Fish habitat requirements of Spirlin fish (Alburnoides eichwaldii) Totkabon River (tributary of SefidrudRiver) using generalized additive models (GAM)

Determination of habitat requirements of aquatics is crucial to sustainableexploitation and conservation of biodiversity of riverine ecosystems that effect byanthropological activities. Totkabon River as a tributary of the Sefirud River, is apermanent river that is originated from the forest region of the Alborz Mountains andis one of habitats of spirlin (Alburnoides eichwaldii). This river has been affected byhuman activities such as agriculture, construction and tourism. Hence, habitatrequirements of Spirlin was investigated in this study with sampling from 39 stations.For this purpose, hydrological features of stations including velocity, depth and widthof river and type of bed were recorded. Generalized additive models (GAM) was usedto study habitat requirements and Habitat Suitability Index (HSI). The results showedthat depth and width of river are the main independent variables on the presence ofthis species. Therefore human activities that can change theses riverine factors canaffect the presence and distribution A. eichwaldii in this river.

Keywords:

Habitat , Totkabon River , Alburnoides eichwaldii , HIS