Distribution, diversity, and abundance of rocky intertidal fishes in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, Iran

Abstract

Distribution and abundance patterns of rocky intertidal fish assemblages in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman were examined. Specimens were collected at low tide from tide pools, using chlorine as an ichthyocide. A series of collections undertaken between May and July 2006 at 6 stations yielded 1497 fishes, comprising 20 species from 8 families. Permanent tide pool residents (Gobiidae and Blenniidae) comprised 93.5% of the total fish assemblage; secondary residents comprised the remaining 6.5%. The most common fish species were Antennablennius variopunctatus (Blenniidae; 23.4%), Istigobius ornatus (Gobiidae; 19.8%), Bathygobius meggitti (Gobiidae; 18.7%) Cryptocentroides arabicus (Gobiidae; 10.5%), Istiblennius pox (Gobiidae; 7.3%), and Omobranchus fasciolatus (Blenniidae; 6.8%). The results of the present study revealed that, compared to the Gulf of Oman, diversity indices in the Persian Gulf are low. Although Qeshm Island is located in the Persian Gulf, the diversity indices are high at this station most probably due to enhanced contact with the adjacent open ocean, the Gulf of Oman. Hierarchical cluster analysis indicated that the Persian Gulf stations are more similar to each other than to the stations located in the Gulf of Oman.