The density and distribution of zooplankton in the Persian Gulf Martyrs Lake (Chitgar Tehran)

Cheetgar Lake or Persian Gulf Martyrs' lake is an artificial lake in the North west of Tehran is located in district 22 of Tehran municipality.The lake covers an area of 130 hectares, which is located north of forest park Cheetgar. In south,to Tehran-Karaj highway, In north Hemmat expressway, from East to Azadegan expressway and west and from residential areas district 22 of Tehran municipality is limited. Kan River from East and Vardavard of West cheetgar Lake crossing and Kann River is the main source of water of the Cheetgar Lake now. Plankton is one of the important factors related to water quality. In this context, understanding the biological and nonbiological lake and its ecological status of a useful tool for managing sustainable exploitation with an emphasis on water quality is maintained. This study focused on zooplankton structure, biodiversity, relationship between a biotic parameters and zooplankton variation, and trophy state of the Persian Gulf Martyrs Lake (Chitgar-Tehran). Based on the lake condition, samples were collected by Juday net from the bottom to the surface (of a cylindrical column) at the 5 stations between 2013 and 2014. Than 4% formalin fixed samples and transferred to the laboratory for quantitative and qualitative study. In laboratory planktonic samples after determining the volume and mixture, were transferred by pipette to 5ml chambers and after sufficient time to sediment, were identified and counted by inverted microscope. This study identified 36 zooplankton taxa comprised of Arthropoda (6 genus), Protozoa (6 genus), Rotatoria (20 genus), Nematoda (1 genus), Gastrotricha (2 genus) and Oligochaeta (1 genus). The Rotatoria abundance average was measured 61±18 ind.l-1 in the lake. The Nematoda, Gastrotricha and Oligochaeta taxa were measured the lowest abundance (<1ind.l-1) in this study. The annual average zooplankton abundance was measured as 72±18 ind.l-1. The PCA displayed, the Rotatoria Trichocerca sp. and Polyarthera sp. were dominated with high components loading, low variance and highabundance. The CCA showed, there was no correlation between Rotatoria abundance and a biotic parameters. Based on the zooplankton structure and bio-indicator, the lake situation is in the meso-oligotrophic category. Thus, it is might be increased eutrophication trend due tono management and no aquatic control in this ecosystem

List of Zooplankton Taxa in the Caspian Sea Waters of Iran

A total of 61 zooplankton taxa were found in the southwestern Caspian Sea between 1996 and 2010. Thirteen of them were meroplankton taxa and forty-eight were holoplankton taxa. The occurrence of 14 freshwater taxa indicated the influence of the Anzali wetland and river inflows. The decrease in zooplankton taxa was detected since 1996-1997 and continued till 2010. Pleopis polyphemoides, the only one out of the nine recorded Cladocera species in 1996-1997, was found after 2001. Similarly, of the five Copepoda species recorded in 1996-1997, only one, Acartia tonsa, was found abundant during the 2001–2010 sampling period. It was striking that many species which were abundant in the Caspian Sea in 1996-1997 were not found after 2000. Many reasons could have contributed to the changes in the zooplankton composition of the southern Caspian Sea, notably the serious environmental degradation since the early 1990s. It is also possible that invasive species might play a role in wiping out some sensitive endemic species