Investigation on the ecological impact of constructing and activities of petrochemical industries of petrochemical special economic zone of Mahshahr on the abundance and diversity of macrobenthic fauna in Jafari Creek, north-west of the Persian Gulf

The impact of Petrochemical Special Economic Zone (PETZONE) activities on the health status of Jafari Creek was studied by assessing the changes in macroinvertebrate assemblages in nine sites during September 2006- January 2008. Furthermore to evaluate the ecological status of the Jafari Creek the WFD indices (i.e. AMBI, M-AMBI) were used. The relationship between spatial pattern of macro invertebrate assemblages and ambient factors (i.e. water temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solid, total hardness, total nitrogen, ammonia, total phosphorous, chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, sediment grain size distribution, sediment organic content, heavy metals contents) was measured. Background Enrichment indices, Contamination factor and Contamination degree, were used to assess the health status in the study area based on Nickel, Lead, Cadmium and Mercury contents of the sediments. The macrobenthic communities had a low diversity and were dominated by opportunistic taxa, and the AMBI and M-AMBI indices need to be calibrated before using in Persian Gulf and its coastal waters. The BIO-ENV analysis identified pH, dissolved oxygen, TDS, and the total organic content of sediments as the major environmental variables influencing the infaunal pattern. This suggests that management should attempt to ensure minimal disturbance to environmental variables underlying the spatial variation in macroinvertebrate assemblages. Background Enrichment indices showed that the health of Jafari Creek has declined over time due to the constant discharge of heavy metals to the Creek system. Furthermore WQS index shows that the quality condition of the water column in Jafari Creek, regard to the calculated number (3) is week. These indices also identified a significant degree of pollution in the study area. The decrease in the ecological potential of Jafari Creek was best highlighted by the alteration in macrobenthic assemblages.

Ecological impact of Mahshahr petrochemical activities on abundance and diversity of macrobenthic fauna in Zangi Creek (Persian Gulf)

The Moosa Creek extends from its opening into the Persian Gulf, with some sub narrow creeks leading to it. Zangi creek is one of the main branches of Moosa creek. The creek contains numerous sources of organic pollution, including sewage outlet flows and boat waste. After establishing the Petrochemical special Economic Zone (PETZONE) in 1997 near to the Zangi Creek, the pipelines, streets and railway made it distinct from eastern and western parts of this creek. Industrial activities have released sludge and effluents in this creek along these years. A survey of the Zangi creek was performed, assessing water properties, organic pollution, and the population density, distribution and diversity of macrobenthic fauna through bi-monthly sampling from July 2006 to September 2007. Samples were collected from water near the bottom and sediment at 7 stations include 2 stations inside the distinct Zangi creek and 4 stations along a transect with 1 km distances between them in eastern free part and one reference station located at the Persian Gulf entrance to the Moosa creek. The environmental parameters such as temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, COD, turbidity, EC and heavy metals include Hg, Cd, Pb, Ni as well as percentage silt-clay and total organic matter of the sediment were measured. The faunal population density and their distribution are discussed in relation to the environmental changes. Results showed spatial heterogeneity in faunal distribution of the Zangi creek. Nine groups of macrofauna were identified out of distinct zangi creek. Polychaets formed the dominant group (48%) followed by bivalves (13%), gastropods (10%), Decapods (2%), Tanaids (5%), and all other groups (22%). The distinct creek was heavily polluted without any macrofauna communities probably as a consequence of the high pH, COD, low salinity and heavy metals contamination specially Cd and Pb. The other stations near to the disposal site were found with macrofauna communities commonly tolerant to organic pollution, At 3 km east of the disposal site, macrofauna is comparable to the surrounded creek, whereas macrofauna still indicate environmental degradation. Farther a way, faunal density decreases and equilibrium taxa gradually replace opportunistic species, while the other stations were far from polluted area contained lower pollution and relatively healthy macrofauna. The mean biomass of macrobenthic fauna were estimated for the whole studied area. The results are considered in Minimum density and biomass in surrounded creek and maximum density and biomass in 3 km of surrounded area. Biodiversity Indices were low in surrounded creek. The Shanon-weaver information index was used to describe the spatially variations in diversity. Macrofauna density, shanon and simpson index were significantly variable between surrounded and free parts of Zangi creek (p<0.05). The numerical abundance of macrobenthose varied from 221. m-2 in polluted area to 4346 m-2 in free part of Zangi creek. The Shanon-weaver information index varied from 0.4 in distinct area to 2.9 in reference station. The physico- chemical changes between distinct and free creeks showed significant variations such as pH, salinity and EC. Salinity and EC were significantly positive correlate to macrofauna density, whereas pH and TOM percentage indicated significantly negative correlation to density. Heavy metals concentrations in sediments were higher than water samples. Concentration pattern of heavy metals in sediments and water samples were Ni>Pb>Cd>Hg. Salinity and pH were significantly correlated to metals in sediments (p<0.01). No significant correlation were found between Macrofauna density and heavy metals (p<0.05).

Genetic diversity of Saccostrea cucullata population in the northern coast in Persian Gulf and Oman Sea

Genetic diversity of Saccostrea cucullata in the northern coast lines of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman were determined using DNA extraction and RAPD - PCR. A total of 300 samples were collected from 6 station along the coastline. Two out of six primers showed positive results namely GCG - ATC - CCC - A (Primer 1) and GTC - CAC - ACG - C (Primer 5) which were in accordance with morphometric analysis. The number of bands in the two above - mentioned primers in Khor - Tang and Chabahar station (Province of Sistan and Balouchestan) was significantly different from the number of produced bands in Dayer and Bushehr station (Province of Bushehr) as well as Gheshm and Bandar - Lengeh station (Province of Hormozgan). The cluster analisys was used to confirm the above variations. The results showed that the oyster population can be divided into two separate clusters. The first cluster included Bushehr Dayer Gheshm and Bandar - Lengeh species. The second cluster included Khor - Tang and Chabahar species. The analysis also showed that the first cluster can be divided into two Sub — cluster. Bushehr and Dayer belong to one Sub - cluster whereas Gheshm and Bandar - Lengeh form the other Sub — cluster. The formation of different vluster can be related to Physico - Chemical properties of water and climatic variations in different habitats along the Persion Gulf and the Sea of Oman. Key words: Molecular genetics, Population, RAND, PCR' Saccostrea cucullata

Investigation on the species diversity of Pleuronectiformes order in the Iranian coastline water of Persian Gulf

In Iranian Coastline water of Persian Gulf we researched about flat fishes and revision their Scientitic names, Investigated diversity species (Pleuronectiformes) around three provinces such as khouzestan, Bushehr and Hormozgen. The aim focuse on introducting major family and Species Identification for this Purpose 1311 Specimens collected. Then 36 investigation Parameters includes 18 Morphometric, 11 meristic, 7 distribution has been measured in Excel. The descriptive statistic in spss software would be able us to graph dendrograms by Clustering methods, then Design a standerd table and comparised all the datas with it six major family has been found in Iranian Coasline which named: Soleidae, Bothidae Paralichtidae, Cynoglossidae, Psettodidae, Citharidae. Some of the scientific species names such as Pseudorombus arsius, P. annulatus, P. elevatus, P.malayanus, P. triocellatus from Bothidae family Join it to Paralichtidae family and Eurylossa orientalis change It's name from Soleidae family to Brachirus onentalis. Cynoglossus, bilineatus, C.Puncticepts, C.durbaensis, Clachneri, one of the most Important Point that viewed in our samples, founding a new species (C.Sp) Which we couldn't identify it with all the known keys, then sent it to international Scientific references for this porpose. (Family Cynoglossidae); Pseudorombus annulatus, P. elevatus P.arsius, P.malayanus, paralichtodes algoensis, Poecilopstei Javanicus (Family paralichthidae) Arnoglossus aspilos,A.arabicits, Engyprosopon grandisquama, L.pectoralis, Pseudorombus navalensis, Psettina brevirictis (family Bothidae); Psettodes erumei (Family Psettodidae); Citharoides macrolepis (Family Citharidae) in khouzestan Brachirus orientalis, Parachirus marmoratus, solea elongata, Zebrias synapturides (Family Soleidae) Cynoglossus bilineatus, C.puncticeps, C.arel, C.kopsii, C. Capenis (Family cynoglossida); Pseudorombus arsius, P. elevatus, P. malayanus, Poecilopstei javanicus (Family Paralichthidae); Laeops guentheri, Arnoglossus aspilos, Engyprosopon grandisquama (Family Bothidae); Psettodes erumei (Family psettodidae) in Bushehr. Brachirus orientalis, Parachirus marmoratus (Family Soleidae); Cynoglossus arel, C.bilineatus, C.Puncticeps, C. lachheri (Family cynoglossidae); Pseudorombus arisus, P. elevatus, P. malayanus, Poecilopestie j avanicus (Family parlichthidae); Arnoylossus aspilos, A. arabicus, Laeopes guentheri (Family Bothidae); Psettodes erumei (Family Psettodidae); Citharoides macrolepis (Family Citharidae) In Hormozgan. Khozestan has the maximus diversity speices (26 species) and the minimum is Hormozgan (15 Speices). 13 species of five family has never reported inpersian Gulf but we identify them in our studies for the first time. We abserved 29 Species of six family in our studies, comparision between are resualts with other researches shows that this use is the most compelet study in Iranian coastline water of Persian Gulf.

Population diversity studies of pharaoh cuttlefish (Sepia pharaonis) in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman

The pharaoh Cuttlefish (Sepia Pharaonis) is the most abundant species in the persian gulf and oman sea. The stock patterns of this species was studied conserning biological, morphological and electrophoretical aspects. In addition to measuring the biological patterns; 21 quantitative and qualitative factors were measured or counted. There tissues namely muscle, eye and liver were also used for further polyacrylamide electrophoresis analysis (SDS-Page method). The densitograms of protein bands of each tissue were prepared by Gel-Scanner and also the amount of bands' areas were estimated. The results of LSD test showed that tentacle length (TL), Tentacle club length (TCL) and TCL were indicative factors which they showed significant difference between male TL and female specimen of Bushehr and Balouchestan regions. Regarding to length and weight frequencies data the results indicated that males are always bigger than females and also, the cuttlefishes of the gulf of oman are bigger than persian gulf's samples. There were found a significant sample correlation (95%) between different quantitative parameters and the most correlation (0.963) was found to be between TL and TCL; whereas the less correlation (0.384) was observed between GL and LA3. However the gill length factor illustrated the less correlation with the other factors. The results of Cluster analysis for both sexes showed that the cuttlefishes of both studied regions belongs to seperate stocks. The electrophoretic experiments of proteins showed that the protein bands of the sample tissue of muscle and eye from both sampling areas revealed significant differences; whereas the tissue of liver wasn't recognized as an indicative tissue for population studies. Taking into consideration the findings of the present study including: (1) difference in spawning season, (2) results of dendrograms, (3) observed Significant differences in one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for morphometric measurements, (4) differences in body length and weight, (5) ecological variations of the persian gulf and oman sea, (6) as well as the results of electrophoresis of proteins have indicatend that: "The Pharaoh cuttlefishes of Bushehr and Balouchestan waters belong to two seperate stocks. Also, it is believed that each region has propably two different populations and more studies are needed to approve this result.

Genetic diversity of the black crested gibbon (Nomascus concolor) from the Wuliang Mountains of Yunnan, China: preliminary results.

The authors thank Peng Shi, Scott Groom, and two anonymous reviewers for helpful comments. This work was supported by grants from the National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program, 2007CB411600), National Natural Science Foundation of China, and Bureau of Science and Technology of Yunnan Province (to Y.-P.Z.).

Studies on diversity of Hara's Laft-Khamir and Sout Beaches of the Gheshm polychaete

One of the most important marine ecologic phenomenon , is the study of animal community among the bed or benthic fauna. Macrobenthoses are the graet part of the benthic faune , that are more biomasses than meiofauna and microfauna. To study polychaetes diversity of Mangroves, located in Khoore-Khooran , sampling was conducted on a bimonthly and carried out from December 2001 to October 2002. Bottom samples were collected by Van Veen grab (0.025 m2)at 6 station from 2 transect Insitu measurement of temperature , pH , Do and salinity were done . Atotal of polychaetes werw identified within study 32 Family and 43 Genus . Cirriphormia and Nephtys were the most dominant genus in the studies . The range fomumerical abundance of polychaets was between 3006 per m2 in the station A3 to 559individual per mein the station A1 and the variation was done to different bottom , texture the variable environment conditions govrtneng the different parts of each creeks as well as within creeks . Application of diversity indices (Shannon H') on the dominant polychates assambladges has higher H' in the Azar and lower 1-1/ in the Mehr . and the stations B3 has the highest H' and the station A2 has the lowest H' Application of diversity and Richness, Evennes were studied and showed that the station A3 has the lowest evenness and the most individual , and station A1 has the middle pollution.

Genetic diversity and origin of Chinese cattle revealed by mtDNA D-loop sequence variation

To determine the origin and genetic diversity of Chinese cattle, we analyzed the complete mtDNA D-loop sequences of 84 cattle from 14 breeds/populations from southwest and west China, together with the available cattle sequences in GenBank. Our results sh

Mitochondrial DNA sequence diversity and origin of Chinese domestic yak

In order to clarify the origin and genetic diversity of yak in China, we analysed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences (similar to 891 bp) in 52 individuals from four domestic yak (Poephagus grunniens) breeds, as well as from a hybrid betwee

Genetic diversity of Chinese domestic goat based on the mitochondrial DNA sequence variation

The aim of this study was to characterize the genetic diversity of domestic goat in China. For this purpose, we determined the sequence of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region in 72 individuals of the Yangtze River delta white goat, and reanalysed

Diversity Variation of Ground-dwelling Beetle(Insecta:Coleoptera) Communities in Jiaozi Mountain, Yunnan, China

对云南轿子雪山自然保护区地表甲虫物的种组成及生物多样性季节变化进行了连续跟踪调查.调查结果如下:(1)通过对4种典型微环境样地(草地、灌丛、林地以及农田生态系统)连续3次跟踪连续调查,共获得标本2451头,分别隶属于24科.其中步甲科(Carabidae)为优势类群,占总数的62.10%;隐翅虫科(Staphylinidae)其次,占12.77%.可能由于海拔、气温等因素影响,该地区昆虫活动高峰期较短.(2)通过对4种典型微生态环境中地表甲虫的生物多样性的比较,表明不同生境内甲虫的多样性指数存在动态变化,在不同生境片区内甲虫存在迁移活动,甲虫多在灌丛中越冬,并随季节及食物源迁移.

Implications of changes in trophic diversity and food webs on fisheries and the environment

Most of the earth's ecosystems are experiencing slight to catastrophic losses of biodiversity, caused by habitat destruction, alien species introduction, climate change and pollution (Wilcove et al., 1998). These human effects have led to the extinction of native fish species, the collapse of their populations and the loss of ecological integrity and ecosystem functioning (Ogutu-Ohwayo & Hecky, 1991; Witte et al. , 1992a; Mills et al., 1994; Vitousek et al., 1996). Food webs are macro-descriptors of community feeding interactions that can be used to map the flow of materials and nutrients in ecosystems (Jepsen & Winemiller, 2002). Comparative food web studies have been used to address theoretical questions such as 'does greater trophic connectivity increase stability?' (Cohen et al., 1990), and 'does the number of trophic levels increase with productivity?' (Briand & Cohen, 1987). Answers to such questions have obvious applications for natural resources management. From a multi-species fisheries standpoint, there is a need to understand consumer-resource dynamics within complex trophic networks.

The diversity of aquatic flora and their importance in the Victoria and Kyoga lake basins

A great part of Uganda is endowed with water bodies in the forms of rivers and open water lakes. These bodies are never alone. They are either flanked or associated with plants, which are adapted to the wet conditions. They are so characteristic that they are part and parcel of the aquatic ecosystems. They occupy various positions depending on the amount of water in the relevant habitats.