Abstract
A member of the Cyprinidae family, the Chalcalburnus tarichi is a fish species that only inhabits the Lake Van Basin. The Lake Van represents an interesting ecosystem in the world, known as the biggest soda lake in the world, in that its water is highly alkaline with a pH of 9.8. C. tarichi has bright-silver color, its back is grayish green, and the abdominal region is silver. Its body is covered with small scales, and its eyes are large. It feeds on phyto and zooplanktons. Its average life span is 7 years, and the fish reaches reproductive maturity at 3 years old. C. tarichi is an diadrom fish that lives in the lake, but during the reproduction period it immigrates to the surrounding freshwater rivers returning after the reproduction period of April–July. In the past, pearl mullet was an attractive fresh fish for the local people and was easily caught during the spawning migration, resulting in over-fishing. The species was one of the highly endangered animals of Turkey before conservation studies, some 10 years ago, have started. At present, illegal fishing activities declined, although some locals are continuing to fish during the spawning season.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Arabaci M, Sari M (2004) Induction of ovulation in endemic pearl mullet (Chalcalburnus tarichi), living in the highly alkaline Lake Van, using GnRHa([D-Ser(tBu)6, Pro9-Net]-GnRH) combined with haloperidol. Aquaculture 238:529–535
Berg LS (1964) Freshwater fishes of the USSR and adjacent countries, vol II, 4th edn. Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Zoological Institute, pp 281–283
Danulat E, Kempe S (1992) Nitrogeneus waste extrection and accumulation of urea and ammonia in Chalcalburnus tarichi endemic to Lake Van, Fish. Physiol Bioch 9:377–386
Danulat E, Selçuk B (1992) Life history and enviromental conditions of the anadromous Chalcalburnus tarichi (Cyprinidae) in the highly alkaline Lake Van, Eastern Anatolia,Turkey. Arch Hidrobiol 126(1):105–125
GEF-SGP (2004) Assessing with the locals the alternative living opportunities against unsustainable pearl mullet fishing and changing unsustainable consumption patterns. Available via DIALOG. http://sgp.undp.org/ Cited 28 July 2006
IUCN (1996) World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1996. Chalcalburnus tarichi. In: IUCN 2006. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 6 November 2006
Kepme S, Kazmierczak J, Landmann G, Konuk T, Reimer A, Lipp A (1991) Largest known microbialites discovered in Lake Van, Turkey. Nature 349:605–608
Kuru M (1987) A systematic and zoo-geographic analysis of pisces endemic to Dicle-Fırat, Kura-Aras, Lake Van and Black Sea Basin freshwaters, Dissertation, Ataturk University, Erzurum (Turkish)
Sari M, Arabaci M (1997) Reproduction and fecundity in the Pearl Mullet (Chalcalburnus tarichi, Pallas 1811) population, Paper presented at the Mediterranean Fishery Congress, 9–11 April 1997, Izmir, pp 537–544
Sari M (2001) Stock assessment of the Lake Van pearl mullet and determination of the basics of fishery management, ÇEKÜL Foundation, Scientific Series, İstanbul
Sari M (2004a) Achieving Sustainable Productivity in the Fishery Management of the Pearl Mullet Endemic to Lake Van Project, Final Report, UNDP-GEF/SGP Final Report, Ankara
Sari M (2004b) The process of change and conservation studies to sustainable fisheries management for pearl mullet of the Lake Van, Paper presented The Workshop on Biodiversity for Food Guarantee, FAO Turkey Rep., Ankara, 23–24 November 2004
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sari, M. Threatened fishes of the world: Chalcalburnus tarichi (Pallas 1811) (Cyprinidae) living in the highly alkaline Lake Van, Turkey. Environ Biol Fish 81, 21–23 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-006-9154-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-006-9154-9