Aphanius transgrediens

Aphanius transgrediens, the Acı Göl toothcarp or Acipinar killifish, is a species of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinodontidae. It is endemic to the springs of Lake Acıgöl in Turkey. It is threatened by a reduction in rainfall from climate change, and the abstraction of water from the springs. The introduction of the non-native eastern mosquitofish also threatens this species.

Aphanius transgrediens

Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Family: Cyprinodontidae
Genus: Aphanius
Species:
A. transgrediens
Binomial name
Aphanius transgrediens
(Ermin, 1946)
Synonyms

Turkichthys transgrediens Ermin, 1946

Ecology & habitat

Aphanius transgrediens is endemic to Lake Acigöl, Turkey, a lake sourced from sulfurous springs (on the south-eastern margins of the lake itself), and containing sodium sulphate and other salts whose harvest is a significant economic activity in the region. Due to severe fluctuations in water levels and chemical composition, this species is mostly restricted to the margins of the lake in spring fields of varying salinity. These ponds are typically very shallow and occupied by growths of filamentous algae of the genus Chara. Winter rainfall allows migration between sites through rivulets around the periphery of the lake, causing a greater genetic diversity within populations, which extend across one square kilometer. This minor migration occurs in late summer, and in the opposite direction in early summer. It is most likely omnivorous, feeding upon aquatic invertebrates and plants. Females are batch-spawners, producing 5-11 eggs per batch on vegetation in a site defended by males. Eggs are 1.3-1.5 mm in diameter, and are laid from early spring to late autumn.[2][3]

Threats

Aphanius transgrediens occupies an extremely restricted area of 30 springs that is almost entirely endangered of destruction by the construction of a new road. Previously, the species inhabited the lake itself and its catchment and within the spring fields. In addition, A. transgrediens is threatened by invasive species, degradation of habitat (also by livestock trampling), and climate change. It is therefore assessed as critically endangered by the IUCN on criteria B1ab (i, ii, iii, iv, v) + 2ab (i, ii, iii, iv, v). Remaining conservation measures are mostly restricted to ex-situ work[4].

gollark: Yes, squares, what of it?
gollark: I should do this.
gollark: We need a giant spirit quote database.
gollark: I mostly get my notification stuff via RSS, but YouTube undoubtedly refuses to support that too.
gollark: You're missing great ones like "But I'm just going to say, I'd get a put option on you if you were publicly traded".

References
  1. Freyhof, J. (2014). "Aphanius transgrediens". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T1850A19006201. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T1850A19006201.en.
  2. "Aphanius transgrediens". Seriously Fish. Retrieved 2019-01-16.
  3. Ekmekçi, Fitnat Güler; Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran (2014). "Threatened Fishes of the World: Aphanius transgrediens Ermin, 1946 (Cyprinodontidae)". Croatian Journal of Fisheries. 72 (4): 186–187. doi:10.14798/72.4.774.
  4. "The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2019-01-16.


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.