Effects of hydrocarbons on reproductive physiology of the pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata

There are a lot of evidence that show hvdrocarbones cause some defect in reproduction and growth of bivalves. Bivalves are filter-feeder, thus accumulate more hydrocarbones in their tissue. In this study adult pearl producing oysters (Pinctada fucata) are used for all experimens. Samples of oysters, water and sediment from four natural beds; Nakhiloo (clean), Hendurabi (semipolluted), Lavan 1 (semipolluted) and Lavan 2 (polluted) were gatherd for 13 succesive months. Temperature, salinity, pH, oxygen and turbidity were recorded in each sampling. Oysters were kept in laboratory for adapation and then their length (DVM) were measured. Hemolymph samples were collected by insuline syring. Sediments and soft tissues of oysters were dissolved in carbon tetrachloride and when heated to extract oil hydrocarbones. UV, GC and IR were used to assay oil hydrocarbones. Accumulation of hydrocabones in soft tissue were as follows : Kakhiloo<Hendurabi< Lavan 1<Lavan 2 Regarding water, pollution in Lavan was more than Nakhiloo and Hendurabi, however due to water currents and closeness of Lavan 1 and Kakhiloo station to the coast pollution was less than Hendurabi. Results showed that there is not meaningful difference (P<0.05) between sexual hormones in males and femals. Concerning progesterone cycle, there are two peak of spawning in oysters, major one in late spring and minor one in mid fall. Little elevation of progesterone start gamete and a lot of elevation release gametes_ Esteradiols gradually increase during gametogenesis and reach to maximum level during vitellogenesis. Testosterone have a synergestic role which esteradiol during vitellogenesis and also is effective in male sexuality. Multi regression test showed that there isn't meaning relationship (P<0.05) between hydrocarbones pollution and esteradiols. However in Lavan 2 due to hormone concentration of hydrocarbones had some effect in sexual hormonal cycles. Turbidity was the most effective factor for releasing of progesterone. Progesterone was a stimulating factor for releasing estradiol also release of testosterone was corrolated with oxygen and depth of beds. One way analysis of variance showed that there is not significant relasionship (P<0.05) between different factory in stations

Pomacentrus tripunctatus (Cuvier, 1830)

Pomacentrus tripunctatus or Threespot damsel is a small tropical species that occurs in shallow coral reef waters. A shallow water species, solitary, in holes of small rocks on sandy bottom with coral rubbles, usually alone. P. tripunctatus is found in shallow bays and silty coastal reefs and other 'dead' areas, up to 3m deep. We report for the first time from Persian Gulf (Kish Island, Iran). Maximum length is 7 cm in Persian Gulf. They found at depths of from 2 to 6 m (in Kish Island, Iran). Adults inhabit shallow bays, silty coastal reefs and harbors with sparse coral and algal growth. Adults are brownish with darker scale margins. They have a large dark spot on the upper caudal peduncle. Juveniles are lighter in color and have a large, blue-margined black spot on the dorsal fin. P. tripunctatus is Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding. Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate. Males guard and aerate the eggs

Chaetodon melapterus (Guichenot, 1863)

Chaetodon melapterus also known as Black-finned Melon Butterflyfish, Blackfin Butterflyfish and Arabian Butterflyfish is a piscine so stunningly gorgeous, but we daren’t look directly at it lest we succumb to its spell. This species is usually found in coastal reefs rich in coral growth interspersed with sand patches. C. melapterus lives in coral rich areas of shallow coastal reefs; occasionally in aggregations. They feed exclusively on coral polyps and nothing else. Maximum length is 13 cm in Persian Gulf (Kish Island, Iran). It is found at depths between 2-16 m. C. melapterus are usually encountered in pairs, but sometimes observed in larger aggregations numbering in excess of 20 individuals. C. melapterus is oviparous breeders and monogamous, they form pairs during breeding. Monitoring of this species is needed in conjunction with coral monitoring, as well as determination of the degree of co-dependence between this species and corals. C. melapterus is not recommended for reefs as they will pick at or eat a wide variety of corals, fan worms, and other invertebrates. C. melapterus are known to pick at Aiptaisia, a parasitic anemone

Apogonichthyoides taeniatus (Cuvier, 1828)

Apogonichthyoides taeniatus also known as two belt cardinal and striped cardinalfish, this species was named: Apogon taeniatus and Apagon bifasciatus, but Apogonichthyoides taeniatus accepted now. It is a marine fish of subtropical climate and associated coastal reefs and mangroves. A. taeniatus is an extremely cryptic species. It is virtually never seen during the day. A. taeniatus also appears to be a very shallow water species. A. taeniatus is found in seagrass beds or areas with heavy algal growth. A. taeniatus is easily confused with A. pseudotaeniatus, which has a similar color pattern. A. taeniatus inhabits coastal shallow silty and mangrove areas and usually found at depths between 5–20 m. It can grow up to 5 cm maximum. We report for the first time from Iranian Waters) Persian Gulf, Kish Island), we found it at depth from 3 m, and Maximum length is 4 cm in Kish Island (Iranian Waters). Males incubate eggs in buccal cavity. Embryos do not feed externally in the buccal cavity. Distinct pairing during courtship and spawning. Internal fertilization and paternal care by mouth brooding is found to be a rare combination of reproductive strategy

Culcita novaeguineae (Müller & Troschel, 1842)

Culcita novaeguineae or cushion star is a species of starfish. It has short arms and an inflated appearance and resembles a pentagonal pincushion. It is variable in colour and can be found in tropical warm waters in the Indo-Pacific. C. novaeguineae is living coral reefs at reef edge and slope at depths of 1 to 20 m. We report for the first time from Bali Waters (Indonesia). This species has exhibited a slight preference for the coral Acropora spp. over Poccilopora spp. and Porities spp. A mature C. novaeguineae is pentagonal in shape with an inflated appearance and much-abbreviated arms. It can grow to a diameter of 30 cm. Rows of tube feet are on the underside, and it has a central mouth. The color is very variable and includes a mottling with darker and lighter shades of fawn, brown, orange, yellow and green. The armored body wall is made of calcareous ossicles which are supported internally by pillars which buttress the ambulacra. The armouring contains pits into which the tube feet can be retracted. The body cavity is filled with water. Small cushion stars are very different in appearance. They are star-shaped, with five short, broad arms and a low profile. As they grow, the inter-arm areas fill in and expand relative to the tube-feet areas, and the arms get shorter relative to the disc which becomes inflated and more massive

Pseudochromis nigrovittatus (Boulenger, 1897)

Pseudochromis nigrovittatus or Dottybacks are common inhabitants of coral reefs throughout the tropical Indo-West Pacific. P. nigrovittatus inhabits equally frequently mixed communities of macroalgae and hard corals and sparse hard coral communities on rock platform, including those dominated by Acropora, Porites, Galaxea. P. nigrovittatus was recorded from a depth range of 4–20 m. Maximum length is 8 cm in Persian Gulf (Iran, Kish Island). All dottybacks are hermaphrodites. The sexes are separate. There is a possibility of sexual dimorphism in P. nigrovittatus, such that males are usually bigger than females. Color and caudal fin morphology differences have also been observed. Dottybacks lay a demersal spherical egg of approximately 2–2.5 cm (300–500 embryos) in diameter, which is guarded by the male on the substrate until hatching. Reproductive behavior has been observed in pairs; before spawning, the male accompanies the female to the nest site. The spawning event takes between one to three hours depending on the species. Then, parental care is exclusively performed by the male until hatching. If appropriate tank conditions are maintained, spawning occurs every six days. Embryo development for both species lasts 96 h at 27°C. Newly hatched larvae are large (3.6–3.8 cm) and they start feeding the morning after hatching

Colletteichthys dussumieri (Valenciennes, 1837)

Colletteichthys dussumieri or Batrachus dussumieri or Austrobatrachus dussumieri as flat toadfish is a sedentary and solitary species that lives partly buried in soft sand and mud or concealed in rock crevices, in coral reefs or in sea grass or weedy bottoms and in tidal pools, where they function as ambush predators feeding. They prefer high saline waters and also experts in camouflage therefore flat toadfish lives in the demersal, marine environment. Size of C. dussumieri is 14 cm in Iranian Waters of Persian Gulf (Kish Island). Their ability to change color to lighter or darker shades at will and their mottled pattern makes them difficult to see Toadfishes are said to be quiet vicious and will snap at almost anything upon the slightest provocation. Toadfishes do not school, but they are gregarious and tend to congregate together. They have limited dispersal ability because of their demersal eggs which lack pelagic larvae. Compared to other fishes, they are sluggish in nature. This species is dimorphism and spawning only once in a year. Toadfish are well known for their ability to "sing", males in particular using the swim bladder as a sound-production device used to attract mates. Food: Colletteichthys dussumieri is feeding fish, prow, crab, isopod, squilla and mullasca

Tetrosomus gibbosus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Tetrosomus gibbosus, commonly called humpback turretfish, helmet cowfish, camel cowfish and thornbacked boxfish, is a species of boxfish native to the Indo-West Pacific. T. gibbosus is mainly found at depths of 37–110 m on slopes or over muddy bottoms, but can sometimes be seen near hallow seagrass beds also off the coral reef and in the contiguous submarine prairies, on the sandy and detrital. We report for the first time from Iranian Waters ) Persian Gulf, Kish Island), we found it at depth of 3m, and Maximum length is 30 cm in Kish Island (Iranian Waters). It reaches up to 30 cm in length, but is more common at around 20 cm. Like other boxfish, its flesh is poisonous and defending with the spines and poison. T. gibbosus is not a very good swimmer. The coloration varies from the sandy yellow to the blue, in the adult individuals. As for the Ostracion the skin emits defensive poisonous mucus, and in the small pools these toxins may aver fatal for the other fishes if it is repeatedly disturbed or if it passes away. T. gibbosus is a hermaphrodite protogynous species: which means that at the beginning all the animals are females and then, while growing, may transform into males. The humpback turretfish nourishes of sea-weeds, sponges, molluscs, worms and crustaceans it ferrets out on the bottom. The juveniles live in small schools, but the adults, apart the reproductive period, are usually solitary

Chaetodon nigropunctatus (Sauvage, 1880)

Chaetodon nigropunctatus or Black-spotted Butterflyfish inhabits shallow coral reefs and sandy lagoons rich in stony coral growth at depths between 3 - 15 m and feeds mainly on stony coral polyps. We report for the first time from Persian Gulf (Kish Island, Iran). Maximum length is 15 cm in Persian Gulf (Kish Island, Iran). C. nigropunctatus is indicator species for specific coral-feeding. The butterfly fish are found to be living both in groups and as an individual. They are found swimming in groups and sometimes they swim alone until they get a partner. C. nigropunctatus is oviparous breeders and monogamous, they form pairs during breeding. Spawning usually occurs at dusk. Females are often visibly distended with eggs when they are ready to spawn. The male swims behind and below the female, and here he uses his snout to nudge her abdomen. A common element among species seems to be an ascent into the water column to release gametes (eggs and sperm). After a few “false starts” the pair rises up into the water, the male’s snout against the female’s abdomen. They release a white cloud of gametes and rush back toward the bottom

Chromis viridis (Cuvier, 1830)

Chromis viridis (green chromis) is a species of damselfish. It is found in tropical and subtropical waters. C. viridis is encountered in wild specimens prefer to school in large shoals amongst branching corals like Acropora in sheltered areas such as subtidal reef flats and lagoons. We report for the first time from Iranian Waters) Persian Gulf, Kish Island), we found it at depth of 2-8 m, and Maximum length is 7 cm in Kish Island (Iranian Waters). Adults of this species can grow up to 10 cm at maximum length. When they are breeding, males turn more yellowish. The marriages are a pair matter, but they take place grouped. The males chose for the nest, a small dimple dug in the sand, the dead branch of madrepora or simply, one hospitable seaweed. Then they dance, moving up and down, like if they were jumping inside a virtual column of water, for attracting the attention of the females and show the competitors that is their place. Oviparous, distinct pairing during breeding. Eggs are demersal and adhere to the substrate. Males guard and aerate the eggs. Juveniles closely tied to individual coral heads