Water quality determination in Khuzestan creeks, northwest of Persian Gulf using WQS Index

Water quality was studied in Mahshahr creeks from 2005-2006. Due to special characteristics of Mahshahr creeks, high fisheries potential and sever exploitation and human pressure, WQS index was selected for determination of ecological health status of the area. Eight creeks Ghannam, Zasngy, Doragh,Ahmady, Darvish, Patil, Ghazaleh and Bihad were selected and monthly sampling of physical and chemical parameters was done by bottle sampler. Six primary water quality parameters were used to develop an integrated measure of overall water quality. The parameters included Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD _(5)), Total nitrogen (TN), Total phosphorus (TP), pH and Ammonia (NH_3). The results of two ways ANOVA showed that differences were significant only for nitrite between seasons and for pH, ammonium, nitrite and total phosphorus between creeks. Based on index description, parameters pH, NH_ and DO were placed in grade five indicating good quality for water. Total nitrogen was in grade three indicating poor quality and BOD5 and total phosphor were in grade one showing bad quality for water. According to the index, high similarity was found in studied creeks and the total value was found to be 3.33 for the whole studied area, indicating poor water quality

Physico-chemical properties of water in shrimp hatcheries of Choebdeh (Abadan), south Iran

For assessing management efficiency in shrimp hatcheries of Choebdeh (Abadan), we surveyed the physico-chemical properties of water in two culture periods during the years 2001-2002. Different physical and chemical factors were measured in hatcheries under Thai and Philippine management methods. We measured factors such as salinity (17.9-35.3 ppt), BOD5 (6.12-8.72 ppm), DO (10.02-13.7 ppm), COD (4-98.9 ppm), NH3 (0-811A ppb), NO2 (10421 ppb), pH (8.04 -8.68), Turbidity (1-33 NTU), Ca (400.4-620.6 ppm), Mg (1104-1968 ppm), total hardness (6000-9400 ppm) and water temperature {25.4-32.4°C) while no amount of SH2 was found in the water samples. The results of this survey were compared with standard levels and safe ranges for aquaculture activities. Most factors were in standard range with only NH3 and NO2 showing a slight excess in some cases. An ANOVA test showed significant differences in levels of oxygen and COD of the tanks at different sampling times

Study on some physical and chemical characteristics of Shadegan Marsh

Sampling in 5 stations was carried out from July 1999 to June 2000. Water temprature, pH and EC were measured on site. Maximum water temprature was observed in July and August, and maximum level of dissolved oxygen occured in November and February. Range of pH was between 7.2 to 9.4, in acceptable range for aquatics. The results showed that Shadegan marsh is a hard and brackish water body. Dissolved oxygen level was more than 5 ppm in most of the cases, and is optimum for fish growth and reproduction. Amount of BOD5 was 3-10 ppm. COD levels showed an increase in Autumn. With respect to N.NO3 and N.NO2, the water could be considered as unpolluted water. According to the statistical analysis of data, Mansoreh and Ataysh stations showed the same water quality. Study in various years showed that water quality in Shadegan Marsh has been diminished, probably due to decreasing run off and increasing pollution in Shadegan Marsh

Assessment of heavy metals pollution in the sediments of Lifeh-Busaf (northwest of Persian Gulf) using Geo-accumulation Index

This study was carried out to investigate heavy metals concentration in the sediments of Lifeh and Busaf coastal waters. Four stations in the Khore-Mussa western coasts were sampled seasonally from winter 2006 to autumn 2007. Concentration of Hg was measured using Voltammeter and other metals were analyzed using Polarography method. The mean concentrations were 68.8 for Zn, 23.5 for Pb, 21.8 for Cu, 12.8 for Co, 2.14 for Cd, 73.6 for Ni and 0.19 for Hg in mg/kg. According to the concentration results we ranked the heavy metals as: Ni > Zn > Pb > Cu > Co > Cd > Hg. Based on Muller geochemical index (Mgeo), sediment quality for Pb and Hg is in class II (moderately polluted) and for other metals is in class 0 (unpolluted). The similarity between stations and different parameters were demonstrated using PCA and Clustering analyses. Although significant differences were not observed between the studied stations, but PCA analysis of heavy metals concentrations showed some similarity and differences between them. These similarities might be linked to geochemical characters of sediments and the nature of water currents in the study area

Investigation of non red tide occurrence causes in Khuzestan coastal waters

The monitoring of the harmful Alga blooms (Red tide) in the Khuzestan coastal waters Provinces was carried out monthly at 5 stations during 2010 to 2011. The results revealed that, Coclodinum polykrikoides blooms was not occurred during investigation times, Phytoplankton composition species were included of 45 species of diatoms (%91), 9 species of Dinoflgellates (7. 52%) and Cyanophytes with one species (1.88%). Furthermore significant different values of nutrients were recorded. Different values of NH4 were measured for different months. In total, the measured ratio of N: P in all months were lower than Redfield Ratio (16:1) in which subsequently the environmental condition was not suitable for bloom of C. polykrikoides

Heavy metals contaminant evaluation in sediments of Khour-e-Musa creeks, northwest of Persian Gulf

Surface sediments contamination to heavy metals was evaluated in eight creeks of Mahshahr coastal waters (north-west of the Persian Gulf) from October. 2005 to November 2006. Sediments were collected seasonally by Peterson grab and the concentrations of heavy metals were measured using voltammetry and polarography methods. The range and the mean concentrations obtained in mg/kg were 15.03-35.16 (27.01) for Cu, 65.57-171.41 (102.67) for Ni, 4.63-20.06 (13.22) for Co, 0.093-0.78 (0.22) for Hg, 65.07-379 (113.70) for Zn, 0.27-1.00 (0.56) for Cd and 7.09-29.72 (14.66) for Pb. The background values for different heavy metals were calculated and the contamination factor for each metal and the degree of contamination for each creek we.re determined as well. Measured concentrations were compared with international standards. According to the contamination factor (Cf), the concentration of some elements such as Hg, Zn, and Ni were at risk level; according to the degree of contamination (Cd), all of the studied creeks could be classifieds moderately polluted except for Ghannam that showed a considerable degree of contamination

Species composition monitoring in artificial reefs area in Khuzestan coastal waters

This study was carried out in continuation of previous studies on artificial reefs monitoring in Khozestan coastal waters. The main purpose was the zoo species composition on and around the artificial reefs. Sampling was done from May 2012 to April 2013, from 4 stations in artificial reefs area. Reef structures were sampled by scuba diving. Physical and chemical parameters were measured and water quality status was determined by using WQS index. Zooplankton and macrozooplankton communities were sampled by 100 and 300 micrometer mesh size nets respectively. Benthic animal's samples from sediments around of the reefs body were collected by Ekman grab. Sediment characters, TOM and grain size were analyzed by using ignition loss and size series sieves methods respectively. Secondary production of macrobenthic animals based on dominant species length classes was estimated. Ichthyological information recorded by diver (census and video recording) and Gargoor traps were used for fishing effort calculation .Except for nitrite parameter (p<0.05) in different stations and silica parameters (p<0.05) in different months, other parameters were not shown significant differences in studied stations and months. The mean of zooplankton density was (914±52) N/m^3 and the Copepoda species were the most abundant group (235 ±10) N/m^3.Anosim analysis showed no significant differences in reefs specie composition. Different Crustacean groups were included more than 82 percent of macrozooplanktons communities. Among macrozooplankons, the mean density of decapoda, branchiopoda and copepoda were 302, 296 and 191.5 N/m3 respectively. The mean density of macrobenthic animals was 418±90.26 N/m^2 and mollusk, crustacean and polychaets were the most abundant benthic animals respectively. During the study period, total macrobenthos biomass 11.37 g-wet/m^2 and its mean value 2.84 g -wet /m^2, were estimated. Annual production for polychaets and crustacean groups 154g-wet/m^2 and 182 g-wet/m^2 were estimated respectively. Annual production of total macrobenthic animals was about 675 g-wet/m^2/y. According to sediment analysis, the range of silt-clay (8.7-95.6)% and seasonal mean TOM (4.47-13.25)% were calculated in studied stations. According to attached organisms biomass (wet weight), Cnidarian Anthozoa class with (88)% was the most abundant and then sponge (10)%, Cnidarian Hydrozoan class and arthropoda each one with 1% were included total attached organisms. Due to high biomass of Anthozoa species the most abundant mean was observed in spring season. The Malacostraca group especially Crustacean (72)% was the main mobile animals on reef bodies and then Echinodermata (Ophiurida and marine Orchids) (18)%, Mollusca (Bivalves and Gastropods) (4)% and Polychaets (3)% were the main mobile organisms. The range of Shannon diversity index was (3.22-3.46) and (2.44-3.38) in studied stations and months respectively. Totaly in studied area, the number 15 fishes species were observed and Sparidae family with 3 species were the diverse fish family. The fish Hamour (Epinephelus coiodes,Seranidae) (87)% was presented in all studied months and stations. After Hamour the Neopomacentrue sindensis and Diplodus sargus Kotschyi were the most abundant fishes. The maximum and the minimum of hamour catch per unit effort were in reef B in spring and reef C in autumn respectively .Data comparing showed that except for nitrite the other physical and chemical parameters were observed in the same range by 2005-2007 study. According to obtained results, Zoo communities in different part of ecosystem showed greater diversity than to past years and in comparing to mudflat coastal waters in Khozestan waters, new ecosystem has been created in the region. High diversity of different animal groups that were disperses in water column in early phases of its life and need to settlement to substrate to continuing the life were observed in area. Attached animals plays an important role in biological and ecological characters in the coastal area

Artificial reefs monitoring in Khuzestan coastal waters

This research was done to study on communities' strucure of benthic animals' growth on artifitial reefs, constructed in Hendijan coastal waters in khozestan in Nort west Persian Gulf. The seasonal sampels of attached organisms were collected from spring to winter during 2010 year study.One station (D) in older and three stations (A, B, C) in newer reef site were selected.Random sampling was carriedout by using quadrat (25×25) via diving. During survey, the number of 59 species of attached animals belong to 13 animal groups, including, 9 species of cnidarian, 8 species of spoges, 7 species of Gastropoda, 8 species of Bivalve, 4 species of polychaet and 17 species of Crastacean were identified. In studied artifitial reef apoint of biomass, softcoral were dominant group which include 92% of total biota, and the species Plumarella sp. is the dominant species. However, apoint of abundance the species pisidia sp. from anomura crabs was the most abundant species especially in station A and D. Different kind of Cnidarian such as Dendronephthya sp., Sarcophyton sp. And Lobophyllia sp. was observed in station D for the first time. The polychates, Mollusk and some of crustacean and Echinodermata species were observed in lower abundance in comparision with previous studies. This results show that communities have been changed along time. According to MDS analysis, based on Bray-Curtis similarity, different stations presented seasonal variation based on identified species-biomass. Clustering analysis based on mean biomass indiffernt seasons explained that. Station D in 55%, station B in 75% and staton A and C in 80% similarity were Seperated. According to obtained results, there were not signifidant differences between station that can be caused by similarity in structural characteristics such as bottom slope and age of reefs. The mean abundance in spring was significantly high than other seasons. Which can be caused due to bioticfactos such as life cycle and reproduction season? In this research, fish communities accord to recorded information by visual consus and fisheries Traps arund the reefs, hare been increasing. In present study with increasing biomass in the biotic communities on artificial reefs enhancement of fish stock most be expected. These substrates can be reduced the pressure on destructed which is the opportunity for rehabilitation. In present study with increasing biomass in the biotic communities on artificial reefs enhancement of fish stock most be expected. These substrates can be reduced the pressure on destructed which is the opportunity for rehabilitation. The most frequent and abundant fish species was Epinephelus sp. This species was presented in all stations and seasons. The other abundant fish species were Scolopsis sp.,Epinephelus coioides, Diplodus sargus and Neopomacentrue sp.

Ecological study on rearing shrimp ponds (Litopenaeus vannemei) in Choebdeh Abadan

Following to introduce Vannamei shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) into Iran aquaculture industries by fisheries organization its postlarvae were successfully reared in ponds in Bushehr and Choebdeh in Khuzestan. Due to activity of Shrimp site and importance of input and output water quality, this study was done in 11 stations including: two stations in Bahmanshir river, two station in C4 and C5 irrigation canals, six staions in active farms along C4 cannel (Yonesi, Mosavei and Salman Zadeh), and C5 cannel (Mohamadi, Khairi and Ashraf Por) and one staion in output draing were selected. Sampling were carried out from May2009 befor beginning stocking to harvest time in October 2009. Physico- chemical parameters and plankton sampled biweekly and benthic animals and heavy metals were sampled monthly. Some parameters such as pH and temperature by using portable multy parameters and others. Analyzed with standard methods. Heavy metals were measured by plarography method (797 Vamtro). Plankton and benthos samples were studied only in Bahmanshir station. According to results the maximum values for DO (11.1 ppm) PO4 (1.86 ppm) NO3 (8.4 ppm) and TSS (4992 ppm), pH (8.4) NO2 (0.18 ppm) BOD5 (9.06 ppm) were measured. In comparison to aquaculture water quality standards except for TSS in river stations others are located in allowable range. We didn’t observed any main changes in water quality from river to output drainage. The results of biotic parameters in river stations showed that diatoms were the most group of phytoplanktons. Zooplankton groups were Copepods, Rotifera and Protozoa. Tintinids and Nematoda larvae were the most abundant zooplankton. Benthic animals were included nine crustacean species and two annelid species. Isopods with 52% were the most and ant group