Benthos of Iranian parts of the Caspian Sea

The Caspian Sea, which accounts for 40 to 44% of the total lacustrine waters of the world, is still suspected to be referred to as a sea or lake. Because of high biodiversity in the Caspian Sea and its coastal zone, it is one of the most valuable ecosystems on the earth. As this region has been isolated from other water bodies for a long term, high level of endemism is remarkably evident in its fauna. The existence of shallow areas, several deep depressions, and a wide range of salinities varying from 0.1‰ to 13‰ provide different ecological niches, giving rise to high species diversity.里海（Caspian Sea）占全球湖泊总水量的40%至44%，但其归类至今仍存争议，常被称作海或湖。由于里海及其沿岸带拥有极高的生物多样性，它是地球上最具价值的生态系统之一。由于该区域长期与其他水体相互隔绝，其动物区系中展现出显著的高特有性（endemism）水平。浅水区、多处深洼地以及盐度范围介于0.1‰至13‰的宽泛区间，共同提供了多样的生态位，进而催生了极高的物种多样性。