Ichthyofauna of Delice (Kizilirmak) River

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to determine fish species in the Delice River, one of the main tributaries of the Kizilirmak River. The study was conducted at 22 stations between March 2019 and February 2020seasonally. An electrofisher device was used for fishing. The standard lengths of samples were measured in the field, a maximum of 40 samples of the species with a large number of individuals were selected and brought to the laboratory to determine morphometric and meristic characteristics and then other individuals were released back into the water. Sixteen species belonging to 9 families were found in Delice River; Cyprinidae (3) Barbus tauricus, Capoeta sieboldii, Capoeta tinca; Leuciscidae (4) Alburnoides freyhofi, Alburnus escherichii, Chondrostoma angorense, Squalius cephalus; Gobionidae (1) Pseudorasbora parva; Acheilognathidae (1) Rhodeus amarus; Cobitidae (1) Cobitis simplicispina; Nemacheilidae (3) Oxynoemachelius angorae, Oxynoemachelius brandtii, and Seminemacheilus lendlii; Aphaniidae (1) Anatolichthys marassantensis; Poeciliidae (1) Gambussia holbrooki, and Salmonidae (1) Onchorhynchus mykiss were identified. Nine endemic and two invasive species were identified in Delice River and its tributaries. It was determined that it would be beneficial to continue to monitoring studies for the future of the identified species.