farhad hosseini tayefeh

The use of organochlorine (OCPs) and organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) on a large scale in agricultural lands in the northern provinces of Iran is very common. When pesticides enter water, these toxins are easily distributed in the environment and have the ability to bioaccumulate in living organisms. Exposure to such contaminated water is harmful to human health and living organisms. In this study, the latest ecological status of the wetland was examined in terms of changes in physicochemical parameters, changes in physicochemical parameters, and widely used agricultural pesticides in water, sediment, and fish samples in the three eastern, middle, and western parts of Anzali Wetland.

In this study, the sampling was conducted from 10 stations in the Wetland in the spring of 2021. Water samples were collected from a depth of 1 m, sediment samples were collected using a Grab van Veen sampler, and the fishes were collected by netting. A multi-parameter water quality meter was used to measure pH, Electrical conductivity (EC) and Total dissolved solids (TDS) parameters, and the Winkler method and standard methods were used to measure Dissolved oxygen (DO), Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and Chemical oxygen demand (COD), respectively. The levels of aldrin, dieldrin, endrin, diazinon, malathion, and azinphos-methyl in the samples were measured using a Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). For statistical analysis, univariate and multivariate statistical tests including cluster analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and non-metric multidimensional scaling (n-MDS) were used.

In this study, the total mean of BOD, COD, DO and depth in the Wetland were 26, 46.6, 4.09 (mg/L) and 1.2 m, respectively. The maximum salinity (ppt) and EC (mS/cm) in the Wetland were recorded at depth of 0.6 (m), in the middle part of the wetland 3.84 and 6.8, respectively. The mean TDS in the Wetland (g/L) was 1.11 and the mean turbidity (NTU) was 3.57. The maximum sand content in Anzali Wetland (69.67%) was recorded in the middle part of the wetland and the maximum silt content (37.50%), clay (32.25%) and total organic matter content (12.41%) were recorded in the western part of the wetland. The mean concentration of OCPs and OPPs in the water of the entire wetland was measured as 1.3 and 0.7 µg/L, respectively, but they were not detectable in the sediment and muscle of fish samples.

In the present study, the reason for the low DO and high BOD and COD values in the eastern part may be due to the pollution of the Pirbazar River and the increase in the pollution load due to the entry of sewage. The pH of the water indicates that the pH was uniform and alkaline in the wetland. The TDS value was higher in the middle part of the wetland, which in some places could be related to agricultural and industrial activities or particles resulting from the remains of phytoplankton bodies. With the increase in the amount of organic matter and clay in the western part of the wetland, the Cation exchange capacity (CEC) value also increased. The PCA results in Anzali Wetland showed that sediment variables, like water parameters, can play a significant role in explaining changes in the wetland ecological system. The results of the cluster test and n-MDS based on environmental physicochemical conditions indicate differences between different parts of the wetland, and overall, this issue can reflect the effect of the specific hydrodynamic and topographic conditions of the region. One of the reasons for the absence of OCPs and OPPs in this study could be the influence of environmental parameters, especially pH, which was alkaline and caused the removal of these toxins.

Climate change is one of the most pressing environmental challenges of the modern era, impacting natural resources and human livelihoods through rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, and increased frequency of extreme events such as droughts and floods. Due to its predominantly arid and semi-arid climate, Iran is particularly vulnerable to these changes. Evidence suggests that regions such as the northwest and the Zagros Mountains have experienced concurrent temperature increases and precipitation declines, a trend that is projected to intensify in the near future. This study aims to assess and visualize Iran’s climatic conditions over the next 20 years, quantifying the magnitude and extent of projected changes to inform national and regional planning efforts.

This research utilizes climate projections from the sixth generation of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) under four greenhouse gas emission scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5) for the period 2021–2040, comparing them with the historical baseline (1995–2014). In the first step, raw global climate model outputs were downscaled using the Change Factor (CF) method. Minimum and maximum temperature and precipitation data were extracted for both the baseline and future periods, and delta values were calculated for each variable. To correct biases and better capture local variability, observational data from the TerraClimate database (with a spatial resolution of approximately 5 km) were employed. Subsequently, predictive maps for minimum temperature, maximum temperature, and precipitation over the next 20 years were generated. To integrate these variables into a single metric, Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) was applied, where precipitation was assigned a higher weight through linear fuzzy membership functions. This approach yielded a composite index for assessing climate change intensity across the country. Finally, to compare historical and future trends, the climate change intensity map for the past 64 years was integrated with the projected two-decade map using an equal-weighted WLC framework.

Findings indicate that in the next two decades, a significant increase in both minimum and maximum temperatures is inevitable across most parts of Iran. The projected rise may exceed 2°C for minimum temperature and 1.5°C for maximum temperature in some areas. Additionally, model outputs suggest a considerable decline in precipitation over parts of the Zagros region, the northwest, and critical watersheds such as Lake Urmia. This reduction may exacerbate soil dryness, decrease snowpack reserves, and deplete groundwater resources. The multi-criteria combined model identified the western and northwestern regions as the most severely affected by climate change, as they experience both significant warming and precipitation decline. This pattern is consistent with historical trends observed over the past 64 years, reinforcing the notion that warming and precipitation loss in these areas are part of a persistent, worsening trajectory. These results align with previous national studies and IPCC reports, emphasizing the urgent need for adaptation strategies and effective water resource management.

This study highlights that in the coming decades, Iran will face heightened challenges related to increasing temperatures and declining precipitation. The warming trend and decreasing rainfall, particularly in the Zagros and northwestern regions, could have irreversible consequences for mountainous ecosystems, water resources, agriculture, and local livelihoods. Future research should incorporate dynamic downscaling models to provide a more detailed analysis of extreme climatic events and expand the station-based monitoring network to enhance data accuracy. Additionally, national and regional water and land management policies, public awareness campaigns, and greenhouse gas emission reduction strategies must be prioritized to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change in the years ahead.

Wetlands are critical natural systems that provide essential ecosystem services, including water regulation, flood control, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity conservation. However, these ecosystems are increasingly threatened by climate change and human activities. Gorgan Bay Wetland, located along the southeastern Caspian Sea, is particularly vulnerable due to its unique geographic setting and reliance on upstream freshwater inflows. Over recent decades, rising temperatures, altered precipitation patterns, reduced snow water equivalent, and increased evapotranspiration have contributed to significant declines in both the surface area and storage volume of the wetland. This study aims to assess the historical hydrological trends of Gorgan Bay Wetland and forecast its future evolution under various greenhouse gas emission scenarios. By integrating remote sensing data, field measurements, and climate modeling, the research provides a comprehensive understanding of how climatic factors drive wetland dynamics and offers valuable insights for sustainable water resource management and conservation strategies.

A multi-disciplinary approach was adopted to analyze the hydrological dynamics of the wetland. High-resolution Landsat Level-2 surface reflectance imagery, covering the period from 1984 to 2022, served as the primary source for delineating wetland boundaries. Spectral indices such as the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) and the Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI) were used to distinguish water bodies from other land cover types. These extracted boundaries were validated using ground control points (GCPs) collected along the wetland’s periphery. In October 2022, field surveys were conducted to measure water depth using differential GPS and digital depth sounders. These measurements were interpolated using the spline method to produce continuous bathymetric maps, and a Triangulated Irregular Network (TIN) model was developed to estimate the wetland’s storage volume over time.Climatic parameters—including temperature, precipitation, potential evapotranspiration (PET), and drought indices—were obtained from the TerraClimate database. Statistical analyses, such as Pearson correlation and regression modeling, were employed to evaluate the relationship between these climatic variables and changes in the wetland’s area and volume. To project future hydrological changes, outputs from General Circulation Models (GCMs) presented in the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) were downscaled using both statistical and dynamical methods. Four emission scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5) were considered to capture a range of potential future climates, enabling robust scenario-based predictions for the wetland’s response to ongoing climatic shifts.

Temporal analysis of Landsat imagery revealed that Gorgan Bay Wetland has experienced significant fluctuations in surface area and storage volume over the past few decades. A marked decline began around 2010, with the period from 2015 to 2022 showing a reduction of over 24% in surface area and more than 47% in water storage volume. These declines were strongly linked to climatic changes, particularly rising temperatures and reduced water inflows. Pearson correlation analysis indicated a statistically significant negative relationship between annual maximum temperature and both wetland area (r = -0.496, p < 0.01) and volume (r = -0.479, p < 0.01), underscoring the impact of higher temperatures on increased evaporation and reduced water retention. Conversely, a positive correlation was found between snow water equivalent and wetland area (r = 0.400, p < 0.05), emphasizing the role of snowmelt in sustaining inflows.Regression analysis quantified the impact of temperature increases on the wetland, showing that for each 1°C rise in annual maximum temperature, there is an approximate loss of 3,280 hectares in wetland area. Future scenario modeling projects that, under a moderate emission scenario (SSP2-4.5), maximum temperatures in the region could increase by 1.3°C to 1.8°C over the next 20 years. This temperature rise is expected to result in a loss of around 4,494 hectares of wetland area by 2040—approximately 12.8% of its current extent. Under higher emission scenarios (SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5), the decline in wetland area is anticipated to be even more severe, posing substantial risks of widespread degradation.The integration of remote sensing, field data, and climate modeling in this study provides a detailed depiction of the interplay between climatic drivers and wetland hydrology. Despite inherent uncertainties in future climate projections and land use changes, the strong negative correlations observed reinforce the robustness of the current trends. The reduction in wetland area and volume not only threatens the ecological integrity of Gorgan Bay but also jeopardizes its ability to perform critical ecosystem functions such as flood mitigation, water purification, and habitat provision. These findings highlight the urgent need for adaptive management strategies that address both climatic and anthropogenic pressures.

This study offers a comprehensive evaluation of the hydrological changes in Gorgan Bay Wetland driven by climate change. The integration of remote sensing, field surveys, and advanced climate modeling has revealed significant declines in both wetland area and storage volume, primarily due to rising temperatures and diminished water inflows. Future projections indicate that these trends will continue under most emission scenarios, potentially leading to severe ecological and environmental impacts. The results underscore the importance of revising water resource management policies, increasing environmental water allocations, and implementing modern irrigation practices in upstream regions to mitigate water deficits. Continued monitoring and model refinement are essential for ensuring the long-term sustainability of Gorgan Bay Wetland.

Climate change is recognized as one of the most critical environmental challenges of the 21st century, significantly impacting ecosystems, natural resources, and human livelihoods. The increasing concentration of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, has resulted in profound alterations in temperature, precipitation patterns, water availability, and the frequency of extreme weather events. Iran, characterized by its predominantly arid and semi-arid climate, is highly susceptible to these changes. A comprehensive analysis of the intensity and extent of climate change and its effects on natural resources, particularly vegetation, is essential for sustainable resource management. This study aims to assess climate change impacts in Iran from 1958 to 2021 and evaluate its relationship with changes in natural vegetation cover.

This research was conducted in two main phases. In the first phase, TerraClimate data were used to analyze climatic changes across Iran. Parameters such as minimum and maximum temperatures, cumulative precipitation, runoff, actual evapotranspiration, reference evapotranspiration, climatic water deficit, and the Palmer Drought Severity Index were analyzed annually. Statistically significant trends were identified using correlation and linear regression analyses, and climatic change maps were generated. A comprehensive map depicting the intensity of climate change was developed using the Weighted Linear Combination (WLC) method based on fuzzy logic, focusing on three key parameters: minimum temperature, maximum temperature, and precipitation. In the second phase, changes in natural vegetation cover were analyzed using the NDVI index and MODIS satellite imagery. Natural vegetation areas were identified, and the annual trends in vegetation cover changes were evaluated for statistical significance. The relationship between climatic changes and vegetation degradation was assessed through Pearson correlation analysis, and relevant maps were created.

The findings indicated that climate change impacts are evident across Iran but are not uniformly distributed. The northwest, west, the Zagros region, and the northeast experienced the most intense changes. In these areas, annual minimum and maximum temperatures increased by more than 2 to 3°C, while cumulative precipitation decreased by over 100 mm in some regions. Central and eastern Iran faced significant increases in climatic water deficits, leading to substantial vegetation degradation. Northern provinces such as Gilan, Ardabil, and Golestan are severely threatened, with permanent wetlands at significant risk. Vegetation analysis revealed that declining precipitation and rising temperatures, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, have played a crucial role in vegetation decline, most notably in barren lands and shrublands.

This study confirms that Iran has faced significant climate change impacts in recent decades, with detrimental effects on its natural resources and ecosystems. Rising temperatures, declining precipitation, and intensifying water deficits pose substantial challenges to resource sustainability. The results underscore the urgency of formulating comprehensive policies and implementing national strategies to mitigate climate change effects, manage water resources, and protect vulnerable ecosystems. Continuous monitoring of climate change and its effects on natural resources is imperative for informed decision-making and effective planning.

The Persian Wild Ass Equus hemionus onager is the only odd-toed ungulates (Perissodactyla) and largest wild herbivore in Iran, with a population of about 1300 individuals, distributed in the Bahram-e Gur conservation complex and Touran Biosphere Reserve. From the semi-captive reproduction and reintroduction centers, they had population growth in the centers of Yazd province and Kavir National Park. In other centers were not successful due to not considering demographic factors such as the age and sex composition of the founder population, intra- and inter-species competition, lack of information on genetic status and inbreeding and management factors such as hard release. In this study, the threats of the Persian Wild Ass in natural habitats, the state of reproduction and reintroduction centers, and management and conservation strategies have been discussed.

Scientific sources, reports and documents available in the Semnan, Yazd, Fars and Kerman Provincial Office and the Wildlife conservation and Management bureau of the Department of the Environmental were studied regarding the threats, past and present population and fatalities of the Persian Wild Ass. Data collection was done by interviewing environmentalists, experts and completing species information forms including population, threats and expert suggestions of the respective provinces. Based on the field visits and investigation of natural habitats and reproduction and reintroduction centers in Fars and Semnan provinces, information was verified.

Over the past two decades, the population of the species has been growing in the Bahram-e Gur conservation complex, due to habitat management and the reduction of threats. While the species' population status in the Touran biosphere reserve has experienced a sharp decline since the 1970s and 1980s, and this trend has been almost stable for the past 20 years. The most important threats to the Persian Wild Ass due to human activities include destruction and fragmentation of habitats, poaching for meat, inbreeding, the occurrence of diseases in natural populations, seasonal use of vegetation, road kills, development of mines, drought, and climate change. Overgrazing by livestock reduces food availability, and also reduces the availability of water at springs. In semi-captive breeding and re-introduction centers, the lack of knowledge of the genetic status of populations, the very low growth rate, and infanticide are among the threats to the species. Management problems such as non-continuity of providing financial resources and equipment, lack of sustainable management with the passage of time, hard release due to lack of funds, equipment, and also non-observance of the gender ratio of the founding population can be effective in the failure of these centers.

The important strategies for conserving the Persian Wild Ass in the short- and long-term include identifying the threats and introducing methods to reduce the effect of the threat, developing a comprehensive plan for reproduction and reintroduction of the species, and implementing the action plan for the conservation of the population in the habitats. The implementation of participatory conservation programs with the key stakeholders can be effective in the conservation programs.

Coastal-marine wetlands consisting of mangrove forests, sandy beaches, and mudflats are among the sensitive and important habitats of the southern coasts of Iran, which play an important role in the economy and livelihood of local communities. The International Mangrove Wetland of Shur, Shirin, and Minab Rivers is one of the important coastal wetlands of Iran, and due to facing many threats, it needs new and effective protection planning. This research has been conducted to investigate the significant changes in the levels of mangrove forests as an indicator species of the wetland, identify and prioritize the factors that threaten the biodiversity of the wetland, and provide Participatory management solutions. The calculation of mangrove level changes was done based on the time series analysis method of OLI (Operational Land Imager) sensor data from Landsat 8. The planning and implementation of participatory protection in this research included reviewing the current situation, identifying stakeholders, and holding participatory meetings to identify and prioritize threats and formulate an action plan for cooperative wetland protection. The results showed that from 2015 to 2022, mangrove forests have been destroyed in some areas by 30.78 hectares. According to the survey of the participants and stakeholder’s beneficiaries, two threats of pollution caused by the dumping of smuggled fuel and illegal fishing activities have the highest priority among the total of 15 threats identified in the wetland. In this research, for the ten important threats prioritized by the opinion of the participants, an action plan to reduce the effects of threats, including the mechanism of the threat effect, the effect on the indicator species, the economic and social effects, and the priority plan to reduce the effects of each threat has been developed. The results of this research are used in raising awareness and preparing educational content for community-based conservation programs with the participation of stakeholders, including the implementation of participatory wetland conservation and restoration projects.

Anatidae family is considered as a biological indicator of wetlands due to their migratory behavior, wide distribution and high population density. Three wetlands of the Bakhtegan basin, namely Bakhtegan, Tashk and Kamjan in Fars province, are important habitats for Anatidae in the central plateau of Iran. The purpose of this research was to evaluate fluctuations in the wintering population of the Anatidae family in wetlands of the Bakhtegan basin in a long-term period of 52 years from 1967 to 2018.

Data on the population and diversity of waterbirds were obtained from a 52-year census data of the Department of the Environmental of Iran. Results of field studies in 2019 were also used to investigate their current habitat condition, data validation and monitoring of Anatidae populations. Of 21 Anatidae species recorded in Iran, nine species with a population of more than 50 individuals per year and observed at least 20 years, were investigated along with the Vulnerable species (VU) of Common Pochard Aythya ferina. Annual changes in the total population of waterbirds, the number of species in each year, the proportion of Anatidae in the population and the diversity of waterbirds in Bakhtegan wetlands and the statistical trend of population changes of species were analyzed. Trend of long-term changes in the population of Anatidae species were calculated using the RTRIM statistical package and Multi-species Indicators (MSI).

A total of 21 of Anatidae species, including Endangered species (EN) of White-headed Duck Oxyura leucocephala, Marbled Duck Marmaronetta angustirostris (VU) and Common Pochard (VU) and Near Threatened species (NT) of Ferruginous Duck Aythya nyroca were identified in the wetlands of Bakhtegan basin. The average population of Anatidae in a 31-year period (1988–2008) was more than 169,000 individuals, but in the last ten years (2009–2018), it decreased to 6,623 individuals. The highest number of total population was in 1995 with 632,510 individuals and the lowest with 1,135 individuals in 2016. The highest and lowest number of species were in 2000 and 2010 with 13 and 3 species, respectively. The statistical trend of the population changes showed that the Greylag Goose Anser anser faced a steep decline in the long-term with a slope of -21%, the Shelduck Tadorna tadorna with a steep decline (-8.4%), the Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea with a stable population and zero percent, the Mallard Anas platyrhynchos and the Eurasian Teal Anas crecca with a steep decline and slope of -12.1% and -6.5%, respectively. Trend of changes in the last ten years for the Greylag Goose was stable (0.1%), Shelduck with an uncertain state (4.8%), Ruddy Shelduck and Mallard with a decrease and a slop of -3.8% and -9.4%, respectively, and Eurasian Teal with a strong increase (48.9%). The results indicate that Bakhtegan wetlands had a high proportion of waterbirds during the 1990s to the early 2000s, but it has lost its position in the last 15 years. Bakhtegan wetlands used to be the breeding habitat for Marbled Ducks, but there have been no reports of its breeding in recent years.The reduction of water level, drying wet areas and changes in habitat variables have been the most important factors in reduction of the population and diversity of Anatide species.

The Anatidae family has more than 30% of species diversity and more than 53% of the total population of waterbirds in Bakhtegan wetlands. Currently, it is possible for birds to spend the winter in only a small part of Tashk wetland in the area of Gamban spring. Reconstruction, restoration and making continuous and effective protection of the wetland chain of Bakhtegan Basin requires allocating the required water from diverse water sources for its biological sustainability. In the case of increasing the level and depth of these water areas, the possibility of increasing the population and diversity of diving ducks and Mergus species is expected. Due to the importance of the participation of stakeholders in the protection and restoration of wetlands, it is necessary to take action regarding the allocation of biological water rights and participatory protection of wetlands according to the social, economic, cultural and political conditions.

Persian Salamander (Persian Brook Salamander Paradactylodon persicus) is one of the unique genetic treasures of Iranian amphibians whose Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran are the last end of its southwestern distribution in Asia. Until 2019, two separate species including the Iranian Salamander P. persicus in the west and center and the salamander of Gorgani P. gorganensis in the east of Hyrcania were introduced, but based on the NGS and phylogenetic sequencing data, these salamanders are classified as the single species of the Iranian salamander Paradactylodon persicus. The eastern population is Critically Endangered (CR) and the central and western population is Near Threatened (NT) on the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and it is necessary to planning of conservation programs. Based on the guidelines proposed by Species Survival Working Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN/SSC), this research identifies the threats and provides management plan in the form of strategic programs for the conservation  and management of the Iranian Salamander population. The most important threats to the species include sample collection, the presence of domestic and wild animals, destruction of springs, lack of water resources (decreased water flow) and easy access to the habitat. The most important strategies for the conservation and management of Iranian Salamanders is 1) to identify threats and provide solutions to reduce the effects of each threat on the species and habitat, 2) identify new habitats, monitor the population and assess the status of the habitat, 3) scientific studies on various biological and ecological aspects, and create a database and 4) raising the level of awareness, knowledge and attracting the participation of stakeholders in the conservation of the species and habitat. The results of this study will be used in the management of Iranian Salamander habitat and population, reducing the effects of threats, revising management plans and developing cooperative conservation.

Persian Wild Ass, the only representative of the order Perissodactyla, is the largest wild herbivore in Iran and inhabits the plains and hills of desert and steppe habitats. Study the status, population growth, and evaluation of management measures taken for this species in nature, reproduction, and rewilding areas are the main purposes of this study. According to the census data in 2021, there were a total of 1315 individuals, including 1231 individuals in the nature of Iran in the two protected complexes of Bahram-e-Gur and Turan and 84 individuals in the rewilding centers. In 2021, the minimum population was 170 individuals and the average of the last 14 years (2021-2008) was 160 individuals in the Turan complex, which decreased sharply compared to the population of 471 individuals in 1997 and 800 individuals in 1976. Changes in the population of the wild Ass in Bahram-e-Gur complex indicate that the population increases from 93 individuals in 1997 to 1061 individuals in 2021. The most important factors of population decline have been habitat loss, hunting, and droughts, and the most important factors in increasing the population of this species have been the intensification of conservation, forage supply, and water resources. Captive breeding programs and reintroduction have been prioritized for nearly two decades and have been successful to a large extent. Although this species is still in the group of endangered species, one of the most successful conservation programs executed in Iran is its management due to the population growth positively and the improvement of the conservation status.

In this study, the degree of agreement between five benthic indices in assessing the ecological status of the Karaj River was investigated. We sampled macrobenthic fauna using a sorber sampler in nine stations during 2017-2018, seasonally. In terms of abundance, the Shironomide family was dominant. Baetis, Tubifex, Micrasema, Rhithrogena, Eporus, Hydropsyche, Leptophlebiidae, and Simulium made up 83% of the samples. The values ​​of H', EPT, ASPT, BMWP, and HFBI were calculated (12.2±0.65), (5.6±2.8), (3.9±1), (48.8±23.34) and (4.6±1), respectively. The relative agreement in the results obtained from the five studied indicators was seen in 67% of the stations with unacceptable quality in the case that 22% of the river stations showed complete agreement and 11% of the stations showed disagreement. As a result, due to the occurrence of structural and population changes of macrobenthos in aquatic ecosystems due to natural factors and human activities, in order to use biological indices in each region for environmental management, there is a need to simultaneously use indices. It is important to check the agreement between different methods and choose the appropriate ecological index. Based on the results of the present study, the Helsinhof index (HFBI) can be introduced as a more suitable index than other studied indices to evaluate the ecological status of the Karaj River.

Deltas of Rud-e-Shur, Rud-e-Shirin and Rud-e-Minab, consisting of mangroves and coastal mudflats, is one of the most important bird habitats on the shores of the Persian Gulf and are protected as an international wetland. In this study, a list of weland birds was prepared based on the data of the results of the semi-winter census of waterbirds, expert reports and field studies. Also, the trend of changes in the waterbird population in the period of 1988-2021 was calculated using the TRIM statistical package with the possibility of application in R ver3.6.3 software called RTRIM. The results showed that, a total of 156 species of 97 genera, 45 families and 18 orders including 98 species of waterbirds, 21 species of prey and 37 species of terrestrial species were identified. The population of waterbirds has a strong increase with a slope of 7.7% per year. In the last ten years, a moderate decline in population has been recorded with a slope of -4.1% per year. The average population of waterbirds in the wetland was 15,479 ± 2,669 and the average number of species was 41.6 ± 3.39. The largest population was in 2019 with 54,356 individuals and the highest number of species was in 2005 with 64 species. Although annual population fluctuations and diversity depended on census-related factors such as program support, bird-watching tools, number of sites, census coverage levels, and the experience of bird counters, the impact of habitat threats such as overfishing aquaculture and the increase in environmental pollution have also increased in recent years. A program to increase stakeholder awareness and strengthen participatory conservation can be effective in reducing wetland threats.

In this study, trends in population and species diversity of wintering waterbirds in the south Caspian Sea region, based on mid-winter censuses of waterbirds over a thirty-year period from 1988 to 2017, have been studied. The trends in population and the ecological indicators of biodiversity were respectively calculated using the RTRIM statistical package (TRends and Indices for Monitoring Data in R software) and the software SDR-IV (Species Diversity and Richness). Results showed that the average number of waterbirds in the whole Caspian region for the last thirty years was 947,853±71,073 with a range of 326.281-1.934,226 individuals. The share of Mazandaran province alone was more than the other two provinces during the study period. The total number of waterbirds recorded increased in 2004 and then formed a stable trend. Calculation of the statistical trend of changes over the 30 years in the waterbirds population size of the south Caspian region indicated a slight increase with a slope of 3.3% per year, but over the last ten years, the population has gradually declined, showing a 2.7% decrease over this latter period. The results for species diversity indices (Shannon-Wiener and Simpson D), species richness (Margalf and Minhinick), and species evenness (Pielou and Simpson E) confirmed that high values ​​of species diversity and richness and low values ​​of species evenness indices during the period of 2004-2009 were basically due to the increase in the number of species recorded and conducting more accurate censuses backed by a comprehensive census program and the participation of foreign birdwatchers. The results of this study can play a practical role in informing the ecological management of the wetlands and southern coast of the Caspian Sea.

Cheetah is the only species from the Acinonyx subfamily and genus whose global population trend has been declining. This species is known as a species with a low genetic variation that has resulted from bottlenecks about 10,000 and 12,000 years ago. All populations of the Asiatic cheetah subspecies are extinct in the Middle East and Southwest of Asia and Iran. Asiatic cheetah subspecies listed in the Critically Endangered because of severe decline in the gene diversity level which has resulted from habitat degradation, geographical separation of populations, and increasing inbreeding, there are only a few of the species remained in the wild of Iran. In this review study, the genetic variation reduction at different levels of Allozymes molecular markers, microsatellites, mitochondrial DNA, and Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in the entire cheetah genome was investigated and validated. studies based on restriction fragment length polymorphism, indicate severe genomic reductions in the occurrence of Single Nucleotide Variant, the density of Single Nucleotide Variant, Single Nucleotide Variants protein-coding genes, Major Histocompatibility Complex genes, and mitochondrial DNA Single Nucleotide Variant compared with other species. Significant reductions in overall genetic variation by multiple genomic markers lead to increased cubs’ mortality, severe abnormalities in sperm growth, problems with captive reproduction programs, and increased vulnerability to the spread of infectious diseases. Since conservation genetics plays a key role in the conservation and management of species, the results of this study can be used in genetic conservation, reproduction in captivity, and the management of the remaining populations of Asian cheetahs.

Parishan International Wetland is one of the most important freshwater wetlands in Iran, which is on the list of endangered wetlands (Montreux) due to its complete drying up and habitat changes. This research was carried out in 2018 and 2019 to investigate changes in species diversity of waterbirds and it’s relationships with water surface in PIW. Semi-winter census data were collected from the Department of Environmental, Iran. Data were analyzed using the Species Diversity and Richness (SDR-IV) software. Species diversity indices including (Shannon-Wiener and Simpson D), species richness (Margalef and Minhinick) and evenness (Pielou and Simpson E) were calculated in a period of 31 years from 1998 to 2018. Trend of changes of the wetland reservoir surface and land use have been investigated, using satellite images. Results showed that diversity indices had an increasing trend during the years 1988 to 2001 and a decreasing trend from 2001 to 2018. Diversity indices reached lowest value in 2012 with the decrease of the wetland catchment area. The average values of 5-year period ​​of all indices from 1989 to 2008 did not differ significantly, but apart from the Minhinick index, other indices in the period of 2009-2013 and 2014-2018 had significantly lower values. (P<0.5). The wetland reservoir surface had been increasing from 1988 to 2000. From 2001 to 2018, except for the years 2005 to 2007, the trend was decreasing and from 2009, it has had almost no water areas. It was suggested that increasing the surface and depth of the wetland, diversity of incoming water resources, determining the ownership of the surrounding lands, implementation of monitoring programs, evaluation of operational plans and training of stakeholders are the most important strategies to restore biodiversity of wetland waterbirds.

Anzali International Wetland is one of the most important bird sites in Iran and the region, but so far no comprehensive study has been conducted to determine the diversity and status of its birds. In this study, all parts of the wetland were monitored monthly from January 2014 to December 2015 with the aim of identifying and surveying the status of the birds in the wetland. A total of 243 bird species including 112 waterbirds and 131 terrestrial species were identified. The highest number of species was recorded in April and the lowest number in June, and more than 70% of the birds in the wetland were passage and wintering migrants. The highest number of birds was counted in January (134,167 individuals) and the lowest number in May (6,979 individuals). Twenty-six percent of the birds were globally threatened, near-threatened and nationally protected in Iran, and nine species of were named: Sociable Lapwing in the critically endangered, White-headed Duck, Saker Falcon and Steppe Eagle in the endangered, and Common Pochard, Horned Grebe, Greater Spotted Eagle, Eastern Imperial Eagle and European Turtle Dove in the vulnerable category. Breeding of Ferruginous Duck, Savi’s Warbler, Little Crake and Little Tern was recorded for the first time in this wetland and more than one percent of the global population of Whiskered Tern, Teal, Mallard, Gadwall, Whooper Swan, Pygmy Cormorant, Great cormorant and Dalmatian Pelican occur in this wetland. This study shows that Anzali wetland, despite being included in the Ramsar Convention’s Montreux Record of listed sites experiencing change in ecological character, is still one of the most important sites for birds, especially waterbirds, and still satisfies all the waterbird-related criteria of the Ramsar Convention. Therefore, maintaining the quality and extent of the wetland and its valuable habitats is essential.

The BMWP Biological Index (Bioligical Monitoring Working Party) is one of the most common indicators taken from Macrobenthos, which uses quality scores on collected families to assess the quality of the health of river ecosystems. In this study, sampling was carried out in nine stations from Varanghehroud and Dizin along the Karaj Rever to the Bilqan station near the city of Karaj, seasonally from Autumn 2018 to Summer 2019. Macrobenthos were sampled with sorbers sampler and after fixation with 5% formalin and staining, the samples were identified and separating. Based on results out of total 38,400 macrobenthos samples collected, 51 taxa from 42 families were identified. The average annual density in the Karaj River was 2911 (number/square meter). The Arthropoda and Ringworms populations together account for 97% of the identified macrobenthos density. The average of the total BMWP index in Karaj river is 48.8 and the range of changes of BMWP index based on station is (4.0-109.0). The maximum annual average value of this index (73.83) was observed in Varangehroud station and its minimum value (26.50) was observed in Shahrestanak station. The trend of changes in this index from upstream to downstream of the river is decreasing. Classification and zoning of quality status of Karaj river using BMWP index showed that downstream stations such as Bilqan, Pol-e Khab, Asara and Shahrestanak are in poor condition, upstream stations including Shahrestanak, Hassankadar, Gachsar and Dizin are in average condition and station 9 (Varangehroud) is in good condition. The Pole Chobi station after Karaj Dam, despite being downstream of the river, has been of medium quality. It seems that stations where poor ecological status has been assessed need to be prioritized by management programs to protect and reduce pollution load.

This study aimed to describe the breeding biology of the Great Crested Grebe during the breeding season from April to September 2015 in the western part of Anzali wetland. A total of 56 nests were identified during this survey. Totals of 18 and 20 Great Crested Grebe nests were built simultaneously in two separate colonies from mid-April to early May, and in addition at least two months later, a further 18 nests with a minimum distance of 100 meters from each other within Whiskered Tern colonies. The mean clutch size was 3.91±0.85 (n= 56), the average weight of the eggs was 38.8±3.01 g (n= 68) and the average volume of eggs was 37.00±3.6 cm3 (n= 68). This study showed that Great Crested Grebes have a long breeding period in the western part of Anzali wetland (more than 170 days). Breeding success is affected by the large area of the water body which has large waves in spring, as well as the presence of predators such as Marsh Harrier. The first nests in the colony are constructed in the margins of the wetland and among small clumps of reeds. Subsequently, with the gradual increase in the growth and biomass of submerged water plants in the water body and the start of Whiskered Tern nesting on these water plants, the grebes build individual nests among the large colonies of Whiskered Terns. This may represent a specific breeding strategy of the Great Crested Grebe to increase the number of chicks reared during the breeding season.

Using of waterbirds (waterfowl and waders) census data is common to calculate the size and trend of population changes. Besides, it is important as an indicator of wetlands’ ecological changes in biodiversity conservation. Fars province’s wetlands are one of the most diverse aquatic habitats in Iran where have been severely damaged in recent years due to reduced water levels and habitat changes and consequently, these international wetlands are categorized in the list of Montero as a threatened wetland. In this study, trends of total Waterbirds population changes in Fars province and their main wetlands, including Bakhtegan Basin (Kajjan, Tashk, and Bakhtegan), Parishan and Arjan Plain international wetlands, next to important wetlands of Kaftar, Maharloo and Droudzan Dam Lake have been investigated. 

The results of the migratory Waterbirds’ census in Fars province had been obtained from the Department of Environment for about thirty years (1988–2018). Though the population census has been conducted in Fars province since 1967, during the years 1967 to 1987, the census was confined to swans, geese, ducks, and coots, other waterbirds have been added to the bird census since 1988.Data had been analyzed in a long-term period (31-years, 1988-2018) and a short-term period (10-year, 2009-2018) by using RTRIM statistical package. This package has been extracted from Trends & Indices for Monitoring Data (TRIM) in R software.

about 14% of the population and 67% of Iran's waterbirds (116 out of 174 species of Iran) have been related to Fars province, in 31 years ago. The results have been shown a sharp decline in the total population of migratory waterbirds in Fars province with -10.9% slope (0.891 ± 0.0004) per year and also a sharp decline in population with -11% slope for a 10-year period (0.890±0.0001). Only the Maharloo wetlands in the long-term and the Drudzen Dam Lake in the Short-term had a stable population trend, while in other wetlands the trend of decreasing population was moderate to steep. The highest long-term population decline was observed in Parishan wetlands and Arjan plain with -13.9% and -10.1%, respectively. In the short-term, the Parishan wetland had the highest population decline of -10% (0.861 ±0.0001) per year. The highest number of species was observed in the 90s and also in 2004-2009, after this period the species richness of these wetlands decreased. as far as the result shows, the proportion of Bakhtegan and Parishan’s waterbird population was varied from 10% to 88% of the total Fars province’s population. Also, the lowest proportion of the waterbird’s population in these two wetlands was recorded in the last ten years. It seems that drying up of aquatic zones and land-use change were among the most important factors affecting the reduction of population and species richness of waterbirds. As a matter of fact, these wetlands do not have the 5 international criteria of Ramsar wetlands based on the status of the waterbird population. Therefore, need to be prioritized and effective restoration and protection of them in environmental protection programs.

In recent years, habitat changes due to aquatic changes and anthropogenic factors have reduced the quality of wetland habitats in Fars province and drastic changes in waterbird populations. Providing the environmental sustainability needed for ecological sustainability, establishing an integrated ecosystem management system, implementing comprehensive wetland management programs, and population monitoring are the most important restoration strategies for the studied wetlands. The results of this study can be used in the management of wetlands ecosystems, preparation and implementation of the restoration plan and also a calculation of damages to wetlands in Fars province.

The distribution, abundance and assemblage structure of macrofauna as one of the important tools in assessing the quality of water, were determined during 9 stations in Karaj River, seasonally; 2017-2018. Sampling of macrofauna was performed with Surber sampler. Also, depth (11±3 cm), temperature (10.5 ± 4.3 ◦C), Salinity (0.01±0.01 ppt), DO (9.3±0.9 mg/l), EC (0.19±0.1ᵘs/m), pH (8.5±0.2), TDS (0.12±0.07 g/l) and Turbidity (19.6±29.1NTU) were measured in each station by multimeter device. A total 38454 individuals belonged to 42 families and 52 taxa were identified. Chironomidae was the most dominant family. The nine families making up 83% of all specimens (Baetis, Tubifex, Micrasema, Rhithrogena, Eporus, Hydropsyche, Leptophlebiidae and Simulium). The maximum density (7758 ind/m2) was obtained at station 8 while the minimum (592 ind/m2) was observed at station 5. The station 7 was characterized by the higher species diversity (H', 2.78) and the stations 8 was characterized by the lowest diversity indices (H', 1.57). The PCA showed that TDS, EC, Salinity and pH were the main parameters, and the cluster analysis divided the stations into three groups (G1: St2, St 6; G2: St 8, St 9, St 1, St 7; G3: St 4, St 5, St 3). Although the Shannon Index evaluated the upstream stations better, it generally assessed the water quality of the Karaj River as medium.

Bakhtegan wetland including Kamjan, Tashk and Bakhtegan are the most important aquatic habitats of waterbirds in the inland of Iran that in recent years, the severe decline in water level and habitat changes have reduced the quality and quantity of habitat for waterbirds. In this study, the trends of biodiversity changes are studied based on the values of waterbird species diversity indices (Shannon-Wiener & Simpson), Species richness indices (Margalef & Minhinick) and species evenness indices (Pielou & Simpson) using the SDR-IV software in the 31 years' period (2018-1998) including two ten-years and one 11-years' time frames.Moreover, the area of alive wetland in the migration season of waterbirds by calculated using the Landsat satellite imagery collected on November to December. Comparison of diversity indices using ANOVA (analysis of variance) at three time intervals showed that there is no significant difference between species diversity indices and Pielou species evenness index (F2,28 = Shannon-Wiener 2.082, Simpson 0.995, Pielou 2.132, P>0.05). The lowest values of the Margalef index were found in the period of 2009–2009 that were significantly different with other previous decade but there was no significantly differences with periods of 1988–1998. The highest value of the richness index of Minhinick and Simpson E were found in the periods of 2009–2019 and were significantly different with previous decades (p < 0.05). The highest of area of alive wetland in the 1990s and the lowest was in 2001 and in the last decade. It seems that fluctuation of water level and decreasing the alive area of Bakhtegan basin wetlands are the most important factors in the changing the values of waterbird diversity. Providing the environmental flow requirement, implementation of comprehensive wetland management programs and establishment of integrated ecosystem management system are the most important strategies for restoring the waterbird biodiversity of the studied wetlands.

Waterbirds are among the most vulnerable species of birds, and their species richness and population size are important indicators of the quality and conservation value of aquatic ecosystems. The populations of waterbirds are severely in decline, and in recent years more species have been added to the IUCN Red List. It is therefore imperative that the populations of these birds be monitored and protected. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the trends in the diversity and density of wintering migratory waterbirds in four protected areas in the Anzali International Wetland Complex, namely Selkeh, Sorkhankol, Choukam and Siahkieshim. To this end, data from the mid-winter census during a 10-year period (2003-2005 and 2008-2013) were used. We also compared the similarity of waterbird communities among the four protected areas using the Morista Index and PCA test. In total, 65 species of waterbirds were identified in all of these four areas of the wetland. Selkeh had the highest species richness (57 species) and Siahkeshim had the highest mean abundance (31,504 individuals). Also the highest abundance of these four areas combined was in 2013 (103,332 individuals) and the lowest was in 2005 (42,842 individuals). Anatidae were represented by the highest number of species (18 species) and Threskiornithidae and Sternidae families were lowest with one species each. The results of Morista Index and PCA test also revealed that, Sorkhankol wildlife refuge had the least similarity with the other protected areas based on species richness. The results suggest the importance of the Sorkhankol area for providing habitats and supporting diving waterbird species, in particular its value for diving ducks. So, this part of Anzali Wetland may need to be protected more than before. Implementation of comprehensive wetland management plans and establishment of integrated ecosystem management systems are among the most important strategies for preserving these four areas for aquatic birds and overwintering.

The Cartagena Protocol was adopted to achieve a common and coordinated solution for the transboundary movement of transgenic organisms, establish confidence and legitimacy in the field of biosafety regulations in the world, and increase global coordination. Under Clause 2 of Article 23 of the Protocol, States Parties are required to consult with the public and public institutions on the decision-making and policy-making of genetically modified species and to make the results of such consultations available to the public. In recent years, transgenic products have entered the diet of the Iranian people, but there has made no proper awareness about their benefits or harms for the people. Since the genetic structure of transgenic plants is altered through genetic engineering, and this change is usually done to improve the plant's resistance to certain pests or plant diseases, there is concern that these plants have also become resistant to drugs and cause abnormalities and the spread of diseases in humans. The Cartagena Protocol emphasizes the need for labeling, but despite the use of transgenic products in Iran, labeling and percentaging have not been done on all products and it is necessary to pay special attention to the implementation of the latest regulation of the Food and Drug Administration regarding transgenic events.

Spatial modelling of distribution in the plant communities apply for predicting potential habitat areas and protecting species and determining the factors affecting their distribution. The study purpose is to determine the potential distribution of mangroves in Iran under climate change. In this study, occurrence records for Avicenia marina as dominant species were collected and MaxEnt modeling was used to predict the distribution of mangrove forests. The result showed the most suitable areas for the mangrove distribution under current climatic conditions are the Oman Sea coasts and the eastern coast of the Persian Gulf from Gwadar Bay to the northern coasts of Qeshm Island and Nayband Bay in the southern part of Bushehr Province. In the year 2050, habitat suitability based on the RCP2.6 and RCP8.5 scenarios, on the eastern coasts of the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea, will increase. Both current and future climatic conditions, the northern coasts of Bushehr Province and the coasts of Khuzestan Province were not defined as suitable habitats. The results can apply for the conservation plan and mangrove planting.