Habitat association of larval fish assemblages in the northern Persian Gulf. Issue 1 (15th August 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rabbaniha, Mahnaz; Molinero, Juan Carlos; López-López, Lucia; Javidpour, Jamileh; Primo, Ana Ligia; Owfi, Feryadoon; Sommer, Ulrich
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 97:Issue 1/2(2015:Aug.)
• Page Start: 105
• Page End: 110
• Publication Date: 2015-08-15
• Subjects: Fish larvae -- Habitat association -- Persian Gulf -- Pelagic and demersal spawners -- Clupeidae; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.06.028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Highlights: Larval fish assemblages echo hydrographic seasons in the northern Persian Gulf. Depth preferences separate the habitat use of dominant fish larvae family. The Khark and Kharko marine protected area is a spawning centre in the region. Abstract: We examined the habitat use of fish larvae in the northern Persian Gulf from July 2006 to June 2007. Correspondence Analysis showed significant differences between hydrological seasons in habitat use and structure of larval fish assemblages, while no differences were found regarding abundance among coralline and non-coralline habitats. The observed configuration resulted in part from seasonal reproductive patterns of dominant fish influencing the ratio pelagic:demersal spawned larvae. The ratio increased along with temperature and chlorophyll-a concentration, which likely fostered the reproduction of pelagic spawner fish. The close covariation with temperature throughout hydrographic seasons suggests a leading role of temperature in the seasonal structure of larvae assemblages. Our results provide new insights on fish larval ecology in a traditionally sub-sampled and highly exposed zone to anthropogenic pollution, the northern Persian Gulf, and highlight the potential role of Khark and Kharko Islands in conservation and fishery management in the area.