Preliminary ecological investigation of six fish species in Zohre River

Ecological characteristics a Barbus grypus, B. sharpoyi, Capoeta trutta, Mugil abu, Tenualosa ilisha and Johnius belangerii, occurring in Zohre River were studied, among fresh water fishes, B. grypus showed versatility in its habitats, thus occurring frequently in the river. In contrast B. sharpeyi, a stenohaline fish, was found only in a limited section of river reaching to the estuary. C. trutta even so being stenohaline, covered a wider range of the river in comparison with B. sharpeyi thus showing more compatibility with varying phsico-chemical environments. Amongst anadromous fishes, Mugli abu covered a greater part of the river and it seems likely the fish spawns two times a year. The occurrence of this species shows a peak in summer and winter. On the contrary, T. ilisba occurs only on spring and summer in the river, evidently for spawning. Apparently, the preferred environment for the Spawning of the latter ought to be alkaline and have low salinity and high oxygen content accompanied by muddy bottom, slow water current and high depth. The J. belangerii showed the least occurrence and mainly caught in the estuary in Autumn