2025 Ecosystem Transformation 8 (1), 213-227

Features of the distribution of fish species composition of the mountain Akhuryan River (Armenia) under the influence of small hydroelectric power plants

Vardanyan T.V., Barseghyan N.E.  , Barseghyan R.E., Gabrielyan B.K.

Fish species composition in the Akhuryan River upper and below a small hydroelectric power plant (SHPP) “Amasia” was investigated (2018-2019). Twelth fish species have been identified. For the first time, electrofishing was used for determining fish composition. The highest fish diversity (seven species) was recorded in the spring 2019 in the lower reach of the river near the village of Marmashen, while the lowest (three species) in the autumn 2018 near the SHPP “Amasia” below the water intake point and in the tributary of the Akhuryan. At all fish sampling sites, Kura chub – Alburnoides eichwaldii
De Filippi 1863 and Kura barbell – Barbus cyri De Filippi 1985 were met. In autumn, Kura chub were a
super-dominating species in all the sites. In the spring 2019, they were dominating in the lower reach of
the river. The absence of Kura khramicarp Capoeta capoeta Guldenstadt 1772 below the SHPP’s water
intake point and near the dam on the river between the villages Caps and Jradzor was likely the result of
SHPP operation. The only listed fish species (status “endangered” in The Red Book of Armenia) found
during the study period was the asp Leuciscus aspius Linnaeus 1758.

T. V. Vardanyan
Institute of Hydroecology and Ichthyology of Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology of National Academy of Sciences of Republic of Armenia
Sevak St. 7, Yerevan, 0014 Armenia


N. E. Barseghyan
Institute of Hydroecology and Ichthyology of Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology of National Academy of Sciences of Republic of Armenia
Sevak St. 7, Yerevan, 0014 Armenia

nelli.barseghyan@yahoo.com

R. E. Barseghyan
Institute of Zoology of Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology of National Academy of Sciences of Republic of Armenia
Sevak St. 7, Yerevan, 0014 Armenia


B. K. Gabrielyan
Institute of Hydroecology and Ichthyology of Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology of National Academy of Sciences of Republic of Armenia
Sevak St. 7, Yerevan, 0014 Armenia

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