Morphology and phylogeny of Scrippsiella trochoidea (Dinophyceae) a potentially harmful bloom forming species isolated from the sediments of Iran’s south coast

Phytoplankton cells and resting cysts of the species Scrippsiella trochoidea are regular and dominant components of the dinoflagellate flora of coastal marine waters and sediments around the world. This species is a common harmful bloom forming species in coastal waters. In this study, for the first time cyst of S. trochoidea were isolated from the sediments of southeast coast of Iran. Five strains from the germination of a single cyst belonged to S. trochoidea. In order to confirm identification of the species an excystment and encystment experiment, cyst and germinated cell morphology and plate pattern by light and electron microscopy (SEM) have been described. The nucleotide sequences of two highly diverse regions, the rDNA-ITS 1,2 and 5.8S-rDNA have been sequenced for all strains. Homologous sequences from GenBank with five Iranian strains were compared to find their phylogenetic relationship. Both NJ and MP phylogenetic and morphological analysis showed five strains of S. trochoidea from Iran were clustered with previously described S. trochoidea and Calciodinellum levantinum species, and its closest relationship was with Scrippsiella sp. strain with a 1.2-1.4% sequence divergence. Results indicate that molecular studies of rDNA if combined with morphological cyst and vegetative cells could be a valuable approach to identification and taxonomy of calciodinelloideae dinoflagellate

The distribution and diversity of dinoflagellate cysts in sediments of Gwatar Bay (Northeast Gulf of Oman)

Most dinoflagellate produce resting cysts during their sexual lifecycle as well as under unfavorable environmental conditions and from water column settle in the sediments substratum. The evaluation of diversity and distribution of dinoflagellate cysts is very important in environmental studies, because cysts act as seed in sea bed that can cause red tide with excystment. This study was performed to determine the diversity and distribution of dinoflagellate cysts in the sediments of Gwatar Bay in 2013 by sediments sampling from five stations. Sediment sampling was made by Ekman grab with covering area of 0.225 square meters with three replicates at each station in two seasons before and after the monsoon. In total of sampling 16 samples in species levels belonging to 9 genera of dinoflagellate cysts were identified. The highest and lowest abundances are related to the genus Protoperidinium (52%) and the genus Zygabikodinium (1%), respectively. The results showed the average dinoflagellate cysts diversity from 2.22 before monsoon have decreased to 2.06 after monsoon

Short communication: The first report of Amphipholis squamata (Delle Chiaje, 1829) (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea) from Chabahar Bay – northern Oman Sea

Amphipholis squamata is an important Ophiuroid species belonging to the family Amphiuridae which is widely used in biotechnological and molecular studies. It is a cosmopolitan species and capable to inhabit a wide variety of habitats except the polar regions, from subtidal zone to the depth of 2000 meters. ... In the present study, Amphipholis squamata was reported for the first time from the subtidal zone of Chabahar Bay in northern part of the Oman Sea. This paper also provides information about the taxonomy and morphology of this group of aquatic taxa dwelling in the marine waters of the Iranian coasts of Chabahar Bay and the Oman Sea

The first phylogenetic study of Goniobranchus annulatus (Mollusca: Nudibranchia) in subtidal area of Chabahar, Oman Sea, Iran, based on sequence of cytochrome oxidase C subunite I gene

Nudibranches are the largest group of Hetrerobranches, (a sub-branch of Opisthobranchia) and are widespread and cosmopolitan species. They vary in shape and colors and occur in all waters from intertidal to deep sea zones and from polar to the tropics regions. Nudibranches are subdivided in two main groups including Anthobranchia and Cladobranchia. In the present study, based on morphology the studied species was identified as Goniobranchus annulatus that belong to Anthrobranchia group. In molecular analysis the sequences of the partial mitochondrial COI gene of Goniobranchus annulatus species from Iran with 15 similar sequences of nudibrnaches from gene bank were compared. Phylogenetic based on Neighbor_joining analyze showed a monophyly relationships between families of nudibranches and also revealed that Goniobranchus vibratus is a sister taxa to the Gonidbranchus annulatus from Iran Goniobranchus annulatus with 100% bootstrap support

The first study of the phylogenetic relationships of three rare species of Blenniids (Fishes: Blenniidae) from Makoran Coast based on the gene sequencing of Cytochrome Oxidase 1

In order to assess the phylogenetic relationships of three rare species belonging to tribe Parablenniini was carried out, along the Coast of Oman Sea. Based on the type of habitats the specimens of Blenniid were collected from three sampling sites in the intertidal zones by Scoop and hand net in low tide and in sub-tidal zones by scuba diving and hand from 3, 6, 9, and 12m depths in September to March 2013. Totally 30 fish samples collected and deposited to the lab for further investigation. Based on the available identification keys and morphometric characters three species of Parablennius cornutus, Parabelennius pilicorn, Scartella emarginata were identified. DNA was extracted from the basal tissue of the first dorsal fin, subsequently by using a specific fish primer 700 bp of Cytochrome Oxidase C subunit 1 (CO1)was amplified in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced. After comparison of Iranian Blenniid species CO1 sequence with sequence of 25 species from GenBank, was concluded that Iranian species are paraphyletically in the clade Parablenniini and sub-clads of Scartella and Parablennius. Since the relationship of Parablennius with other blenniids is the subject of many studies to resolve the conflicts and ambiguities among them we selected these genera to investigate the sister group relationship among them as well as other genera and clads. This is the first time that morphologic and molecular study of the two genera Parablennius and Scartella have been carried out in Iran

The cyst-motile stage relationship of three Protoperidinium species from south-east coast of Iran

Resting cyst and motile thecate cell stages of three heterotrophic Protoperidinium oblongum, Protoperidinium sp. and Protoperidinium claudicans were assessed. Cysts were isolated from sediment collected from southeast coast of Iran. Individual live cysts were incubated under optimal conditions for germination. Results showed that Protoperidinium oblongum cysts were pentagonal smooth walled and three cysts of this species were identified from Iranian sediment. The germinated cell of P. oblongum was colourless and elongated pentagonal in shape. P. claudican theca cell has a pointed antapical horn with a four sided apical plate. Protoperidinium sp. had dark brown pentagonal cyst. Its germinated cell differed from other Protoperidinium species. Two divergent distally antapical horns formed 90˚ between the horn and Posterio-lateral of main body edge, thus, comprising a unique species in the Protoperidinium genus. This kind of antapical horn has not been previously reported among Protoperidinium spp

Identification of two Ophiuroidea species in intertidal zone of Chabahar bay along Oman Sea coast

Among the echinoderms, the Ophiuroidea comprise the most diverse class with more than 2,000 species. They occur in nearly any marine habitat, ranging from the poles to the equator and are distributed from the tidal zone down to several thousand meters of depths. Often, their similar morphology makes their species identification difficult. The present study was conducted in order to identify and evaluate the species-spectra of ophiuroids in the Chabahar Bay. Samples were collected from the intertidal zone of Tis port in the west of Chabahar in October 2013, where coarse sediments and pebbles dominate. The samples were examined in the laboratory based on several factors including dorsal and ventral disc and arms. Two representatives of the family Ophiothrichidae were identified: Ophiothrix savgnyi and Macrophiothrix elongata

Comparison of different nitrogen compounds in three different environments of the Gwatar shrimp farms complex in the Gwatar Gulf region (Baluchestan-Iran)

This study aimed to investigate the quality of effluent water of a large shrimp farming complex in Chabahar region in Sistan and Baluchestan province (Iran). Fifteen sampling stations were designated in three distinct areas of these farms; i.e. the water supply canal, the drainage canal and the receiving area of the farm effluents in Gwatar Gulf. Water samples were taken from June to December 2004 for measurement and monitoring of nitrate, nitrite and ammonia compounds. The results revealed that the shrimp farms effluents have a profound effect on the water quality and aquatic environment of the drainage canal and the Gwatar Gulf. The average concentration of nitrate, nitrite and ammonia remained considerably higher in the drainage canal and Gwatar Gulf compared to the supply canal throughout the study. The amount of these compounds increased considerably in the drainage canal during the final stages of culture period and in Gwatar Gulf at post monsoon. The results of one way analysis of variance (at P<0.01 level) showed that all physical and chemical factors except water temperature were significantly different between stations. Considering that more than 25% of the shrimp farms of this complex were active during this study the measured values of nitrate, nitrite and ammonia compounds in the effluents were at the optimum range recommended for the shrimp farms