Ramsar Sites of Turkey - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

(Cobitis sp.) are the leading fish species recorded in Lake Uluabat. There are records <strong>of</strong>
European eel (Anguilla angulla) being hunted in the past.
The most harvested fish is common rudd by 29.113 percent according to the fish stock
determination study in 2000. This species is followed by common roach (% 27.349),
silver bream (%16.681), Black Sea shad (% 11.681), vimba bream (% 5.054), common
bleak (%3.543), northern pike (% 3.148), Danube bleak (% 2.909), crucian carp (%
0.545), common carp (% 0.348), wels catfish (% 0.027), grey mullet (% 0.026),
common barbell (% 0.021) and tench (% 0.004) in row.
The population rate <strong>of</strong> economic fish species among those the lake supports is very low.
The population rate <strong>of</strong> economic fish species such as northern pike, common carp, wels
catfish, grey mullet and crucian carp is only 4.094 percent <strong>of</strong> all fish species. The rate <strong>of</strong>
carnivorous fish species is only 3.175 percent (almost 1/33), when the
carnivorous/noncarnivorous balance among the current fish species is considered. This
Amphibians and Reptiles
The site supports large numbers <strong>of</strong> marsh frog (Rana ridibunda) and grass snake (Natrix
natrix).
Birds
Due to being rich in food substance, located on the migration routes entering Anatolia
from northwest and very close (35km) t
areas, as well as its convenient climate conditions;; the site provides the bird species with
feeding, wintering and breeding possibilities. According to Mid-winter Waterbird Census,
the number <strong>of</strong> waterbirds is as followed: 429.423 in 1996, 288.452 in 1999, 30.441 in
2009 and 25.868 in 2010.
The site also supports globally threatened species <strong>of</strong> pygmy cormorant (Phalacrocorax
pygmeus), Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus), whiskered tern (Chlidonias hybridus)
and ferruginous duck (Aythya nyroca).
It is the most important breeding site for globally threatened pygmy cormorant in
<strong>Turkey</strong>. 1075 individuals in 1995 and 1072 in 2004 were recorded in the site. The site is
also one <strong>of</strong> the important feeding and wintering areas <strong>of</strong> Dalmatian pelican, another
globally threatened species and a population <strong>of</strong> 136 individuals were recorded in the site
in October 1994. Squacco heron, Eurasian spoonbill, little egret, night heron, purple
heron, marsh harrier, collared pranticole, spur-wing lapwing, black tern are the bird
species brooding in the site. Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus) winters in the site
during migration period.
Mammals
Eurasian otter, jackal, fox, badger and hare are the mammal species recorded in the
environment <strong>of</strong> Lake Uluabat.
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