Journal of Marine Biology

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The following research was conducted to determining the nickel (Ni) and cadmium (Cd) concentrations in skeleton of coral family (Faviidae) and sediments of dominant in Zeyton Park, Naz Islands and Shib-deraz stations, south of Qeshm Island- Persian Gulf in summer 2012. The analysis of these heavy metal levels in digested samples of skeleton and sediments was done using graphite furnace Atomic Absorbtion Spectophotometry (SHIMADZU, AA 670G) for Cd and Flame Atomic Absorption Spectophotometry (SHIMADZU, AA 670) Ni. The results indicated that there were significant differences in concentrations of Ni and Cd in skeleton of coral family (Faviidae) among Zeyton Park, Naz Islands Shib-deraz stations (P<0.001) and concentration of Ni and Cd in sediments of coral family (Faviidae) there are significant differences between Zeyton Park, Naz Islands and Shib-deraz stations (P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively). There was a negative correlation between Ni concentration in Favidae coral and its surrounding sediments in Shib-deraz stations. Besides, there was statistical correlation in Cd concentration between coral family (Faviidae) in Zeyton Park and Shib-deraz stations. Coral Skeletons and sediments in the study area was not contaminated with heavy metals Ni and Cd compared to the results with universal standards. So, concerning the immense importance of coral ecosystem in the southern Qeshm Islands and the result of this research, corals can be suggested as a pollution biomonitor.

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This study aimed to identify the species of sea cucumbers using SCUBA diving operations around the Qeshm island, Hamoon harbor, Simin beach, Sousa and Salkh villages in the warm (July) and cold (January) seasons in 2014 - 2015. After transferring the samples to the laboratory, identification was performed by mining spicules and the valid keys. A total of two family Holothuriidae and Stichopodidae, two genus (Holothuria and Stichopus) and 3 species including Holothuria scabra, Holothuria leucospilota, and Stichopus hermanni were identified. The highest density of species was recorded for H. Leucospilota species. All species examined in this study has a low density. The only species of sea cucumber (H. leucospilota) has high density in the studied area. So it seems that this species is the dominant species in the island.

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From one side, the immethodical and growing of economic activities of aquaculture, and the other side, immediate depends of a large amount of growing population is providing districts for coastal survivals and caused to damage in coastal ecology and lots of aquatic creatures. In this paper, while realizing the potential capacities of the island, it's specially discusses the activities of aquaculture in the framework of Integrated Coastal Zone Management. Therefore, in this study, firstly, the environment's internal strategic factors (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (opportunities and threats) were identified. Thereafter, Analytic Network Process (ANP) and Super Decision Software in SWOT matrix were used to evaluate and prioritize these factors, as well as to develop several proposed strategies. Using a designed network model, the proposed strategies were weighted and the main strategies of the evaluation matrix were ranked. The results showed that the most efficient strategies to optimal development of aquaculture use of coastal areas of Qeshm Island are: strategies of Using objectives, policies, plans of aquaculture and hunting Aquatic to build and strengthen of sustainable aquaculture these users in the region, Building and strengthening comprehensive aquaculture plan for conservation of natural marine resources in the framework of Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Creating and development of infrastructure facilities and infrastructure aquaculture in order to create optimum user of the lands, Allocate adequate funding to achieve conservation programs and user development of aquaculture and environmental protection involved in (ST) strategies.

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The present study investigates the correlation between bleaching event and morphological condition and population dynamics of the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) residing within the hermatypic coral Acropora downingi Wallace, 1999 in Qeshm Island, Persian Gulf. Fragments of normal and bleached coral colonies were collected by SCUBA diving from southeastern coastal waters of Qeshm Island in the fall of 2015. Healthy, bleached, degraded and dividing zooxanthellae were observed and appraised with a light microscope using a haemocytometer. Spectrophotometric method was used for the measurement of pigment content of zooxanthellae. Comparisons of the mentioned characteristics between normal and bleached coral colonies showed a 50 percent population decline of zooxanthellae in bleached colonies. While density of normal zooxanthellae decreased by 25 percent in bleached colonies, number of bleached (t=7.03, P=0.00) and degraded (t=3.56, p=0.02) zooxanthellae along with mitotic index (z=-3/06, P=0.002) had a significant rise in the mentioned colonies. There was no significant difference between chlorophyll-α (t=0.49, P=0.63) and chlorophyll-c (t=0.13, P=0.89) content of the studied corals. Our results may reveal that corals in Qeshm Island are probably suffering from severe environmental conditions and it is likely that many of the healthy looking colonies are already half way through bleaching.
The present study investigates the correlation between bleaching event and morphological condition and population dynamics of the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) residing within the hermatypic coral Acropora downingi Wallace, 1999 in Qeshm Island, Persian Gulf. Fragments of normal and bleached coral colonies were collected by SCUBA diving from southeastern coastal waters of Qeshm Island in the fall of 2015. Healthy, bleached, degraded and dividing zooxanthellae were observed and appraised with a light microscope using a haemocytometer. Spectrophotometric method was used for the measurement of pigment content of zooxanthellae. Comparisons of the mentioned characteristics between normal and bleached coral colonies showed a 50 percent population decline of zooxanthellae in bleached colonies. While density of normal zooxanthellae decreased by 25 percent in bleached colonies, number of bleached (t=7.03, P=0.00) and degraded (t=3.56, p=0.02) zooxanthellae along with mitotic index (z=-3/06, P=0.002) had a significant rise in the mentioned colonies. There was no significant difference between chlorophyll-α (t=0.49, P=0.63) and chlorophyll-c (t=0.13, P=0.89) content of the studied corals. Our results may reveal that corals in Qeshm Island are probably suffering from severe environmental conditions and it is likely that many of the healthy looking colonies are already half way through bleaching.
The present study investigates the correlation between bleaching event and morphological condition and population dynamics of the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) residing within the hermatypic coral Acropora downingi Wallace, 1999 in Qeshm Island, Persian Gulf. Fragments of normal and bleached coral colonies were collected by SCUBA diving from southeastern coastal waters of Qeshm Island in the fall of 2015. Healthy, bleached, degraded and dividing zooxanthellae were observed and appraised with a light microscope using a haemocytometer. Spectrophotometric method was used for the measurement of pigment content of zooxanthellae. Comparisons of the mentioned characteristics between normal and bleached coral colonies showed a 50 percent population decline of zooxanthellae in bleached colonies. While density of normal zooxanthellae decreased by 25 percent in bleached colonies, number of bleached (t=7.03, P=0.00) and degraded (t=3.56, p=0.02) zooxanthellae along with mitotic index (z=-3/06, P=0.002) had a significant rise in the mentioned colonies. There was no significant difference between chlorophyll-α (t=0.49, P=0.63) and chlorophyll-c (t=0.13, P=0.89) content of the studied corals. Our results may reveal that corals in Qeshm Island are probably suffering from severe environmental conditions and it is likely that many of the healthy looking colonies are already half way through bleaching.