Akpetky lakes and surrounding Aralkum Desert (29349)
Uzbekistan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2011
National site name: Akpetky lakes and surrounding Aralkum Desert
Central coordinates: Latitude: 43.6537, Longitude: 60.3735
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 49 to 59
Area of KBA (km2): 391.05716
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The Akpetky lake system is located 70 km to the north of Karauzyak village between the northwestern Kyzylkum and Aralkum in the area of the former Akpetky archipelago. Aralkum is a sand desert that has formed on the former Aral seabed. A number of salt oxbow lakes are located along the Kokdarya riverbed. Some of these are fairly deep (5-7 meters). The largest among them are Ashykul, Akshoky, Orda and Soraly. The lake system is fed by the KS-4 collector and the Kokdarya River. The water bodies have great fishery potential and are leased.
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 Akpetky lake system is quite varied. The site is proposed as an IBA based on the analysis of data collected during expeditions on 16-28 October 2010 and 9-17 June 2008, and data obtained by Matekova G.A. in 2007 and 2008. 156 species of bird have been recorded, of which 19 species are rare, with 17 species included in the Red Data Book of Uzbekistan (2006) and 8 in the IUCN Red List: Pelecanus onocrotalus, Pelecanus crispus, Phalacrocorax pygmaeus, Egretta garzetta, Plegadis falcinellus, Phoenicopterus roseus, Cygnus olor, Anser erythropus, Aythya nyroca, Oxyura leucocephala, Haliaeetus albicilla, Aquila heliaca, Aquila nipalensis, Aquila chrysaetos, Circaetus gallicus, Tetrax tetrax, Numenius arquata, Pterocles alchata, Coracias garrulus. Habitats (sandy desert and waterbodies)are in good condition as can be seen from the abundance of biome species. Of all of the desert and semi-desert biome IBAs, this site has the highest variety of biome species. Eleven biome species have been recorded and two others– Pallas’s Sandgrouse and Houbara Bustard – may breed but data is insufficient to confirm this. Non-bird biodiversity: The vegetation of the desert around the Akpetky lake system is sparse. Around the water bodies saltworts, camel's-thorn and tamarisk bushes can be found. Reedbeds between 3-7 metres deep surround the lakes within which there are patches of reed mace. There are numerous rush islets on the open parts of the lakes and islands in the shallows. In addition to birds, the following vertebrates are common: • 8 fish species: Channa argus, Ctenopharyngodon idella, Abramis brama, Silurus glanis, Carassius carassius, Cyprinus carpio. • Amphibians: Rana ridibunda. • Reptiles: Trapelus sanguinolentus, Phrinocephalus interscapularis, Eremias velox, Natrix tesselata. • 15 mammals: Lepus tolai, Mus musculus, Alactagulus acontion, Dipus sagitta, Allactaga elater, Meriones tamariscinus, Meriones meridianus, Meriones libycus, Ellobius tancrei, Canis lupus, Canis aureus, Vulpes vulpes, Felis chaus, Meles meles, Sus scrofa. In recent years Gazella subgutturosa has been regularly recorded. According to rangers the population is estimated to be approximately 50-60 individuals.
Other site values: The landowners are 2 fishery farms.
Delineation rationale: Coordinates and area of this IBA were calculated with ArcGIS.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Water bodies are used for commercial fishing. Due to the remoteness of the site (more than 70 km from the nearest settlement) cattle are not grazed.
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture (18%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Desert | 55 | |
| Shrubland | 10 | |
| Forest | 10 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 25 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: There are few threats at the site. 1. Weak control regulating hunting and fishing. 2. Overgrowing of water bodies by reed. About 20% of the open water is already overgrown. 3. The most significant threat is a total dependency on the water supply from the Kokdarya River.
| 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 |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Logging & wood harvesting | Unintentional effects: subsistence/small scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Only in the past and unlikely to return | |
| Climate change & severe weather | Droughts | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: 1. Matekova G., 2007. Report for the State Committee for Nature Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan on project 'Gathering and processing information and developing an electronic database of the State cadastre of the current status of flora and fauna, as well as water bodies in protected areas of the Republic of Karakalpakstan'. 2. Ten A., 2007. UzSPB report on a field survey of the Akpetky lake system and Zholdyrbas lake within the framework of the FAO project 'Importance of Akpetkin and Zholdyrbas Lakes for birds and biodiversity', 14-17 July 2008. 3. Ten A., 2007. UzSPB report on a field survey of the Akpetky lake system and Sarykamysh lake within the framework of the CLP-SOS project ' Research of 3 Potential IBAs with collaboration of students in Uzbekistan', 16 October – 3 November 2010. 4. IUCN Red List //www.iucnredlist .org 5. Red Data Book of Uzbekistan. V. 2. Animals. Tashkent, 2009. 6. Joldasova I.M. Passport of water bodies: Ashykol, Shatyk, Akpekey, Ortalykkol, Karabayly, Soraly, Karabes