Investigation of Effect of Drying of Lake Urumia on Waterbirds Community structure and Species Diversity of Kaniborazan Wetland in 1995, 2005 and 2015

Dryness effects of Lake Urumia on waterbirds population and species diversity was analyzed by total count in 1995, 2005 and 2015. 28 waterbirds species with a population 5576 individuals counted in 1995 (water level of Lake Uromia was 1277.96 masl and the area of wetland was 907 hectare). 23 waterbirds species with a population 2363 individuals counted in 2005 (water level of Lake Urumia was1273.41masl), area of Kaniborazan was 600 hectare. 17 waterbirds species (11species were waterfowl and 6 species were wading birds) with a population 660 individuals counted in 2015 (south part of lake was dried completely and depth of north part of lake was less than one meter), water level of lake Urumia was 1270.1 masl and area of the Kaniborazan was 200 hectare. Comparison of number of birds and number of species in three periods showed the bird's population and number of birds species declined. The species reduction was 41 percent, and population reduction was 88 percent. βr diversity was 0.24, 0.38 and 0.43 in 1995, 2005 and 2015 respectively. Diversity was 28, 23, and 17 in 1995, 2005 and 2015 respectively, and γ diversity was 32. Margale's index were 3.36, 3.09 and 2.47, Fisher-Alpha index, were 4.16, 3.90, 0.19 and Simpsons evenness were 0.31,0.47 and 0.49 in 1995,2005 and 2015 respectively. Comparison of diversity indices showed that they reduced, and Dominance and Evenness indices decreased in three periods. The main reason was drying effects of Lake Urumia on the Kani Borazan Wetlands Ecosystem.