Identification of Stony Corals of Hengam Island in Persian Gulf (Order: Scleractinia)
Subject Areas : Journal of Animal Biologyالهه علی عسگری 1 , حامد دهقانی 2 , محمود قیم اشرفی 3
1 - عضو هیات علمی دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، واحد تهران شرق، گروه زیست شناسی، تهران، ایران
2 - دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، واحد علوم و تحقیقات، دانشکده علوم و فنون دریایی، گروه بیولوژی دریا، تهران، ایران
3 - دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، واحد علوم و تحقیقات، دانشکده علوم و فنون دریایی، گروه بیولوژی دریا، تهران، ایران
Keywords: Persian Gulf, Hengam Island, Scleractinian corals, Faviidae,
Abstract :
The Scleractinian corals have largest diversity in the marine ecosystem. The corallites of corals often used to identify the Scleractinian corals. This survey was conducted in spring 2012, aimed to determine species diversity of Scleractinia corals off Hengam Island located in northeast of the Persian Gulf, Iran. The distribution patterns and health statuses were determined using Manta Tow method. Thereafter, the collected coral specimens were identified to the species level. The best living hard coral cover was found at the depths between 3 to 6 meters and Faviidae corals were the dominant hard corals around the island. There are at least 33 of Scleractinian corals belonging to 21 genus and 8 Families. Fishes especially of ornamental specieswere frequent in the waters surrounding this island.
