Ecological Survey with Using Macrobenthic Community, AMBI and Bentix Indices in Bahrekan Coast

Document Type : Ecology

Authors

1 Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Natural Resources, Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Khuzestan, Iran

2 Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Khuzestan, Iran

3 Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, Khoramshahr University of Marine Science Technology, 64119-43175, Khoramshahr, Khozestan Province, Iran

Abstract

This study was carried out to identify macrobenthic fauna and to assess ecological status of  Bahrekan coast in Persian Gulf, by using AMBI, H`& Bentix indices. Seasonal sampling was done in 15 stations from Summer 2014 to Spring 2015 by using Van veen grab (0/027 m2). In this study 53 families and 77 genus/species of macrobenthos were identified. According to the sensitivity to an increasing stress gradient, macrobenthos are classified into 5 ecological groups. The maximum and minimum density has been observed during winter and summer respectively.The highest number of  individuals belonged to gastropoda (65 %), bivalvia (13 %) and polychaeta (9 %) respectively. In present study Pyrgohydrobia sp. was dominant in all seasons  and also due to the presence of dominant species such as Pyrgohydrobia sp. , Tornatina sp. , Eulima sp. and  Melanela sp.  diversity index was low.  According to the results of annual mean of different indices used in present study, Bahrekan coast are classified as slightly to moderately polluted.
 

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