Mergen (22125)
Turkmenistan, Central Asia

Site overview

KBA status: confirmed

Global KBA criteria: D1a

Year of last assessment: 2007

National site name: Mergen

Central coordinates: Latitude: 37.9230, Longitude: 58.9385

System: freshwater, terrestrial

Elevation (m): 134 to 140

Area of KBA (km²): 2.89523

KBA classification: Global

Legacy site: Yes

Site details

Site description: The IBA is located 45 km to the north-east of Ashgabat in the landscape unit (stow) 'Kulan-Kyrlan'. In the west it borders with the 'M.Sopyyev' farm, in the south with the 'Suytchilik' farm and in the north with the 'Altyn-asyr' farm. The 'Mergen' hunting-fishing base was established in 1998 on the site of the Gyaurs nursery for rearing rare animals formerly belonging to the Turkmen Society for Nature Protection (since 1993). The site covers just over 289 hectares: fallow lands, pastures, sands and open water. The main source of irrigation water for the arable lands is water from the Garagumdarya, arriving by pipeline and a collector network. In the IBA there is one discharge canal from which waters coming from 2 lakes arrive. In the centre of the site, running from south-west to north-east, is the К-3 collector channel. The climate is extreme continental, with large fluctuations of daily temperatures, high in summer (+28 to +30C) and low in winter (+1 to +4C). The average minimum in January is 3C, the maximum in July +37.5C. The absolute minimum temperature is –26C and the absolute maximum +46C. The duration of the frost-free period is 231 days. The average annual rainfall is 195 mm. East and north-west winds are dominant. The relief is basically hilly fixed sands. In the site takyr-desert soils prevail. Typical vegetative cover is: Salsola-grass, Calligonum-Salsola with grasses, grasses with ephemerals, and Karelinia-Alhagi-Phragmites.

Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.

Additional biodiversity: About 180 species have been recorded: nesting - 51, resident - 17. Many species of biomes CA04a and CA04b are recorded and populations appear to be stable. During the last 3 years there has been an appreciable increase in numbers of Pygmy Cormorant. Species listed in the Red Data Book of Turkmenistan (1999) and potentially occurring are: Platalea leucorodia, Buteo buteo, Porphyrio porphyrio, Tetrax tetrax, Burhinus oedicnemus, Cursorius cursor and Bubo bubo. Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals - 29 species. Large mammals include wild boar, jackal, fox and nutria (introduced in 1986). Two to three species of chiropteran can be found in constructions and tree hollows. Amphibians - 2 species: lake frog and green toad. 13 species of reptile. The following vegetation types are characteristic: Salsola-grass, Calligonum-Salsola with grasses, grasses with ephemerals, and Karelinia-Alhagi-Phragmites. On the shore of flooded areas there are patches of oleaster, poplar and tamarix.

Habitats

Land use: fisheries/aquaculture (10%) | hunting (90%)

IUCN Habitat	Coverage %	Habitat detail
Shrubland	20
Wetlands(Inland)	10
Artificial - Terrestrial	10
Desert	60

Threats

Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Renewal and expansion of the agricultural use of the site, increased livestock grazing, and possibly reductions of water supply.

Threat level 1	Threat level 2	Threat level 3	Timing
Agriculture & aquaculture	Livestock farming & ranching	Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming	Ongoing
Biological resource use	Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals	Intentional use (species being assessed is the target)	Ongoing

Additional information