Diversity and distribution of octocorals and scleractinians in the Persian Gulf region

  This thesis reviews the available coral studies in the Persian Gulf at a large scale, discusses the environmental challenges for corals in the context of climate change, and expands our knowledge of coral biodiversity and biogeography of the region, highlights the remaining gaps in our knowledge and goes on to provide recommendations for further research. This is of special importance given recent international interest in the region as a harbinger of coral adaptation to climate change as the impacts to the global environment, human society and the economy unfold.  This thesis was accomplished with support from Naturalis Biodiversity Center (Martin Fellowship, A.M. Buitendijkfonds, J.J. Pelkwijkfonds), KNAW (Schure-Beijerinck-Poppingfonds), and Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, Census of Marine Life.Animal science

Development of a new system for improving blastability by using the Fuzzy Delphi AHP method

Blastability is one of the most important and effective parameters in open pit mining, which is closely related to rock mass, environmental conditions, and explosion systems. To investigate blastability, many classification systems have been proposed so far, each of which has expressed some of the parameters affecting the blasting according to environmental conditions and based on empirical judgments. Therefore, the factors affecting blastability can be identified and determined according to theories and environmental conditions. Due to the necessity and presentation of a classification system to investigate the blastability of the Sangan iron ore mines project, by studying and examining each of these factors, in this paper, this classification system was presented and introduced. For this purpose, according to the response received from a questionnaire sent to experts around the world and using the fuzzy Delphi Hierarchical Analysis (FDAHP) method, the weighting of each of the factors affecting the proposed classification system was performed and finally, a new classification system was introduced to optimize blastability classification

Detecting coral bleaching, using QuickBird multi-temporal data: A feasibility study at Kish Island, the Persian Gulf.

Coral bleaching events have become more frequent and intense worldwide and speculated to be a severe threat for coral survival in future. The Persian Gulf, as one of the warmest seas, has also experienced coral mortalities and bleaching events. Historically, bleaching events are known to occur south of the Persian Gulf, such information is scarce in the northern side. Perhaps remoteness and inaccessibility to Iran main coral communities which have developed on offshore islands can explain such lack of data. To address this issue, the feasibility of using multi-temporal satellite images for detecting past bleaching events were investigated. Two QuickBird images (2005, 2008) were selected to detect 2007 bleaching event at Kish Island, Iran, and the accuracy of results were compared to in situ observations. Current study might represent “algae-challenged” scenario in terms of having 7 months' time lapse between bleaching event and post-bleaching satellite image. As a result of this, we had algae-covered corals instead of white bleached corals. In the proposed procedure pre and post-bleaching images were classified, and changes in reflectance values within coral classes were interpreted as bleaching areas. By using this method we could eliminate the effect of miss-classification between bleached corals and sand; as well as algae-covered corals and live corals. Furthermore, it is not necessary to have a post-bleaching image acquired during bleaching events, although having such image will increase the accuracy. The proposed technique detected ∼28% of bleached corals and the results support the idea that coral bleaching can be distinguished by detecting the changes in reflectance values in pre and post-bleaching images. Understanding the occurrence, severity, and extent of past bleaching events may help us understand the population dynamics of Iran corals and reveal coral connectivity patterns in the Persian Gulf

Short-Lived Aggregations of Filograna/Salmacina Tube Worms in the Gulf of Oman

Dense aggregations of serpulid worms were encountered in the Daymaniyat Islands (Gulf of Oman) from 10 to 20 m depth, over the period January–March, 2021. The species responsible for these aggregations belongs to the Filograna/Salmacina-complex (Annelida: Serpulidae). This species has been present in the area and observed along the Oman coastline, but high-density aggregates like this have not been reported before. The most probable cause of the aggregations, supported by field observations and Aqua-MODIS satellite data, was natural eutrophication with a subsequent algal bloom linked to the local winter monsoon. This observation emphasises the importance of documenting biodiversity and dynamics of reef communities along the Oman coastline

Aggregations of a Sessile Ctenophore, Coeloplana sp., on Indo-West Pacific Gorgonians

We document the benthic ctenophores Coeloplana sp. and Vallicula multiformis from Oman, extending their geographic range. A new Coeloplana species was found forming aggregations on gorgonians of two octocoral host genera, Melithaea and Euplexaura, representing associations previously unknown to occur in the Indo-West Pacific region. Our findings also illustrate the concurrent presence of the ectocommensal ophiuroid Ophiothela mirabilis, which adversely affects other Coeloplana species in the tropical West Atlantic, where it is considered invasive. This exploration contributes to our understanding of the biogeography, species distribution, and ectosymbiotic associations of these genera, setting the stage for a comprehensive species description and in-depth analysis of host relationships in future studies

New Records of the Cryptogenic Soft Coral Genus Stragulum (Tubiporidae) from the Eastern Caribbean and the Persian Gulf

The monotypic soft coral genus Stragulum van Ofwegen and Haddad, 2011 (Octocorallia: Malacalcyonacea: Tubiporidae) was originally described from Brazil, southwest Atlantic Ocean. Here, we report the first records of the genus from the eastern Caribbean and the Persian Gulf in the northwest Indian Ocean. We compare the morphological features of specimens, together with molecular data from three commonly used barcoding markers (COI, mtMutS, 28S rDNA) and 308 ultraconserved elements (UCE) and exon loci sequenced using a target-enrichment approach. The molecular and morphological data together suggest that specimens from all three localities are the same species, i.e., Stragulum bicolor van Ofwegen and Haddad, 2011. It is still not possible to establish the native range of the species or determine whether it may be an introduced species due to the limited number of specimens included in this study. However, the lack of historical records, its fouling abilities on artificial substrates, and a growing number of observations support the invasive nature of the species in Brazilian and Caribbean waters and therefore suggest that it may have been introduced into the Atlantic from elsewhere. Interestingly, the species has not shown any invasive behaviour in the Persian Gulf, where it has been found only on natural, rocky substrates. The aim of the present report is to create awareness of this taxon with the hope that this will lead to new records from other localities and help to establish its native range

Non-native coral species dominate the fouling community on a semi-submersible platform in the southern Caribbean

A coral community was examined on a semi-submersible platform that was moored at the leeward side of Curaçao, in the southern Caribbean, from August 2016 until August 2017. This community included several non-native or cryptogenic species. Among them were two scleractinian corals (Tubastraea coccinea and T. tagusensis) and two octocorals (Chromonephthea sp. and an unidentified Nephtheidae sp.). This is the first reported presence of T. tagusensis in the southern Caribbean, and the genus Chromonephthea in the Caribbean region. An ascidian, Perophora cf. regina, is also reported from the southern Caribbean for the first time, as well as a coral-associated vermetid gastropod, Petaloconchus sp., first recorded in the Caribbean in 2014. Lack of biofouling management could potentially harm indigenous marine fauna through the introduction of non-native species. Therefore monitoring communities associated with semi-submersible platforms is essential to track the presence and dispersal of non-native, potentially invasive species

The Nekton Maldives taxonomic workshop: Exploring the biodiversity of shallow, mesophotic and deep-sea communities in Maldives

This is the final version. Available from Pensoft Publishers via the DOI in this record. The Nekton Maldives Taxonomic Workshop took place at the Maniyafushi Research Station in the Maldives between 12 and 23 February 2023. This workshop had two primary objectives. Firstly, it aimed to identify species from biological samples and underwater imagery collected during the Nekton Maldives Mission in 2022. Secondly, it sought to facilitate training and knowledge exchange sessions between early career researchers from the Maldives and international taxonomists. These sessions were designed to share knowledge and introduce fundamental taxonomy concepts and enhance practical identification skills for common reef benthic groups and major zooplankton taxonomic groups. A total of 24 people from 10 different countries were directly or indirectly involved with the workshop comprising nine taxonomic experts, eleven trainees and four organisers. Collectively, we identified 278 biological specimens including potentially undescribed species of hydroids, black corals, sponges and octocorals, 318 morphotypes for underwater footage and zooplankton composition congruent with previous reports from the Indian Ocean Region. Next steps will involve depositing the specimens into a more a permanent facility to facilitate the process of specimen description and knowledge transfer.Nekton FoundationMaldives Marine Research Institut

مقايسه راحتي اکستوباسیون تراکئال بین دو روش پرکردن کاف لوله تراشه با لیدوکايین ۲٪ و پرکردن با هوا در بیماران تحت عمل جراحي کله سیستكتومي لاپاراسكوپیک

چکیده : مقدمه: عوارض راه هوایی بعد از انتوباسیون همانند سرفه و گلودرد از شکایات شایع بعد از بیهوشی هستند. بعد از لوله گذاري، پر کردن کاف لوله تراشه موجب بسته شدن فضاي دور لوله و تحریک تراشه خواهد شد. براي پر کردن کاف از هوا یا مایعاتی همچون نرمال سالین، لیدوکائین و غیره استفاده می شود. هدف از این مطالعه، مقایسه راحتی اکستوباسیون تراکئال بین دو روش پرکردن کاف لوله تراشه با لیدوکایین 2 ٪ و پرکردن با هوا در بیماران تحت عمل جراحی کله سیستکتومی لاپاراسکوپیک می باشد. مواد و روش ها: در این مطالعه کارآزمایی بالینی یک سووو کور 70 بیمار به صووورت تدووادفی به دو گروه هوا و لیدوکائین تقسوویم شوودند. در گروه لیدوکائین، کاف لوله تراشووه با لیدوکائین 2 ٪ و در گروه هوا کاف با هوا پر گردید به طوري که فشووار کاف به 20 تا 2۵ سوانتیمتر آب برسود. فشوار خون و ضوربان قلب بیمار قبل از اینداکشون، بعد از اینداکشون، ۳0 و 60 دقیقه بعد و قبل و بعد از اک ستوبا سیون و همچنین عوارض اینتوبا سیون شامل باکینگ، سرفه و گلودرد حین ریکاوري، 6 ساعت بعد و 12 ساعت بعد در دو گروه با هم مقایسه گردید و با استفاده از نرم افزار SPSS نسخه 16 تجزیه و تحلیل شد. یافته ها: نتایج این مطالعه نشووان داد، اختآف آماري معنی داري از نظر ضووربان قلب در فواصوول مختلع مطالعه شووامل قبل از اینداک شن، بعد از اینداک شن، ۳0 و 60 دقیقه بعد، قبل از اک ستوبا سیون و بعد از اک ستوبا سیون در میان دو گروه وجود ندا شت. اما ف شار خون سیتولیک و ف شار خون دیا ستولیک پس از اک ستوبا سیون به طور معنی داري در گروه لیدوکائین کمتر از گروه هوا بود، اگرچه در فواصل دیگر مطالعه اختآف معنی داري از نظر این دو پارامتر در گروه هاي مورد مطالعه مشاهده نشد. عارضه باکینگ در گروه لیدوکائین به طور معنی داري کمتر از گروه هوا بود. همچنین در گروه لیدوکائین ن سبت به گروه هوا، عار ضه سرفه و گلودرد در تمامی فواصل مطالعه به طور معنی داري کمتر بود. نتیج گیری: با توجه به نتایج این مطالعه و مطالعات م شابه به نظر می ر سد که پر کردن کاف لوله ترا شه با لیدوکائین ن سبت به هوا، موجب پایداري بیشتر همودینامیک و عوراض جانبی کمتر پس از اکستوباسیون می گردد. واژگان کلیدی: انتوباسیون، لوله تراشه، لیدوکائین، عوار