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Tonekabonis a city in north of Iran that located in the south coast of Caspian Sea. The Caspian Sea is the largest continental water body on earth and controversy still exists whether this water body should be referred to as a sea or as a lake. Environmental Sensitivity Index (ESI) maps can provide a concise summary of coastal resources that are at risk if an oil spill occurs nearby. Typical ESI map includes information for three main components: shoreline habitats classification, biological resources and human-use resources. Before shoreline classification can take place in the field, the following basic data set must be obtained and processed: base map, aerial photos, topographic map of shoreline. The analysis of ESI map showed that Tonekabon area could be considered a medium sensitive place for oil spills. Eight categories from main 10 categories are identified along with minor categories. This can be concluded after the comparison of the local sensitivity index with the standard sensitivity index of NOAA, on which about 84% of the study area has taken medium sensitivity rank (5, 6A, 6B) and the remaining areas have taken low (6%) to high (10%) ranks. The lowest ESI mapped was assigned to Fine- to medium-grained sand beaches (ESI 3A) and the highest to freshwater marshes (10B). Data was available about six main resources in Tonekabon area. These resources are birds, fishes, habitat (native/rare plants), invertebrate, marine mammals (seals), and reptiles. Fishing economy could be brought to a standstill by spilled oil.

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Heavy metals are considered as pollutants that can accumulate in the body of organisms and have damaging effects on their health. The present study was conducted to evaluate the concentration of arsenic in blue swimmer crab (Portunus pelagicus) in Asalouyeh coasts in Boushehr province as bio-indicator for heavy metals. After identifying different sources of pollution in the region, sampling was carried out at four sampling stations over a three-months winter period in 2014. Arsenic analysis was performed using an atomic spectrophotometer. The results showed that the mean concentration of arsenic in the soft tissue of P.pelagicus in January, February and March was 0.17±0.09, 0.23±0.11 and 0.30±0.15 (mg/kg dry weight), respectively. There was a significant difference between stations and between months (P>0.05). The lowest concentration of arsenic was for station 3 (0.15±0.10) and the highest one was for station 3 (0.35±0.10). Also, the results showed that arsenic concentrations in all stations and months were lower than the reported standard levels.

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The distribution of  Streblospio gynobranchiata was studied. Sediment samples were collected with grab 0/1m² in spring, summer, fall and winter 2012 from 12 stations (ranging from 5, 10, 20 and 50 meters in depth) in the southern Caspian Sea from Behshahr to Ramsar (Mazandaran-Iran) coasts. Results indicated that the highest density was observed in summer in depth of 10 m (64.24 ind /0.1m²). Maximum and minimum of density was measured respectively in summer (27.22 ind /0.1m²) and winter (16.99 ind /0.1m²). A significant correlation was not observed between this species with total organic matter and silt and clay (P>0.05). For comparing the different seasons the One Way Anova was used. The results indicated  no significant differences among seasons (P>0.05).

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King fish (Scomberomorus commerson) belonging to the family scombridae considered ecologically and economically important fish species. This research was carried out to identify molecular identification and genetic assessment using mtDNA D-Loop via HRM-Real Time PCR. A total of 100 Dorsal fin clip samples of Scomberomorus commerson were sampled from four locations along Persian Gulf (Bushehr & Doha), Oman Sea (Jask) and Arabian Sea (Karachi) and after isolating genomic DNA, HRM-Real Time PCR was conducted with the use of SYTO 9 saturating dye to classify samples. Representative of groups to the waters of Bushehr, Doha, Jask and Karachi were 8, 6, 9 and 6, respectively. Ultimately, 20 groups were identified by using High Resolution Melting Analysis. Representatives of groups were sequenced after conducting anew PCR. The results of sequencing were inferred by performing blast on NCBI and Scomberomorus commerson were identified. Thereafter, distinctions were observed constructing phylogenetic tree via ensued sequences. Likewise, considerations demonstrated that High Resolution melting-Real Time PCR not just could be an effectual technique to accelerate enquiry procedure but, isolate and classify manifold samples for populations enquiry.

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The present study was conducted for the first time to investigate and identify the ecological quality status (EcoQ) of Gorgan Bay and also to emphasize the degree of agreement between the results of different benthic macrofauna indices, introduction of appropriate index and utilization of basic results in environmental management programs in the region. To do, 22 sites were selected and macrobenthic fauna sampling was conducted seasonally in during 2013. Totally, 14 species were identified and their biotic indices of BENTIX, BO2A, AMBI and M-AMBI were obtained 2.2 (2-3.5), 0.4 (0.009-0.071), 3.2 (2.1-3.5), and 0.65 (0.5-0.93), respectively. All the indices indicated a worse EcoQ in eastern part than western part of the bay. A positive and moderate relationship between M-AMBI with Shannon diversity index and BENTIX, as well as between BENTTIX with BO2A exhibited a similar trend in quality assessment of the stations. A partial agreement in EcoQ scores was obtained in 32% of the stations while a disagreement was shown in the remaining stations (68%). However, AMBI and M-AMBI revealed a better and more realistic judgment on EcoQ of the bay which was consistent with the distribution of pollution as an environmental stressor. On the other, since M-AMBI uses the results of AMBI, diversity and richness indices as multimetrics, and more importantly is acquired by the most value of Shannon diversity index as a reference, hence the results of M-AMBI had a stronger judgment on EcoQ of the Gorgan bay.