Aphanius Transgrediens
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''Aphanius transgrediens'', the Acı Göl toothcarp or Acipinar killifish, is a species of freshwater fish in the family Cyprinodontidae. It is
endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to the springs of
Lake Acıgöl Acıgöl (''literally "the bitter lake" in Turkish'') is a lake in Turkey's inner Aegean Region, in an endorheic basin at the junction between Denizli Province, Afyonkarahisar Province, and Burdur Province. Its surface area varies greatly thro ...
in
Turkey Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a list of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolia, Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with ...
. It is threatened by a reduction in rainfall from climate change, and the abstraction of water from the springs. The introduction of the non-native
eastern mosquitofish The eastern mosquitofish (''Gambusia holbrooki'') is a species of freshwater fish, closely related to the western mosquitofish, ''Gambusia affinis''. It is a member of the family Poeciliidae of order Cyprinodontiformes. The eastern mosquitofish ...
also threatens this species.


Ecology & habitat

''Aphanius transgrediens'' is endemic to Lake Acigöl, Turkey, a lake sourced from sulfurous springs (on the south-eastern margins of the lake itself), and containing sodium sulphate and other salts whose harvest is a significant economic activity in the region. Due to severe fluctuations in water levels and chemical composition, this species is mostly restricted to the margins of the lake in spring fields of varying salinity. These ponds are typically very shallow and occupied by growths of filamentous algae of the genus '' Chara''. Winter rainfall allows migration between sites through rivulets around the periphery of the lake, causing a greater genetic diversity within populations, which extend across one square kilometer. This minor migration occurs in late summer, and in the opposite direction in early summer. It is most likely omnivorous, feeding upon aquatic invertebrates and plants. Females are batch-spawners, producing 5-11 eggs per batch on vegetation in a site defended by males. Eggs are 1.3-1.5 mm in diameter, and are laid from early spring to late autumn.


Threats

''Aphanius transgrediens'' occupies an extremely restricted area of 30 springs that is almost entirely endangered of destruction by the construction of a new road. Previously, the species inhabited the lake itself and its catchment and within the spring fields. In addition, ''A. transgrediens'' is threatened by invasive species, degradation of habitat (also by livestock trampling), and climate change. It is therefore assessed as critically endangered by the IUCN on criteria B1ab (i, ii, iii, iv, v) + 2ab (i, ii, iii, iv, v). Remaining conservation measures are mostly restricted to ''
ex-situ Svalbard GLOBAL SEED BANK, an ''ex situ'' conservation. ''Ex situ'' conservation literally means, "off-site conservation". It is the process of protecting an endangered species, variety or breed, of plant or animal outside its natural habitat; ...
'' work.


References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q302289 transgrediens Endemic fauna of Turkey Critically endangered animals Taxa named by Recai Ermin Fish described in 1946 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot