Acropora distribution patterns in the northern and northeastern Persian Gulf

Abstract

Background Acropora species distribution patterns at Larak, Farur, and Khark Islands along the Iranian coast were investigated from October 2008 to November 2009 based on a previous study conducted on the taxonomy of Acropora by examining 1,169 colonies.ResultsThe analysis showed that the species diversity and evenness were low at the three islands, but the total percentage cover of Acropora was relatively high at Larak (38.52%) with lower cover at Khark (24.01%). The Acropora community at Larak Island was significantly dissimilar to those at Farur and Khark Islands, whereas the latter two possessed similar community structures. Chlorophyll a differences of Larak with Farur and Khark Islands coincided with Acropora community differences among these islands.ConclusionsRelatively high coral coverage found at the islands off the Iranian coast suggests important implications for coral reef resilience and mitigation (e.g., assisted migration) in response to changing environmental conditions, not only for the Persian Gulf but also for the world's coral reefs under the impacts of climate change.