Biodiversity, Abundance, and Distribution of Fishes in Gongir River, Ilam, Iran

To investigate the biodiversity, abundance, and the distribution of fishes in Gongir river, Ilam province (Iran), for about 1 year (from May 2013 to February 2014) fishes were catched and collected seasonally with electro-shocker device and sampled in 4 different stations from upstream to downstream, respectively (Siah-Gal, Saniri, Mian, Sharaf-Shah stations). The results show the catched fishes are from 3 different families (Cyprinidae, Nemacheilidae, Mastacembelidae) with 12 species: Alburnus mossulensis, Carasobarbus luteus, Capoeta damascina, Capoeta trutta, Chondrostoma regium, Cyprinion kais, Cyprinion macrostomum, Garra rufa, Squalius cephalus, Tor grypus, Oxynoemacheilus sp., and Mastacembelus mastacembelus. The highest species diversity belongs to (Cyprinidae) family. Garra rufa (or Dr. fish) is the most abundant specie among the all stations, in all seasons. Shannon-Weiner and Simpson indexes were calculated and biodiversity and distributions of the fishes in the selected stations are discussed based on these parameters. Based on our research, second station has a good potential of establishing fish spa center.