IDENTIFICATION OF FISHES AND SOME ECOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF ARAS RIVER (EASTERN SIDE OF AZERBAIJAN PROVINCE)

Investigation of habitat conditions and identification of aquatic species in running waters is of high importance in ecological research. This study was carried out in Aras River on the eastern side of the Azerbaijan province from Jolfa to Aslandooz in 2005-2006. Fish sampling was carried out in seven stations seasonally by an electro shocking instrument. During the sampling, important water parameters including EC, IDS, DO, CO2, pH, alkalinity and hardness were also recorded. Biometrical evaluations on 1365 prey fish showed that 17 species and subspecies belonging to 6 families, Cyprinidae, Balitoridae, Cobitidae, Siluridae, Percidae, Gobiidae were present in the samples. Cyprinidae family was represented by12 species and subspecies and other fish families had only one representative. Capoeta capoeta with 56.6% had the highest frequency and was the most dispersed compared to other species in Aras River.