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2.1. Species of flora and fauna 2.1.1. Sea associations Phytoplankton of Azerbaijan sector of Caspian sea is presented by 171 species, varieties and form of algae relating to 6 stages: blue-green-55, diatom-75, peridiniales-23, euglene-2, golden-2, green-15. By amount and quantitative composition there predominate diatomic algae determining maximum of development. The second place by amount of species take blue-green algae though by biomass they noticeably yield to peridiniales. Among mass species it should be pointed out diatomic Rhizosolenia calcaravis, Thalassionema nitzschioides, and among peridiniales Prorocentrum cordata. Rhizosolenia calcar-avis artificially brought to the Caspian Sea on the duration of the whole year is developed in large amount, in sites causing water efflorescence. These species at present make 75-90% of the whole biomass of phytoplankton. Systematical composition of phytoplankton is given in Appendix 1. Zooplankton of Azerbaijan sector of Caspian is presented by 40 species and subspecies from which 33-plankton (82,5%) and 7 bentoplankton (17,5%). From common amount of species 34 are related to Caspian autochthon fauna, 4-mediterranean and 1 to arctic one. Phytobenthose near the coast of Azerbaijan consists of several species of highest plants and numerous algae which form micro-and macrophytobenthos. Microphytobenthos is presented by blue-green algae (60 species presented by 67 forms) and diatomic (155 species, varieties and forms). Among blue-green algae the leading place takes the class of Hormogoniophyceae the most variety is observed in Oscillatoriaceae family, diatomic ones belong mainly to one class -Pennatophyceae. Species like Oscillatoria, Lyngbya (Cyanophyta), Nitzschia and Navicula (Bacillriphyta), are differentiated by peculiar abundance of form composition taking the leading place in microphytobenthos near the coast of Azerbaijan. Systematical composition of microphytobenthos is given in Appendix 2. Macrophytobenthos is presented by 51 species, 1 subspecies and one form of algae-macrophytes from which 25 species-green and 1 subspecies-brown-4, red-21 subspecies and 1 form, chara-1 species. Entetomorpha, Polysiphonia and Cladophora are the most abundant by amount of species. Systematical composition of macrophytobenthos is given in Appendix 3. Zoobenthose of Azerbaijan sector of Caspian Sea is presented by variety species of benthonic animals forming micro and macrozoobenthos. Microzoobenthose is presented in Caspian sea by 7 groups and 587 species of animals among of which by amount of species there predominate infusoria (Ciliophora) - 439 species, nematodes (Nematoda) - 52 species, ostracodes (Ostracoda) - 46 species, turbellaria-29 species and foraminifera (Foraminiferida)- 18 species. Macrozoobenthose of the South Caspian is presented by 55 species: hydroides -2, worms-3, mollusks -11 (bivalve-8, gastropodes-3), cirripeds -37 (barnacle -2, isopodes-2, amphipodes -16, decapodes-3), chyronomides-1 and moss animals-1 species). By amount of species there dominate Cladocera -50-65% from common number of species and by quantitative development Copepoda are the dominate group, forming 75-90% of common biomass of plankton. The western part of middle Caspian is presented by 96 species of macrozoobenthos. Crustaceans making 61% of common amount of species take the first place by amount. The second place belongs to mollusks (32%) and only 7% falls to the rest species of zoobenthos. 112 species and forms of benthonic animals are observed in the western part of Middle Caspian among of which the dominate crustaceans (69 species) and mollusks (32 species). Systematical composition of macrozoobenthos is given in Appendix 4. Ichthyofauna of Caspian Sea numbers 76 species and 47 subspecies relating to 17 families and 53 genus. In Azerbaijan sector of Caspian one can observe approximately 106 species and fishes subspecies including sea, fluvial, passing and semi-passing forms. They are related to the following order: lamprey, sturgeon, herring, salmon, carp, loaches, catfish, stickle back, eels, sea spines, mullet, silverside, perch, bullhead. Among fishes inhabiting in the sea there predominate herring and bullhead ones and among fishes inhabiting in the freshened zones of pre-mouth rivers space (Kura, Astarachai, Lenkaranchai, Samurchai) - carp. Specific composition of marine and fresh water ichthyofauna is given in Appendix 5. Sea mammals are presented only by Caspian seal the smallest among the existing seals species. In 1993 Caspian seal according to classification of IUNP (International Union for Nature Protection) was attributed to vulnerable species and aws recorded into the Red Book. Birds. In the shallow water areas and coastal strip of Azerbaijan sector of Caspian Sea there was marked 43 species of waterfowl and 106 of near-water ones. Among waterfowl 29 species of winter-flight ones, settled and having flight population - 5, settled - 1, wintering-flight-nesting - 7, birds of passage - 1, near-water birds having flight-winter population - 2, nesting on the flight - 26, nesting-flight and not-regularly wintering - 4, only the flight ones 30, settled - 11, flight - 5, wintering-flight - 15, nesting-wintering-flight-12, flight-not-regularly wintering - 5. Among birds inhabitingon the coast of Azerbaijan Caspian sector 44 species are considered to be the Red Book (waterfowl - 10, near-water - 14). Among them 32 species are recorded into the Red Book of Azerbaijan, 12 species into the Red Book of IUNP, 9 species are recorded into the Red Book of IUNP and Azerbaijan. The specific composition of birds observed in Azerbaijan part of the coastal zone of Caspian Sea is given in Appendix 6, 7, 8. 2.1.2. Land associations Flora. Vegetation of coastal associations is presented by more than 1000 species (Fig. 36). They are: -lowland mixed broad-leaved forests on Shollar plain, broad-leaved forests by hyrcan relict rocks in the foothills of Talysh, mountain broad-leaved forests of the north-eastern slope of Greater Caucasus and Talysh; -lowland, foothill and mountain meadows by presence of shrubs in Samur-Devechi and Lenkaran regions; in the foothill zones they are intensively studied in the agriculture purposes; -brushwood of semixerophitic shrubs among lowland meadows of Samur-Devechi region; -upland-xerophile vegetation of mountain part of Pri-Caspian-Apsheron region and Mountain Talysh; -foothill and mountain polynya-beared grass and polynya-corn steeps and semi steeps of Western Gobystan; -wormwood and polynya-salted vegetation of Central and North-Eastern Gobustan and South-Eastern Shirvan; -the same in the combination with "chal" vegetation (cynodan dactyla; limonium mcyeri) in the coastal strip of Kura river; -saline small-shrub and annual-saline desert vegetation of Pri-Naspian part of North-Eastern and South-Eastern Gobustan, South-Eastern Shirvan and Saliyan steep; -ephemeral (semi savanna type) of different-grass-cereal vegetation of Apsheron peninsula and Mugan steep; -lowland liman meadows and grass swamps of Devechi liman, of Kura delta and Gyzylagach coast of Mugan steep; -seaside sandy vegetation of coastal strip between Samur and Kura rivers; -water and water-swamp vegetation of coastal and coastal zone of Caspian sea. Some species of vegetation are under threat of extinction due to of which they are recorded into the Red Book of Azerbaijan (see Appendix 9). Fauna. On the coast one can observe over 65 species of mammals (see Appendix 10) including on the Lenkaran coast - 32; coast of Greater Gyzylagach gulf - 27; South-Eastern Shirvan and Mugan-Salyan steep - 29; Apsheron-Gobustan coast - 27; Samur-Devechi coast - 31. Amphibians and reptiles there was established accordingly 22, 12, 10, 20 and 16. Their specific composition is given in Appendix 11. On the whole more than 333 species of birds were marked on the continent part of coastal zone. Among them 43 species-waterfowl, 106 - near-water, 184 - land birds. Specific composition of landbirds is given in Appendix 12. Insects. 189 species of insects are marked among them scale-winged - 22, beer - 14, wasp - 20, caleoptera - 23, aphides - 25, bugs - 12, flies - 12, braconides - 48, dragonflies, ants, termites, cicadas-by 1 species, earwigs-by 2 species, orthoptera - 3 and 91 arachnids among of which - 45 species of ticks, spiders - 42, phalanx - 3, scorpions - 1. 2.1.3. Rare species and those BEING under threat of extinction Plants. Among the 140 species of plants included into the Red Book of Azerbaijan 50 species were marked on the described territory (see Appendix 9). 16 species are supposed to be included into the new publication of the Red book. Animals. 18 species are included into the Red Book of Azerbaijan inhabited in coastal zone: insectivorous - 1, cheiroptera - 1, rodents - 1, predators - 5 and hoof - 2; amphibian and reptile - 8 (see Appendix 10, 11). Birds. Among birds inhabiting in the coastal and coastal zone 53 species are in the Red Book (see Appendix 13). Among them 32 species are recorded into the Red Book of Azerbaijan, 12 species into the Red Book of IUNP, 9 species included into the Red Book of IUNP and Azerbaijan. Fishes. The followinfg fishes are included into the Red Book of Azerbaijan: lamprey, trout, south-caspian Abramis sapabergi Belyaeff, Belecus cultratus L., sea pike-perch. In 1993 another one species was included into the Red Book-barbel sturgeon. Five species among the above-mentioned are marine. These species were found in 70-80-s and since 90-s are under threat of extinction. Last years considerably decreased fishery reserves of such fishes as sturgeon, caspian salmon, white fish, Varicorhinus capoeta Guld, Chalcalburnus chalcoides, Barlus, Vimba vimba persa ballas. These species are under threat of extinction especially sturgeon, salmon due to considerable decrease of youths output volume on the fish-breeding plants. 2.1.4. Valuable species More valuable species among animals are presented by mammals among of which approx. 18 species as well as 2 species of amphibian and 5 of reptile have an industrial value. More valuable species of birds. On Azerbaijan coast of Caspian during flight and wintering the main mass of birds are waterfowl and near-water birds(gray goose, Anus platyrhynchos L., Anus crecca L., gray duck, Anus penelope L., Anus acuta L., Netta rufina ball et Aythya ferina L., Authyafuligulal et Authya marila L.,, golden eye, Mergus merganserl et Fulica atral). More valuable species of fishes (sturgeon, etc). Approx. 40 species and subspecies of fish have an industrial value. Pelagic fish dominate in catches. 80% of sprouts of the whole Caspian is fished out in Azerbaijan sector of the South Caspian. At the same time catching of valuable species decreased - sturgeon, salmon, herring, carp. Sturgeons have the main value for industry in Caspian sea, their catching in Azerbaijan sector always were insignificant, and in 70-80-s didn't exceed 0,2-1,6%, in 90-s these catching reduced to dozen times. |
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