Indigenous freshwater ichthyofauna of Israel (review)

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Indigenous freshwater ichthyofauna of Israel (review)

Journal Title: Біологія тварин - Year 2018, Vol 20, Issue 1

Abstract

The uniqueness of the fish fauna of Israel is due to a complex of factors — most notably its location at the crossroads of continents, migration and trade routes and developed hydrographic network, which includes various types of water bodies and a variety of climatic zones. It is represented as species peculiar to the African continent, the Mediterranean basin and the Red Sea basin, as well as to the Levant (Syria, Palestine and Lebanon) with Central Asia. At the same time, the freshwater ichthyofauna of Israel over the last 5 decades is characterized by a rapid increase in the number of introduced species (from 14 to 18 species) and the reduction of endemic species. Most representatives of the endemic ichthyofauna, according to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources), have been given the status of “under threat”. Nowadays, at the state level work on restoration of the strength and the habitats of freshwater fish populations is ongoing, but sharp fluctuations in rainfall and intensive agriculture significantly complicate them. It should be noted that some native species of fish are traditional target species and 40 % of fish consumption is provided by the local fishery and fishing, and some native ornamental species are an essential article of Israel’s exports. This article refers to the main freshwater fish species that were introduced in Israel, but its main purpose is to provide basic information on the native freshwater ichthyofauna. Thus, filed brief description of modern freshwater native ichthyofauna consisting of about 32 species from 8 different families, and characterized by high levels of endemic (near 12 species). The main habitats of representatives of the aforementioned ichthyofauna are such natural reservoirs as the rivers Jordan and Yarkon, the Sea of Galilee (Sea of Tiberias), the hydrological characteristics of which are given in the article. The work written by the organizer and participants of the training course “Intensive Pond Fish Culture”, which was held in Israel in December 2016, is a comprehensive review of the indigenous freshwater ichthyofauna of Israel. In particular, the article presents a systematic position and a brief description with illustrations of the morphological and biological characteristics of all fish species that are indigenous to freshwater reservoirs of this country (with the exception of species that are considered extinct or are widely used in aquaculture of Ukraine).

Authors and Affiliations

Yu. Oziransky, N. Kolesnyk, M. Symon, S. I. Kim, R. Kononenko, S. Shcherbak, N. O. Fedorenko

Keywords

РИБАЛЬСТВО АКВАКУЛЬТУРА ЕНДЕМІЧНІ ВИДИ РИБ ІЗРАЇЛЮ РІЧКА ЙОРДАН РІЧКА ЯРКОН ОЗЕРО КІНЕРЕТ FISHING AQUACULTURE ENDEMIC FISH SPECIES OF ISRAEL THE JORDAN RIVER THE YARKON RIVER THE SEA OF GALILEE РЫБОЛОВСТВО АКВАКУЛЬТУРА ЭНДЕМИЧНЫЕ ВИДЫ РЫБ ИЗРАИЛЯ РЕКА ИОРДАН РЕКА ЯРКОН ОЗЕРО КИНЕРЕТ

EP ID EP356828
DOI 10.15407/animbiol20.01.070
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