مطالعه تغييرات درون گونه اي چنگر (Fulica atra) در تالاب هاي شمال ايران

A Study on intraspecific variations of coot {Fulica atra) in three wetlands of the Northern Iran

A study was conducted to determine intraspecific variation of Coots, based on morphologic and skeletal characters, in three important wetlands of the northern Iran. The wetlands were Anzali, Ferydoon Kenar and Gomishan located at South West, South Central and Eastern Caspian Sea, respectively. Numbers of collected samples were 32, 17 and 17 from wetlands Anzali, Gomishan and Ferydon Kenar respectively. The Sum of samples was 66 numbers. Then 11 morphologic and 23 skeletal characters were measured and samples compared with each other. Means for 19 skeletal and 10 morphologic characters were statistically highly significant between 6 groups (3 Sites and 2 Sexes); (P<0.01). Also results of discriminant analysis revealed that coots of studied wetlands could be separated with respect to 11 morphologic and 23 skeletal characters (P<0.05). It was concluded that migration populations who visit these three wetlands are different and separate. Wintering populations of Coot individuals have decreased in wetlands of Iran in recently decades. On the other hand, the migration populations of these wetlands are separate. Therefore these populations need to specific management programs. Environment managers of Iran should take actions for population restoration before critical decreasing of birds.