Crustacean Fauna of the Aral Sea and its Relation to Ichthyofauna During the Modern Regression Crisis and Efforts at Restoration
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Crustacean Fauna of the Aral Sea and its Relation to Ichthyofauna During the Modern Regression Crisis and Efforts at Restoration. / Plotnikov, Igor S.; Aladin, Nikolai V.; Mossin, Jens; Høeg, Jens T.
In: Zoological Studies, Vol. 60, 25, 2021.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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T1 - Crustacean Fauna of the Aral Sea and its Relation to Ichthyofauna During the Modern Regression Crisis and Efforts at Restoration
AU - Plotnikov, Igor S.
AU - Aladin, Nikolai V.
AU - Mossin, Jens
AU - Høeg, Jens T.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - The regression and salinization of the Aral Sea, largely caused by water diversion for irrigation, is among the most severe ecological disasters of the 20th century, and has had severe health and economic consequences for the local population. Introductions of alien species to enhance commercial fisheries before the regression had already impacted the ecology of this system. Crustaceans made up about one-quarter of the original metazoan species and constituted the principal food for native and introduced fish. From 1960 on, crustaceans were recorded at numerous fixed sampling stations, including thanatocoenoses (dead animals from sediment cores). We use this previously unpublished information to document changes in species abundance and discuss their causes in the context of species interactions and changes to physical and chemical parameters. Competition from alien crustaceans led to declines in or even extinction of some native species, but eventually severe salinization became the main detriment, and resulted in the complete collapse of commercial fisheries. This seriously hurt a critical trade, which provided the principal protein source for the local population. We document how comparatively modest conservation efforts enabled the northern Small Aral Sea to partially recover and commercial fishing to resume.
AB - The regression and salinization of the Aral Sea, largely caused by water diversion for irrigation, is among the most severe ecological disasters of the 20th century, and has had severe health and economic consequences for the local population. Introductions of alien species to enhance commercial fisheries before the regression had already impacted the ecology of this system. Crustaceans made up about one-quarter of the original metazoan species and constituted the principal food for native and introduced fish. From 1960 on, crustaceans were recorded at numerous fixed sampling stations, including thanatocoenoses (dead animals from sediment cores). We use this previously unpublished information to document changes in species abundance and discuss their causes in the context of species interactions and changes to physical and chemical parameters. Competition from alien crustaceans led to declines in or even extinction of some native species, but eventually severe salinization became the main detriment, and resulted in the complete collapse of commercial fisheries. This seriously hurt a critical trade, which provided the principal protein source for the local population. We document how comparatively modest conservation efforts enabled the northern Small Aral Sea to partially recover and commercial fishing to resume.
KW - Conservation
KW - Fisheries
KW - Long term monitoring
KW - Saline lake
KW - Introduced species
KW - HEALTH
KW - RHIZOCEPHALA
KW - WATERBIRDS
KW - DISPERSAL
KW - DISASTER
KW - MARINE
KW - CRAB
KW - DESICCATION
KW - ECOSYSTEMS
KW - PERIOD
U2 - 10.6620/ZS.2021.60-25
DO - 10.6620/ZS.2021.60-25
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 34853615
VL - 60
JO - Zoological Studies
JF - Zoological Studies
SN - 1021-5506
M1 - 25
ER -
ID: 272641716