Habitat classification of southern coast of Qeshm Island based on surface geology structure

Abstract

1757-1763<span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:calibri;mso-bidi-font-family:="" "times="" roman";mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:en-us;="" mso-bidi-language:fa"="" lang="EN-US">Habitat classification based on the surface geology structure <span style="font-size:9.0pt;line-height:115%; font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";="" mso-bidi-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:="" en-us;mso-bidi-language:fa"="" lang="EN-US">was <span style="font-size:9.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:calibri;="" mso-bidi-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:="" en-us;mso-bidi-language:fa"="" lang="EN-US">applied to 122 km of the southern intertidal stretch of the Qeshm Island in 2010.  <span style="font-size:9.0pt; line-height:115%;font-family:" times="" new="" roman";mso-fareast-font-family:"times="" roman";="" mso-bidi-font-family:"times="" roman";mso-ansi-language:en-us;mso-fareast-language:="" en-us;mso-bidi-language:fa"="" lang="EN-US">Natural and anthropogenic features of the covered area were initially surveyed using GPS, and then 12 sites were designated.   Seasonal alteration to surface geology was studied through field surveys, photography, and the Google Earth photos. Three major substrate types of sandy (66.9% or 82 km), rocky-sand (24% or 29 km), and rocky (9.1% or 11 km) were identified. Soft substrate constituted the major part of the mid-western, while rocky substrate was the main feature in the mid-eastern. Results also indicated that southern coast of Qeshm Island was more prone to wave and wind actions than the northern coast. Since rocky and rocky-sand substrates possess various shelters and, hence, support more biotic groups, they require special management to reduce the undesirable impacts on macro invertebrates.</span