Spatial and temporal variability of macrobenthic communities in Chalus Shore of the Caspian Sea

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Abstract

The changes in density and biomass of macrobenthos were seasonally investigated from
winter 2005 till fall 2006 in southern Caspian Sea. Samples were taken with a 225cm2 Van
Veen grab from depths of 7 and 20 meters along two transects: Line 8 area (western part) and
Radio Darya area (eastern part). Totally, 5 classes of macrobenthos were identified of which
the most abundant populations were Polychaeta 68.7%, Oligochaeta 14.6%, Bivalvia 8.5%,
Crustacea 8.2% and Gastropoda 0.08%. The maximum density (4251.8 1419 (ME SE)
ind/m2) of macrobenthos was observed during summer in the depth of 20m of Radio Darya
area, while the minimum density (725.9 64.5 (ME SE) ind/m2) was observed during spring
in the depth of 7m in the same area. Between the two studied depths, the mean annual density
in 7m depth (2266.7 350.3 (ME SE)ind/m2), was higher from 20m depth (1977.8 290.1
(ME SE)ind/m2). The maximum biomass (475 243.8 (ME SE)g/m2), of macrobenthos
was observed during autumn in the depth of 20 meter of Radio Darya area, while the
minimum biomass (0.3 0.1 (ME SE)g/m2), was observed during winter in the depth of 7m
in the same area. Between the two studied depths, the mean annual biomass in 20m depth
(184.8 24.6 (ME SE)g/m2), was higher from 7m depth (73.7 24.6 (ME SE)g/m2).
Generally speaking, the eastern part of Chalus coast had more density and biomass compared
with the western part.
*Corresponding author

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Iranian Scientific Fisheries Journal
Volume 19, Issue 4
May and June 2011
Pages 147-152

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