CENTRAL ASIAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL AND NATURAL SCIENCES

Volume: 04 Issue: 04 | Jul-Aug 2023 ISSN: 2660-4159

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Fauna and Ecology of Hydrobionts of Zarafshan River Middle

Stream Water Ecosystems
1. Suyarov S. A. Abstract: For the first time that 23 species of
2. Boymurodov Kh. T. hydrobionts are distributed in the Zarafshan National
Nature Park and 16 species are studied in the
Ziyovuddin region by us. In the lower part of the
Zarafshan river, the number and density of species is
Received 2nd May 2023, less than in the upper part, which is due to the pollution
Accepted 3rd Jun 2023,
Online 10th Jul 2023 of the waters. Corbiculina tibetensis and C.
ferghanensis, which are widely adapted, are dense in the
lower part of the river. The species density of
1
Samarkand State University Colletopterum bactrianum, Colletopterum cyreum
2 sogdianum, Corbicula cor, Corbicula fluminalis,
Samarkand State Veterinary Medicine,
University of Animal Husbandry and
Corbicula purpurea, Pontastacus leptodactylus and
Biotechnology Hirudo medicinalis is found to be low.
Key words: Zarafshan River, Ziyavuddin area,
hydrobionts, density, Colletopterum bactrianum,
Colletopterum cyreum sogdianum, Corbicula cor,
Corbicula fluminalis, Corbicula purpurea.

Introduction. The inventory and use of biological resources in aquatic ecosystems is a present
problem of great importance to humanity. It is especially important to improve the prospects for the
use of biological resources and protect them, to further improve the lifestyle of the population, and to
use the available resources wisely, especially when the terrestrial part of the Earth is being widely
exploited. The sudden change in the ecological situation observed on the globe today is mainly the
result of the influence of anthropogenic forces, which affects the bioecological characteristics of the
animal world, its distribution, including mollusks and crustaceans, resulting in the loss of their
habitats, and its turn, changes the population of common species have been causing the extinction of
rare and rare species.
Analysis of literature on the topic. Foreign scientists Froufe, E., Goncalves, D.V,(2010), Teixeira,
A., Sousa, R,(2011), James H,(2011), Alanp C,(1991), Huber M,(2010), Bogan A,(2010) Maria H.,
Graf, D,(2011) Cummings. K., Klishko.O, (2012,) Lopez-Lima. M., Froufe. E,(2013)., Vasiliev. L,
(2018) conducted researches on systematics, ecology and utilization of bivalves, gastropods,
crustaceans and leeches.
On the assessment of the biological diversity, taxonomic structure, density, population status of
hydrobionts in the territory of the Commonwealth of Independent States, importance of hydrobionts in
determining the level of water pollution can be seen in researches by Bogatov V.V., Starobogatov

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CAJMNS Volume: 04 Issue: 04 | Jul-Aug 2023
Ya.I. (2004), Bogatov V.V. (2014), Andreev N.I. (2009), Alyokhina G.P. (2007), Panov V.F., et. al.
(2009), Son M.O. (2009), Yanovich L.N. (2013), Rijinashvili A.L. (2009), Sintyurina A.V., Bigaliev
A.B. (2009), Kuzmenkin D.V. (2015). Information about bivalves and gastropods of aquatic
ecosystems in Uzbekistan is reflected in the researches by Izzatullaev (1992, 2019, 2021), Kh.T.
Boymurodov (2009, 2015, 2019, 2021), in it can be found only information about hydrabiont species
in some water bodies of Uzbekistan [3,6,7,8,9,10]. the distribution of hydrobiont fauna and ecology of
Middle Zarafshan water ecosystems has not been specially studied up to now.
Research methodology. For research, the materials were collected from the water ecosystems of
Middle Zarafshan in the spring, summer and autumn of 2017-2022. A total of 221 samples were
studied, including 457 hydrobionts. Hydrobionts from the sediments of the shores of aquatic
ecosystems with a steel net, and from underwater were collected with a sieve with a metal mesh
barrier. The size of large shells was measured using a caliper, and the size of small shells was
measured using an eyepiece micrometer MBS-1. The distribution and populations of hydrobionts in
biotopes were studied by the method by Lukanin V.V., Naumov A.D., Fedyakov V.V., 1986.,
AlykhinaG.P., Misetov I.A., Puzakkova M.V., 2007, Z.I. Izzatullaev 2018.
Analysis and results. Zarafshan River - in historical sources, Zarafshan River is included in the
literature with names such as Politimet, Namiq, Rudi Mosaf, Rudi Sharg', Kohak River. This river has
been called Zarafshan since the 18th century. The length of the river is more than 781 km, the basin
area is 41680 km2, the mountainous part of the basin is 17710 km2. The Zarafshan river begins with
the name Mastchokhdarya from the Zarafshan glacier in the Kok suv (Blue Water) mountain node at
the junction of the Turkestan, Zarafshan and Oloy ridges, and after flowing for about 200 km, it joins
the Mastchoh and Fondaryo to form the Zarafshan river.
The Zarafshan River divides into two large branches in the territory of Samarkand region - Akhdarya
and Karadarya. We conducted continuous surveys for research in two areas, in the Zarafshan National
Nature Park area of the Zarafshan River and in the Ziyavuddin area of the Zarafshan River. We studied
that the territory of the Zarafshon National Nature Park of the Zarafshon River is located at an average
height of 760 meters above the ocean level. As a result of our research, 23 species of hydrabionts
belonging to the families Unionidae, Corbiculidae, Beelgrandiellidae, Lymnaeidae, Physidae,
Planorbidae, Pontastacus, and Hirudinidae are distributed in the Zarafshon River, 9 species of bivalve
mollusks and 2 subspecies, 10 species of gastropod mollusks, 1 species of shrimps and leeches are
distributed in Zarafshon River. (Table 1, Figure 1).
In swampy biotopes of the Zarafshon River in the territory of the Zarafshon National Nature Park, the
species Sinanodonta gibba, S. orbicularis and S. puerorum from the genus Sinanodonta of the family
Uonionidae of the bivalve mollusks are distributed at depths of 0.5-2.3 meters, on average 1.2-1.8 per
1 m2 in scattered biotopes. Among these mollusks, all species of Chinese toothless were also collected
from the waters near Toyloq and Jomboy. They are shown for the first time for the malacofauna of the
Zarafshan River. Chinese toothless fish are distributed in the reservoirs of the Zarafshan fishery of the
river bank. They came to this area as a result of acclimatization of Chinese complex fishes: white carp,
carp. That’s why the larvae of Chinese toothless glochidia are parasitic in these fish. Along with live
mollusks, their empty shells are also found in the river.
Colletopterum bactrianum 0.4, C. cyreum sogdianum 0.9, and Colletopterum ponderosum volgense
0.6, included in the "Red Book", were studied in fish farms, ponds and slow-flowing parts of the river.
Among these, the latter is more numerous, total mollusks are found in abundance in muddy parts of
the river, where macrophytes and reeds grow a lot. Here they live at depths of 0.2-2.5 m, sometimes
they can be found in sandy areas. In rocky and sandy biotopes, Corbicula cor 0.4, C. fluminalis 0.9, C.
purpurea 0.7, Corbiculina tibetensis 1.8 and C. ferghanensis 1.7 are distributed. These species are
distinguished by their density compared to other species. Gastropod aquatic mollusks in the water

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CAJMNS Volume: 04 Issue: 04 | Jul-Aug 2023
ecosystems of Zarafshan National Park Martensamnicola brevicula 1.2, M. hissarica 1.1, B. bucharica
0.9, Lymnaea stagnalis 0.7, L. truncatula 1.2, L. thiessea 1.1, L. oblonga 1.0, L. subangulata 0.9, L.
auricularia 1.3 biotopes from Martensamnicola seed of Beelgrandiellidae were studied.
Table 1. Distribution and ecological groups of hydrobionts in biotopes in Middle Zarafshan
rivers (n= 10, м2/piece)
Zarafshan river Biotops

Nature Park
Zarafshan

Ziyaddin
National
Arera of
№ Types Ecological groups

area

rocky
lands

lands
clays
sand
Bivalve molluscs (Bivalvia) class Unionidae family
1 Sinanodonta gibba 1,8±0,3 1,2±0,1 - - + Peloreophil
2 Sinanodonta рuerorum 1,4±0,2 1,0±0,1 - + - Peloreophil
3 Sinanodonta orbicularis 1,2±0,3 0,9±0,1 - - + Peloreophil
4 Сolletopterum bactrianum 0,4±0,1 - - - + Rheophile
5 Colletopterum cуreum 0,9±0,1 -
- - + Rheophile
sogdianum
6 Colletopterum ponderosum 0,6±0,1 0,4±0,1
- + - Pelolimnophile
volgense
Corbiculidae оиласи
7 Corbicula cor 0,4±0,1 - - + - Peloreophil
8 Corbicula fluminalis 0,9±0,1 - - + - Peloreophil
9 Corbicula purpurea 0,7±0,1 0,4±0,1 - + - Peloreophil
10 Corbiculina tibetensis 1,8±0,2 1,2±0,2 + - - Peloreophil
11 Cоrbiculina ferghanensis 1,7±0,3 1,6±0,3 - + - Peloreophil
Spieces of Gastropoda mollusks from Beelgrandiellidae family
12 Martensamnicola brevicula 1,2±0,3 0,9±0,1 + - - Crenophyllum
13 Martensamnicola hissarica 1,1±0,3 - - + - Peloreophil
14 Bucharamnicola bucharica 0,9±0,2 0,6±0,1 - + - Peloreophil
Lymnaeidae оиласи
15 Lymnaea stagnalis 0,7±0,1 - + - - Phytophil
16 Lymnaea truncatula 1,2±0,2 0,8±0,1 - - + Telmatophile
17 Lymnaea thiessea 1,1±0,3 - - - + Rheophile
18 Lymnaea oblonga 1,0±0,3 0,6±0,1 - + - Phytophil
19 Lymnaea subangulata 0,9±0,1 - - - + Phytophil
20 Lymnaea auricularia 1,3±0,3 1,1±0,1 - - + Phytophil
21 Lymnaea bactriana - 0,5±0,1 - + - Phytophil
Planorbidae оиласи Phytophil
22 Planorbis planorbis - 1,2±0,2 - - + Phytophil
23 Planorbis tangitarensis 1,3±0,1 1,3±0,1 - - + Phytophil
Spices of Сrustacea from Pontastacus family
24 Pontastacus leptodactylus 0,9±0,1 1,0±0,1 - + - Phytophil
Spices of Hirudinea from Hirudinidae Family
25 Hirudo medicinalis 0,5±0,1 - - + - Phytophil
Total number of types 23 16 3 13 11

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Additionally, Planorbis tangitarensis 1.3 from Planorbis family, Pontastacus leptodactylus 0.9 from
crabs, and Hirudo medicinalis 0.5 from leeches are distributed (Fig. 2).
The low water purity and mineralization level of water ecosystems of the Zarafshon River in the
Zarafshon National Nature Park had an impact on the biological diversity of hydrabionts, and we
studied that 23 species are distributed in this area. 16 types of hydrobionts are distributed in the
Ziyovuddin area of the Zarafshan river at an altitude of 413 meters, coordinates N
40.014698542542945 and E 65.93805313110353. We studied that 6 types of bivalve mollusks and 1
subspecies, 8 types of gastropod mollusks are distributed (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Distribution of hydrobionts in Zarafshan National Nature Park.

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Figure 2. Distribution of hydrobionts in the Ziyavuddin region of the Zarafshan River.

In the swampy biotopes of the right and left banks of the river and in the waters of the fishing industry,
at an average depth of 0.3-1.9 meters, on the muddy ground, in 1 m2, Sinanodonta gibba from the
family of Unionidae 1.2, S. orbicularis 0.9, S. puerorum 1,0 and Colletopterum ponderosum volgense
0,4 Spread out of 4. Colletopterum bactrianum and C.cyreum sogdianum were not found in the waters
of this area.
In the rocky and sandy biotopes of the river, Corbicula purpurea 0.4 from the Corbiculidae family,
Corbiculina tibetensis 1.2 from the Corbiculina genus, and C. ferghanensis 1.6 are found. In the waters
of this region, the genus Corbiculina is distinguished by the number and density of species. Among
the gastropod aquatic mollusks of the area, Martensamnicola brevicula from the Beelgrandiellidae
family 0.9, Bucharamnicola bucharica 0.6, Lymnaea truncatula from the Lymnaeidae family 0.8, L.
oblonga 0.6, L. auricularia 1.1, L. bactriana 0.5, Planorbis planorbis, 1,2, P. tangitarensis 1,3 from
Planorbidae family distribution were studied.

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Figure 3. Differences in the distribution density of hydrobionts in the Zarafshan River

Zarafshan National Nature Park and Ziyovuddin
In the riverbanks of the river’s tidal flat channels and fish farms, the Pontastacus family of crabs
Pontastacus leptodactylus is distributed from 1.0 to 1.0 and falls in large numbers to the fishermen
during fishing (Fig. 2). Hydrobionts play a major role in the aquatic ecosystems of the study area.
First, they are food for fish and birds, on the other hand, they play an important role in cleaning water
polluted with organic substances, and their presence is an indicator of water purity.
According to the ecological groups of hydrobionts distributed in the Zarafshon River according to
their habitat, 9 types of peloreophiles 39.5%, 2 types of rheophiles 9%, 1 type of pelolimnophiles 4%,
1 type of crenophiles 4%, 8 types of phytophiles 35.5%, 1 type of telmotophiles 4% and 1 type of
phytophiles is 4% are analyzed. Species belonging to the peloreophile and phytophile ecological
groups dominate riverside water ecosystems. We found out that the eurybiont species that are widely
adapted to the factors of the water environment include Sinanodonta, Corbiculina and Lymnaea genera
species. The distribution density of these species ranges from 1.1 to 1.8 per 1 m2. The genera
Colletopterum and Bucharamnicola are considered to be stenabiont species distributed in small areas
with low density.
Conclusion. The distribution of 23 types of hydrobionts in the Zarafshan National Nature Park and 16
species in the Ziyovuddin region were analyzed. The number and density of species in the lower part
of the Zarafshan River is lower than in the upper part, due to the pollution of the waters. In the lower
part of the river, the density of Corbiculina tibetensis and C. ferghanensis, which can adapt to a wide
range, is high. It was studied that the density of Colletopterum bactrianum, Colletopterum cyreum
sogdianum, Corbicula cor, Corbicula fluminalis, Corbicula purpurea, Pontastacus leptodactylus and
Hirudo medicinalis species included in the "Red Book" of Uzbekistan is relatively low.

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