was probably originated from Asia and gradually distributed nearly all over the world. It needs enough water and cannot inhabit dry regions. Thus it is found next to creeks, ponds, wetlands and also human sewages systems (Kryštufek et al. 2001; Ziaei 2008; Akbary Rad et al. 2009; Ruedas 2016). The presence of this species in coastal plains around the Caspian Sea had been reported in different studies (Misonne 1959; Lay 1967; Harrison & Bates 1991; Karami et al. 2008). This rat found in different regions of Anzali Wetland (Fig. 2C).

3.2.3) Roof rat, Rattus rattus (Linnaeus, 1758)

This rat was distributed passively in the world by human movements (Kryštufek et al. 2016). In Iran, it can be seen in coastal regions of the Caspian Sea, from Astara to Gorgan and also in southern coastal regions, around the Oman Sea and the Persian Gulf, from Chabahar to Abadan (Harrison & Bates 1991; Ziaei 2008; Akbary Rad et al. 2009). This rat is found in some regions of Anzali Wetland (Fig. 2C).

3.3) Family Gliridae

3.3.1) Fat dormouse, Glis glis (Linnaeus, 1766)

This species mainly distributes in the deciduous forests zone in the Western Palearctic, in Europe and Asia (Kryštufek 2010). It occurs in forests along the Caspian coast and on the Elbruz Mountains (Lay 1967; Ziaei 2008). The Iranian subspecies is G. g. persicus (Erxleben, 1777), which its type is found in Guilan Province (Karami et al. 2008). According to local people interviews, G. glis had a vast distribution around the Anzali Wetland, especially in areas with natural and fruit forest of walnuts, chestnut and oak, while in the present study it was observed only in the western part of Anzali Wetland (Fig. 2C). 

3.4) Family Hystricidae

3.4.1) Indian crested porcupine, Hystrix indica (Kerr, 1792)

This species is found throughout Southwest and Central Asia and some parts of the Middle East (Amori et al. 2016). It was reported from many parts of country including the forested northern slopes of the Elbruz Mts. (Lay 1967) and whole Iranian central plateau (Misonne 1959). Also, Ziaei (2008) reported it from most of the localities in Iran except for Azarbaijan and Kurdistan. Based on few observations in this study (Fig. 2C) and also according to local people data, it seems that the population of this species in Anzali Wetland has been clearly declined over the last decades.

4) Order Carnivora

From this Order, five species of three families were recognized.

4.1) Family Canidae

4.1.1) Golden Jackal, Canis aureus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The type locality of golden jackal was from Iran, Lorestan, Benna Mts.

Lay (1967) reported Golden Jackal as a common species along the Caspian coast and the Elbruz Mts. Etemad (1985) and Harrison & Bates (1991) also reported this species from some regions of Iran.

Based on direct observations and its signs: footprints, scats, den holes in different areas of Anzali Wetland, this species is the most frequent mammal. The diverse diet of Golden Jackal caused its vast unique distribution pattern in all seasons (Fig. 2F).

This species has the most car accident kill on rural roads in this region, too.

Fig.2. The observed regions of twenty mammal species of Anzali Wetland.