Determination of habitat suitability index of Capoeta gracilis, Keyserling 1861 from Taleghan River

In fisheries and protection programs of aquatic ecosystems, knowledge on habitat requirement of aquatic animals plays important role. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the suitability indexes of habitat features and habitat suitability index (HSI) of Capoeta gracilis in its distribution range in the Taleghan River. To study the habitat characteristics of this species in this River, its abundance and habitat variables, including elevation, depth, width, flow velocity, average diameter of substrate stones and water temperature at 33 stations from the downstream to upstream were examined during October 2013. According to the results, the suitability index of environmental features of this species were altitudes ranging 1400-1550 meters asl, depths in range 40-55 cm, river width lower than 5 m, velocity in range 0.3-0.6 m/s, with average diameter beds stone in range 30-45 cm and with temperature in range 16-18°C. Presence of these conditions with HIS of 0.813 indicates that Taleghan River is excellent habitat for C. gracilis.