Biodiversity and distribution of selected freshwater mollusks and crayfish along a mineralization gradient in the Zarafshan River, Uzbekistan
Article Sidebar
Abstract Views: 182
File Views: 55
Main Article Content
Abstract
Abstract. Boymurodov K, Yunusov K, Izzatullaev Z, Raximov M, Boymurodov S, Djalilov F, Khasanov N, Egamkulov A, Otakulov B, Suyarov S, Aliyev B, Mirzamurodov O, Saboxiddinov B, Jabborova T, Khorazov S, Saidkulov J, Mustafoyev Z. 2026. Biodiversity and distribution of selected freshwater mollusks and crayfish along a mineralization gradient in the Zarafshan River, Uzbekistan. Biodiversitas 27 (4): d270425. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d270425. The Zarafshan River basin is characterized by a distinct hydro-chemical gradient shaped by intense urbanization and industrial activity, which significantly impacts its biological integrity. This study evaluates the taxonomic diversity and distribution of four key freshwater macroinvertebrate families (Unionidae, Corbiculidae, Lymnaeidae, and Astacidae) along a documented mineralization gradient in the Zarafshan River basin. Field surveys were conducted from 2023 to 2025 at 12 sampling stations representing varying anthropogenic pressures. Taxonomic composition was analyzed alongside hydro-chemical parameters, including Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and nutrient levels. A total of 11 species, belonging to 3 classes, 4 orders, 4 families, and 7 genera, were identified. Data analysis revealed a marked decline in both species’ richness and individual density as water mineralization increased from 300 mg/L (Site Z1) to 1600 mg/L (Site Z4). Ecological classification identified the predominance of phytophilic (5 species, 45.4%) and peloreophilic (3 species, 27.3%) groups. Faunistic similarity analysis, using Jaccard and Ochiai indices, showed the highest similarity between stations K1 and A2 (Ochiai 0.95), while the lowest similarity was recorded between the most impacted stations Z4 and K4 (Jaccard 0.45). The observed spatial shifts in community structure suggest that elevated mineralization and organic loading are primary drivers of macroinvertebrate distribution in the basin. These findings characterize the environmental tolerances of the target taxa, providing foundational data for developing future bioindication frameworks in the Zarafshan River ecosystem.
Article Details
Issue
Section
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
References
Akramov I, Alikulov BS, Axanbayev S, Norboyev M, Safarova D, Ismailov Z, Kuziev M, Ruziev Y, Tursunov A. 2025. Application of endophytic bacteria synthesizing indolyl acetic acid isolated from Krascheninnikovia ceratoides (L.) gueldenst. in wheat cultivation under saline conditions. J Ecol Eng 26 (8): 97-107. https://doi.org/10.12911/22998993/203742.
Alimova LK, Umurzakova MS, Zokirova DF, Khamzaev RA, Normuradova G, Otakulov B, Pazilov A, Kudratov JA, Urazova RS, Khalimov FZ. 2024. Diversity and features of the fauna of herpetobiont beetles (Carabidae, Tenebrionidae, Elateridae, Scarabaeidae) of the Lower Zeravshan, Uzbekistan. Biosyst Divers 32 (1): 73-82. https://doi.org/10.15421/012407.
Aliyev SI. 2021. Species composition, distribution and ecology (sanitary-hydrobiological characteristics) of macrozoobenthos in Azerbaijan rivers. Res Agric Vet Sci 5 (3): 102-116.
APHA [American Public Health Association]. 1975. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. APHA, Washington, DC.
Baymuradov KH, Zhabborova T, Tuinazarova I, Otakulov B, Egamkulov A. 2021. Aquatic ecosystems of the lower reaches of the Zarafshan River. Diversity and ecological groups of molluscs. E3S Web Conf 262: 04009. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202126204009.
Bazarova BB, Borzenko SV, Tashlykova NA, Afonina EY, Tsybekmitova GT, Matafonov PV, Kuklin AP. 2024. Diversity of hydrobionts of the different type salt lakes in the South-Eastern Transbaikalia in the period of moisture changing. Inland Water Biol 17 (2): 219-232. https://doi.org/10.31857/S0320965224020014.
Bird CT, Kaller MD, Pasco TE, Kelso WE. 2022. Microhabitat and landscape drivers of richness and abundance of freshwater mussels (Unionida: Unionidae) in a coastal plain river. Appl Sci 12 (20): 1-18. https://doi.org/10.3390/app122010300.
Bolton H. 1991. On the mathematical significance of the similarity index of Ochiai as a measure for biogeographical habitats. Aust J Zool 39: 143-156. https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO9910143.
Boymurodov KT, Khodjaeva ND, Raximov MS, Bobonazarov GY, Boymurodov SX, Khurazov SJ, Davronov BO. 2024. Effect of hydro-chemical indicators of Sangzor river water on mollusk population indicators. E3S Web Conf 555: 02002. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202455502002.
Dildar T, Cui W, Ikhwanuddin M, Ma H. 2025. Aquatic organisms in response to salinity stress: Ecological impacts, adaptive mechanisms, and resilience strategies. Biology 14 (6): 667. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14060667.
Ergasheva XI, Ismoilov ZF, Alikulov BS, Jo‘raqulovna NX, Tillaeva ZF, Abdullaev II, Raxmatullayev AY, Ergasheva OK. 2024. Biotechnological processing of organic and domestic waste and the effect of obtained vermicompost on soil fertility. J Ecol Eng 25 (8): 119-129. https://doi.org/10.12911/22998993/189894.
Gavrilaș S, Burescu FL, Chereji BD, Munteanu FD. 2025. The impact of anthropogenic activities on the catchment’s water quality parameters. Water 17 (12): 1791. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17121791.
Golovatyuk LV, Nazarova LB, Kalioujnaia IJ, Grekov IM. 2023. Taxonomic composition and salinity tolerance of macrozoobenthos in small rivers of the southern arid zone of the East European Plain. Biology 12 (9): 1271. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12091271.
Izzatullayev ZI. 2019. Fauna of the molluscs of water ecosystems of Central Asia and the contiguous country territories. Lesson-Press Publication, Tashkent.
Istamkulova M, Keldiyarov K, Daminov A, Mukhamadiev N, Dushanova G, Khayitov D, Ruziev Y, Rayimqulov I, Jurayeva R, Norboyeva U. 2025. Diversity and ecological determinants of essential oil composition of Achillea millefolium from various geobotanical areas of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Biodiversitas 26: 3343-3355. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d260726.
Kudratov J, Pazilov A, Zokirova D, Otakulov B, Jalilov J, Urinova X, Khalimov F, Izzatullaev Z. 2024. Complexes of terrestrial molluscs of various biotopes in the Gissar Range, Uzbekistan. Acta Biol Sib 10: 349-359. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.11160044.
Liu F, Zi F, Wang X, Zeng H, Huo B, Wang C, Ge J, Chen S, Wang B. 2023. Assessing the impact of anthropic pressures on aquatic macroinvertebrates: A functional trait approach in the Irtysh River watershed. Biology 12 (10): 1315. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12101315.
Ma L, Li Y, Abuduwaili J, Abdyzhapar S, Liu W. 2020. Hydrochemical composition and potentially toxic elements in the Kyrgyzstan portion of the transboundary Chu-Talas River basin, Central Asia. Sci Rep 10: 14972. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-71880-4.
Ma X, Li N, Yang H, Li Y. 2022. Exploring the relationship between urbanization and water environment based on coupling analysis in Nanjing, East China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 29 (3): 4654-4667. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-15161-1.
Mamanov SS, Rakhimov MR, Khalimov FZ, Khamzaev RA, Abdullayev EN, Jabborov AR, Khamidova AB, Shodmonov FA, Ashrapov AA, Ochilbekova S. 2024. Review of the genus Dioctria Meigen, 1803 (Diptera: Asilidae) in Uzbekistan with the description of two new species. Acta Biol Sib 10: 1543-1557. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14303122.
Medetov M, Seylkhanova A, Tilepov J, Reymov Q, Shakarboyeva S, Akhmedova M, Miratdinova A, Kamalov Q, Erjanova D. 2025a. Fauna and importance of blister beetles (Coleoptera, Meloidae) of the Southern Aral Sea Region (Uzbekistan). Biosyst Divers 33 (1): 012506. https://doi.org/10.15421/012506.
Medetov MZh, Abdullaeva JK, Reymov A, Miratdinova AM, Seytmuratov AK, Tajibaeva JD, Kadirov RS, Utemuratov NA, Kimyonazarov SK, Kudratov JA, Urazova RS, Keldiyorova XX, Uralov UB. 2025b. Diversity of true bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) of the Southern Aral Sea Region, Uzbekistan. Biodiversitas 26 (7): 3125-3135. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d260704.
Narzullayev SB, Subbotin SA. 2025. Characterization of some gall-forming nematodes of the family Anguinidae from Uzbekistan. Russ J Nematol 33 (1): 1-7. https://doi.org/10.24412/0869-6918-2025-1-1-7.
Naselli-Flores L, Padisák J. 2023. Ecosystem services provided by marine and freshwater phytoplankton. Hydrobiologia 850 (12-13): 2691-2706. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-022-04795-y.
Naydenov AE, Makhov IA, Mironov VG, Rahimov MR, Khalimov FZ, Yakovlev RV. 2025. Materials on the Lepidoptera of Uzbekistan. Part I. Family Geometridae Leach, 1815. Acta Biol Sib 11: 589-611. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15274938.
Parson TR, Maita Y, Lalli CM. 1984. A Manual of Chemical and Biological Methods for Seawater Analysis. Pergamon Press, Oxford, New York.
Pazilov AP, Karimkulov A, Kudratov J, Jalilov J. 2026. A new species of the genus Turanena (Gastropoda, Pulmonata, Enidae) from the Hissar range. Ruthenica 36 (1): 47-50. https://doi.org/10.35885/ruthenica.2026.36(1).4. [Russian]
Rakhimov M, Boymurodov S. 2025. Fauna and ecology of hydrobionts of the families Unionidae, Corbiculidae, Lymnaeidae and Astacidae in the aquatic ecosystems of the lower Amu Darya. Bull Natl Univ Uzb 3 (2): 115-117. [Uzbek]
Sant N, Chappuis E, Rodríguez-Prieto C, Real M, Ballesteros E. 2017. Cost-benefit of three different methods for studying Mediterranean rocky benthic assemblages. Sci Mar 81 (1): 129-138. https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.04463.04A.
Shashi SS, Pan D, Emu NJ, Roy M, Sadek MA, Sharifuzzaman SM, Sun H. 2023. Two new records and an updated checklist of freshwater crabs (Arthropoda, Malacostraca, Decapoda, Potamidae and Gecarcinucidae) from Bangladesh. ZooKeys 1167: 211-222. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1167.102766.
Starobogatov YI, Prozorova LA, Bogatov VV, Sayenko YM. 2004. Key to freshwater invertebrates of Russia and adjacent lands. In: Tsalolikhin SJ (eds). Molluscs, Polychaetes, Nemerteans. Nauka, Saint Petersburg.
Tsybekmitova GT, Gladyshev MI, Mikheev IE, Bazarova BB, Kuklin AP, Afonina EY, Dubovskaya OP, Tashlykova NA, Kravchuk ES, Kazykina SV, Shulepina SP, Borzenko SV, Shoydokov AB, Zuev IV, Kolmakov VI, Andrushchenko PY, Sukhanov AA, Novgorodova TA, Glupov VV. 2025. Biological diversity of hydrobionts in watercourses of the Upper Amur Basin under the influence of mining production. Contemp Probl Ecol 18: 416-430. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1995425525700027.
Uralov U, Kudratov J, Pazilov A, Izzatullaev Z, Khalimov F, Otakulov B, Jabbarov A, Fundukchiev S, Orziyeva Y, Suyunov G, Abduxamidovich BM, Boymurodov K, Gulboev D, Urinova X. 2025. Diversity of gastropods (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in different altitude regions of the Zarafshan Mountains and adjacent areas, Uzbekistan. Biodiversitas 26 (10): 5012-5022. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d261017.
Varatharajan GR, Ndayishimiye JC, Nyirabuhoro P. 2025. Emerging contaminants: A rising threat to urban water and a barrier to achieving SDG-aligned planetary protection. Water 17 (16): 2367. https://doi.org/10.3390/w17162367.
Yunusov K, Boymurodov K, Egamkulov A, Dilmurodov G, Djalilov F. 2024. Distribution of hydrobionts in aquatic ecosystems in different parts of the Akdaryo river. E3S Web Conf 539: 01012. https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202453901012.
Zokirova DF, Kudratov JA, Khamzaev RA, Khamidova AB, Otakulov B, Urinova G, Zohidova I, Abdllaev E, Rayimova F, Pazilov A, Tursunova S, Bakhrillayeva M, Khalimov FZ. 2025. Morphometric diversity of Zabrus morio (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in relation to sex and altitude in Uzbekistan's mountain ecosystems. Biodiversitas 26 (9): 4730-4745. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d260943.