Some Ecological Features of Fish Species Common in Lake Dengizkul, Uzbekistan

The article presents both literary sources and field research data on the ecological characteristics of commercially and non-commercially important fish species inhabiting Lake Dengizkul. It reviews information on the distribution of fish species relative to the lake’s water level, their occurrence along the shoreline, their depth-related distribution at different life stages, and their numerical dominance. Habitat coordinates for the identified species were recorded, and a geographic information system (GIS) map was developed. For test catches, fishing nets with mesh sizes ranging from 10 to 70mm and lengths between 70 and 100m, made of silk and synthetic fibers, were employed. More than 900 individuals representing various fish species were recorded during over 100 net casting and retrieval trials. Based on these scientific observations, 18 fish species were identified in Lake Dengizkul. It was further noted that the salinity of the lake water is relatively high, reaching 20– 25g/ L along the eastern shore.