Distribution, diversity and abundance of fish species in the Madarsoo River, Golestan National Park, Iran

To assess the effects of two flooding events occurred in the years 2001 and 2002, fish distribution, diversity and abundance in Madarsoo River of the Golestan National Park were studied and compared to that of the years before the events. A total of five fish species from four sites were collected. Assemblage of fish population showed changes in their overall relative abundance and distribution across sampling sites and times. We estimated the abundance of Capoeta capoeta gracilis at 2.331:2.6, Alburnoides bipunctatus at 0.17±0.15, Paracobitis malapterura at 0.0474±0.031 and Leuciscus cephalus at 0.005±0.01 fish per square meter of the stream. The abundance of Cc.gracilis showed significant increase while that of the A. bipunctatus did not undergo such significant change in comparison with the data from the years before flooding events (P<0.01). The Shannon diversity index was significantly different between sites and with the increase in the number of riffles and pools in the river, the index and population size of the fish species showed an upward trend. Three fish species Oncorhynchus mykiss, Neogobius melanostomus affinis and Neogobius fluviafilis which were abundant before the floods did not show up in the samples at all. Also, of the Barbus mursa, only one specimen was caught. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) results suggest that two species C. c. gracilis and P. malapterura are more resistant against changes in environmental conditions

Sex ratio and length determination at the onset of maturity of rock oyster Saccostrea cucullata in the Oman Sea

Sex ratio and length at maturity in the rock oyster, Saccostrea cucullata was studied in the Iranian shores of Oman Sea. Monthly sampling was conducted 10 stations within one year period (March 1996 to February 1997). Results indicated that sex ratio is 1:1. Among the first matured age groups, nearly 67 percent of the samples were male and 33 percent were female. With increasing size, the percentage of females were increased, indicating a protandric nature. More than 50 percent of the samples were matured when their length exceeded 36 mm. Smallest matured specimen had a length of 22 mm

Metal concentrations in razor clam Solen dactylus (Von Cosel, 1989) (Bivalvia: Solenidae), sediments and water in Golshahr coast of Bandar Abbas, Persian Gulf

In a complementary field study, the concentrations of some metals (Cu, Ag, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Mn, Fe, As, Cd, Cr, Mg and Ba) were measured in clam Solen dactylus, sediments and water collected at two stations (Park-e-Qadir, 56° 20/ E, 27° 11/ and Nakhl-e-Nakhoda, 56° 23/ E, 27° 10/ N) of Bandar Abbas coastal waters of the Persian Gulf in November 2008 and February 2009 showing different contamination levels. Although there is little information on metal concentrations in macro-benthic animals in this area, this study, for the first time, reports the accumulation of some metals in S. dactylus in order to introduce this species as a bioindicator for this area. Results indicated that Mg and Fe were the two most abundant metals in clams and sediments. The maximum and minimum metal concentrations in clams belonged to Mg (3850-5040 µgg-1 dry wt) and Ag (0.30-0.40-0.58 µgg-1 dry wt), respectively. There was a significant relationship between the accumulation of metals in clams, sediment and water samples. A significant relationship between clam lengths and concentrations of Cu (positive) and Mg (negative) were observed. Our study also showed that variable metal concentrations were related to different sampling stations, seasons and their interactions as well. Bioaccumulation of metals in clams was significantly different for eight metal elements between start of the gametogenesis and ripeness stages. Our investigation indicated that the clam S. dactylus could be a useful bioindicator for Zinc

Short communication: A study of food consumption of the deepwater goby, Ponticola bathybius (Kessler, 1877), during spring migration in the southern Caspian Sea

The gobies exhibit a main role in the general production of the Caspian Sea due to their species diversity and unexploited stocks. So, of the 80 fish species known from Iranian part of the Caspian Sea, 10 of them are gobies. The deepwater goby, Ponticola bathybius (Kessler, 1877), Gobiidae, is a native species in the Caspian Sea which settles on sandy and shelly substrates and, in a few numbers, on firm silt down to 75 meters. The presence of predators such as Acipenseridae and prey items as Clupeonella sp. could be effective in the abundance of gobies. Gobies fishes are known as the great consumers of food resources and the considerable competitors for other species. ... In Iranian coastal waters of the Caspian Sea, there are differences in some important ecological factors including substrate type, slope and light intensity which may affect the prey community. Therefore, this study was carried out to compare dietary composition of P. bathybius at three different localities (Bandar-e-Anzali, Salmanshahr and Miankaleh) along the southern Caspian Sea coastal waters

Studying distribution and biology of Neogobius caspius in Guilan province coasts (south Caspian Sea)

The Caspian goby, Neogobius caspius, is an endemic species of Gobiidae family in the Caspian Sea and it has ecological importance (as food for Caspian commercial fish such as sturgeons). The main aims of this study are, studying distribution, length, weight and age structure, sex ratio, diet, reproduction biology and morphological characters of this species in Guilan coast at waters of the Caspian sea and the sampling has been done monthly from Oct. 2005 to Sep. 2006 in 4 station from Astara to Chaboksar, with bottom trawl which had 12.5 meter length, 4.7 meter gape width and 2 mm mesh size in code end. The results showed N. caspius abundance is 9.82±11.93% of Gobiids and 7.92±10.10% of total fish numbers sampled in the study area (13824 specimens belong to 16 fish species) and there were significant differences among stations and seasons. CPUA of N.Caspius was estimated 52.5±105.9 ind/hec and 412.7±770.7 g/hec and there were significant differences among stations and seasons. Maximum body weight, total length and age were measured 65.10 g, 176 mm and 6 years old with an average 8.74±9.9 g, 84.83±28.4 mm and 1.83 years old, respectively and maximum age of males and females was 6 and 5 years old respectively and there were significant differences among stations and seasons and between sexes. It was estimated algometric growth model from length-weight regression, coefficient of K Von Bertalanffy growth model was estimated 0.42 and 0.68 in male and female, respectively. Sex ratio was 1.27 female to 1 male. Coefficient vacuity, relative gut length and intensity of 169 fullness were 8.72%, 0.76±0.17 and 267.7±263.3 for, respectively and Caspian goby fed on 30 different prey consist Zooplanktons (8 types), Benthic animals (15 types) and fishes (7 types) and young and yearlings have fed mainly mixed food (zooplankton and benthic animals) and adults on zoobenthose. Gammarids, Bivalvia, Cumaceae and Vormes constituted 44.7, 38.9, 24.8 and 19.7 % of prescence in full-gutted samples respectively, they were mainly preys (number and weight), hence this species is considered as euryphagus, carnivorous, benthphagus species. It was determined, Caspian goby spawns from March until last June, males and females take part in spawning in 2.8g and 65 mm and 1.3 g and 52 mm, respectively. Length at 50% maturity (LM50) was 80.2 and 77.5 mm in males and females, respectively. Maturity took place at 2 years old for both sexes, too. The absolute fecundity was estimated 109-1350 (451.6±216.3) eggs and relative fecundity 18-80 (36.8±9.2) eggs per one grams of body weight and diameter of ripe eggs was measured 1.31-2.60 (2.18±0.19) mm. Morphologically, there were 15 morphologically significant statistical differences between males and females and 15 differences among stations, sexual dimorphism was observed, too

Limnological survey of Anzali Wetland data during 1990-2003 by use of GIS system

Anzali wetland at south west of Caspian located along of North West and southeast and with its unique feature were add on the Ramsar convention list in 1975. There were recorded a high rich of fauna and flora including 276 plant species, 23 reptiles and amphibians, 60 fishes, 26 mammals and 195 birds. Anzali wetland were encountered with numerous disorder with the eutrophication and the early dismissing. The first studies on Anzali wetland started by many international institutions in 1964. In this study the data of biotic and abiotic factors in Anzali wetland analyzed which belongs to different sites (15 to 38 stations) during 1991 to 2000 and were sampled seasonally or monthly in different years. The results showed the increasing trend of phytoplankton abundance from 7.9 to 66 million C./l. and the western part had the most abundant. The Cyanophyta had the most development than other 7 phylum observed in the area. In Anzali wetland identified 143 phytoplankton genus that 9 genus dominated in more than 80 % replicates and 7 genus had the abundance of more than 5 million cell/l. The Zooplankton abundant increased from 580 to 2200 ind./l. The Rotatoria had the most abundant followed by Copepoda. There was identified 104 zooplankton genus that 5 genus were dominated in more than 80 % replicates and 11 genus had the abundance of more than 30 ind./L. The chlorophyll a varied from 8.8 to 50.2 μg/l. and had a increasing trend after 1996, meanwhile it was measured higher than 25 μg/l in most of the stations. The results of benthic study showed that the Chironomidae and Tubificidae were observed more than other organisms which comprised 12.2 to 23.5% of total biomass of benthic organisms in studied period. The range of biomass was 1.1 to 7.8 g/m2. The ichthyologic survey showed presence of 60 species that 11 species were exotic. 28 species belong to freshwater, 17 species were anadromous and 8 species were resident in estuary. The highest and lowest fish catch were 640 and 288 ton in 1994 and 1999 respectively and it was about 500 ton at the end of period. The hydrochemical factors had the various fluctuation so that the nutrients parameters had a significant difference over studied period. Total nitrogen was varied from 0.78 to 1.41 mg/l and total phosphorus varied from 0.05 to 0.1 μg/l.. The oxygen dissolved amount was from 4.6 to 8.7. EC was between 3 to 5 ms/cm during September and October that indicated of Caspian water projection. According to geographic position of station, all biotic and abiotic data, were arranged. The data bank is used by Idrisi software to produce of necessary maps. Analysis of data showed that there must be a responsible department with a vast authority. Conservation and eutrophication prevention of Anzali wetland connect to special attention to catchment area and landuse management of the wetland. Also there is an urgent need for well-developed technologies and managements to reduce the organic pollution and its environmental impacts on the Anzali Lagoon