Saryyazy (22126)
Turkmenistan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2007
National site name: Saryyazy
Central coordinates: Latitude: 36.3685, Longitude: 62.6350
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 365 to 542
Area of KBA (km2): 75.58974
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA covers the Saryyazy water reservoir in the Murgab river valley located 145 km to the south of Mary city, in Mary region. The reservoir became operative in 1959, and in 1978 it was considerably expanded and deepened. The IBA includes not only the water surface but also the shore zone with hygrophilous vegetation – reed and tamarix. The IBA is 19 km from south to north with a width of 5 km. The reservoir has a sandy shore, steep on the right (east) and sloping on the left (west). The southern part is shallow, the northern, at the dam, deep. Water levels depend on the flooding mode of the Murgab river. Usually water builds up in the winter and spring, and decreases during summer-autumn.
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: The avifauna of the Murgab valley, in particular around the Saryyazy reservoir, includes more than 200 species, including Pelecaniformes - 3, Anatinae - 11, birds of prey - 14, cranes - 1, Charadrii - 20, Laridae - 10, pigeons - 5, martins - 1, passerines - 95 species (Eminov, Kekilova, 1976). Non-bird biodiversity: The fauna of the IBA includes 22 species of fish (Aliev et al, 1994), 2 species of amphibian (green toad and lake frog), 28 species of reptiles (Shammakov, 1981) and more than 50 species of mammal. Typical reptiles of the sandy shore are Agrionemys horsfieldi, Trapelus sanguinolentus, Phrynocephalus interscapularis, Eremias grammica, Psammophis lineolatus, Eryx miliaris, Colubridae and cobra (Naja oxiana). Mammals include Vulpes cana, Vulpes corsac, Meriones libycus, M. meridianus, Rhombomys opimus, Spermophilopsis leptodactylus, Hemiechinus auritus, Lepus tolai, jerboas, porcupine and wild boar. The flora is that of sandy-desert and tugai with saxaul, tamarix, Calligonum, Ephedra, Salsola richteri and other bushes.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: The vicinities of the reservoir are used for low intensity grazing but it is expected that livestock numbers will grow in the future.
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture (30%) | rangeland/pastureland (10%) | water management (60%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | 34 | |
| Shrubland | 42 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 24 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Overgrazing, illegal hunting and fishing.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Agriculture & aquaculture | Livestock farming & ranching | Small-holder grazing, ranching or farming | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Aliev D.S., Sukhanova A.I., Shakirova F.M., Malahova T.V. (1994). Phytophagous fishes in Turkmenistan. Аshgabat.Ylym. (in russian). Dementyev P.G. (1952) Birds of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Proceedings of the Turkmen Academy of Sciences TSSR, Volume 1. 546p.(in russian). Rustamov A.K. (1985) Red Data Book of the TSSR. Ashgabat. Turkmenistan. (in russian). Rajapov M. R. (1999) Red Data Book of Turkmenistan. Volume 1. Invertebrates and vertebrate animals. Ashgabat.Turkmenistan. (in russian). Kuchuruk V., Tashlyev A.O. (1995) Mammals of Turkmenistan. Vol.1, Аshgabat,Ylym. (in russian). Kuchuruk V. (2005) Lagomorpha and rodents of deserts of Central Asia. Мoscow. GEOS. 328 p. (in russian). Rustamov A.K. (1958) Birds of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, Proceedings of the Turkmen Academy of Sciences TSSR, Volume 2. 333p. (in russian). Eminov A., Kekilova A.F. (1976) Preliminary data about spring migration of birds in valley of Murgab river. Birds migrations in Asia. Alma-Ata, 'Science'. (in russian).