Dara Mirzabagheri; Seyed Mohammad Bagher Nabavi; Alireza Mehvari; Kambiz Karami
Volume 12, Issue 3 , September 2014, , Pages 74-86
Abstract
A general description of distribution patterns of rocky shore cructacea along the Hormuz Island coasts is presented to provide the context for comparisons of distribution patterns of this intertidal organisms. In order to test if there was any variation in species distribution and abundance from upper ...
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A general description of distribution patterns of rocky shore cructacea along the Hormuz Island coasts is presented to provide the context for comparisons of distribution patterns of this intertidal organisms. In order to test if there was any variation in species distribution and abundance from upper to lower intertidal zone (littoral zone) along the entire rocky shores of the Hormuz Island, three main regions (west, south and south-eastern) were studied and 3 transects were sampled in each region. At each one of the 9 transects the shore was levelled and a general qualitative description was made, which also aided grouping of subsequent quantitative sampling. Photographs and slides were taken from the live specimens and then specimens were fixed in 4% formalin and transported to lab for analyses. The upper zone was characterized by the presence of Balanus amphitrite. The midlittoral zone was essentially dominated by Balanus amphitrite. The distribution patterns observed on the lower zone showed a similarity between rocky shores located in south and south-east of the Hormuz Island dominated by Elasmopus sp.. It has also provided important information on abundance and seasonal distribution of cructacea in rocky shores of the Hormuz Island. According to the results abundance of cructacea was markedly lower in Summer compared to Winter. In conclusion species of cructacea is prevailing and environmental conditions and bed is the main reason for high abundance of this class. Distribution of crustacean is mainly affected by prevailing environmental conditions and the substratum type.