ALBERT

Description: This study was conducted to determine reproduction characteristics, diet regime, age structure and population dynamics parameters of the vimba vimba persa (Pallas, 1811) in Mazandaran waters of the Caspian Sea, from October 2008 to September 2009.A total of 994 specimens were monthly collected by beach seine and cast net from six fish landings of Ramsar, Tonekabon, Chaloos, Mahmood Abad, Sari and Behshahr.Biometric characters were measured for each specimen at the laboratory. Scales were used for age determination. Sex determination and fecundity were determined. Population dynamic parameters as well as stock assessment including cohort analysis were estimated using FISAT software. The finding showed that the mean of fork length and body weight of the Caspian Vimba were 168.4±2.6 mm and 71.94±32.24 g respectively. Strong correlation was found between these two variables (a= 0.012; b = 3.047; r2 = 0.955).92 specimens were studied from the fecundity point of view. This species was found to have more abundance in spring (esp. Apr-May). The samples composed of 397(42.6%) male, 537(57.4%) female; Overall sex ratio (M: F =1: 1.35) was significantly different from the expected 1:1 ratio (p ≤0.05).The advanced stages of maturity (4th & 5th) were found in April and May. The highest Gonadosomatic Index in female was in May and the lowest one was in July. This fish is therefore a spring spawner. The maximum absolute and relative fecundities were 34640 and 260.9, respectively; the minimum absolute and relative fecundities were 5400 and 94.5 respectively. The averages of absolute and relative fecundities were 17198±7710 and 171.85±48.8, respectively.Coefficient vacuity index was 59.2% which indicates that this fish is mesophagous. Among of living creature consumes by Caspian Vimba mollusks,76arthropods, worms, plants, detritus and fishes were found 32.9% , 26.7% , 13.4% , 17% , 4.4% and 1.6% respectively.The infinite fork lengths were 261 mm for females, 25mm for males and 261 mm for both sexes respectively. For population growth and mortality parameters; K ( 0.28 per year for both sexes, 0.3 per year for males, 0.33 per year for females); t0 ( -0.65 year for both sexes, -0.23 year in females, -0.51 year in males ); Φ' ( 2.28 ); Z ( 0.98 per year ); M ( 0.59 per year); F ( 0.39 per year) and Exploitation coefficient was 0.4.The analysis showed that total biomass and MSY were 1336 and 528.8 tonnes respectively.

Description: PhD

Description: Advisors:Gh. Vosoughi, F. Kaymaram Counsellors: Sh. Jamili, H. Fazli

Description: Khark & Kharko Islands are the last Northern point for fringing coral reefs in Iranian side of the Persian Gulf. These Coralline habitats are the Protected Area and Wildlife Refugees with the total area of 2400 ha which located in the territory of Bushehr Province. This research carried out during 2006-2007 with monthly sampling from 12 stations, which selected around Islandsand inshore waters with maximum depth of 20 meter. Sampling was conducted using by Bongo-Net plankton sampler with 500μ of mesh size. Totally, 1808 specimen from 45 family fish larvae was identified in studiedarea, including: 21 coralline fish larva families and 24 shore fish larvae such as pelagic and demersal fishes which some of them known as indicator, sentinel or endemic species for coral reef ecosystems. The results was shown that coral reef diversity in coral reefs (Khark & Kharko Islands) is more than other habitats such as estuary and river mouth, creeks, mangrove forest sites,and off shore water of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea Iranian side. Among Identified families, Clupeidae, Blenniidae, Sillaginidae, Atherinidae and Tripterygiidae; with more abundance were dominant families in studied area. The pick of fish larvae abundance family were estimated in spring. There were significant differences between seasonally abundance and subareas, but there were not significant differences in diversity indexes between Khark and Kharko stations with coastal stations (p〈 0.05). The mean abundance of fish larvae were estimated 18.7083 larvae under 10m² of sea surface, and the mean diversity indexes and evenness wereestimated 0.7135 and 0.565342 consequently, that was showed the area is under ecological stress for fish larvae, and wasn’t stable. Therefore, from theecological point of view, only some of the fish larvae groups as like Clupeidae were dominant. Thus, they were the main cause of the fish larvae abundance change in studied area. Due to geographical location of Khark andKharko Islands and among the environmental parameters, Its seems that the condition of sea current is the main cause for present or absent and distribution patterns of fish larvae in area. Abundance of fish larvae in west of Islands was higher than eastern parts in the spring. But this condition will be reversed in eastern part of Island and several coastal stations, so that the Islands surrounding clock wise current to cause fish larvae distribution patterns.

Description: PhD

Description: Advisors: Vosoughi, Gh.; Fatemi, M.R.S.; Nikuian, A.R.; Jamili, Sh.

Description: In this project, have been studied to determine the appropriate model to spatial, temporal and diversity of demersal fishes in the Sea of Oman, including Trichiuridae, Nemipteridae, Haemulidae, Arridae, Synodontidae, Batoidfishes, Carangidae, Scianidae, Carchariniformes and Serranidae. This research became operational from catch data during 2003 to 2013 (in 2007, due to the lack of ship failed). Processing and calculations was evaluated by using the software Excel, SPSS, Arc GIS and table curve 3D highest biomass and abundance was showed in strata A and C and 10-30 m depth layers was showed the best condition biomass. In other words, highest biomass was showed in the eastern region in the Oman Sea than the central and western regions. Batoidfishes and Trichiuridae had the highest biomass .Depth factors was showed a significant correlation with the biomass. Scianidae, Serranidae and Haemulidae were showed a large decline. Synodontidae was showed a very large increase. The largest of Shannon index belong to central and western region of the Oman Sea. The highest Shannon index was showed 10-20 and 50-100 m, respectively. The Distribution maps based on the biomass was analyzed by using Arc GIS software. So that were identified in the first time in a ten-year period and carefully catch stations any economic of aquatic group. In conclusion, the depth can be found in the pattern of distribution, abundance and diversity of fish from away the beach so that follow specific pattern.

Description: PhD

Description: Advisors: Toraj, Valinassab;Seid Mohammad Reza, Fatemi;Consulers: Shahla, Jamili;Babak, Moghaddasi

Description: This project was done for identifying and survey on distribution and diversity of true crabs in inter tidal and sub tidal zones of the Gulf of Oman (Sistan and Baluchistan province) during two year from 2009 to 2010. Specimens of inter tidal zones were carried out at 10 stations and 8 stations from sub tidal. The specimens were collected by hand and dip-net from inter tidal and by trawl net from sub tidal regions, preserved in 70% alcohol and carried to the laboratory. A total of 37 species belonged to 17 families from inter tidal and 23 species belonged to 9 families from sub tidal were identified. Of which 54 species were identified up to species level. 2 species from Matutidae, 1 species from Eriphiidae, Menippidae, Pseudoziidae, Plagusidae, Varunidae, Camptandriidae, Dromiidae and Dorippidae, 2 species from Oziidae, 3 species from Epialtidae, 2 species from Majidae, 4 species from Pilumnidae, 12 species from Portunidae, 6 species from Xanthidae, 2 species from Grapsidae, 3 species from Dotillidae, 3 species from Macrophthalmidae, 3 species from Ocypodidae, 3 species from Calappidae, 2 species from Parthenopidae and 1 species from Galenidae were identified. All specimens are deposited in the Zoological Museum, University of Tehran (ZUTC). The results of the present study revealed that family Portunidae with 6 species from inter tidal and 9 species from sub tidal regions have the highest species richness among the 22 families. Maximum similarity (Sorenson's Index) was obtained among the stations Breis, Lipar, Pozm and Gordim, and minimum was obtained among the stations Chazire-Kharchang with Pasabandar, Beris, Lipar, Daria-Bozorg, Pozm and Gordim in intertidal regions. In sub tidal regions maximum similarity (Sorenson's Index) was obtained among the stations Pasa bandar with Berisand minimum was obtained among the stations Govatr with Ramin and Gordim, Ramin with Pozm. Also maximum species richness was observed at Tiss in inter tidal and Chabahar in sub tidal stations, whereas minimum was obtained at Beris, Pozm, Gordim and Lipar in inter tidal and Govatr and Pozm in sub tidal stations. Family Ocypodidae in inter tidal and Portunidae in sub tidal regions have the highest distribution. In all of the species length and Breadth of carapace showed significant relation.

Description: PhD

Description: Supervisors: S.M.R., Fatemi; Gh., Vosooghi; Consullators:T., Valinasab; A. Savari

Description: Caspian Sea has gone under a lot of changes due to human influences and the unwanted presence of a ctenophora Menomiopsis leidyi which has greatly changedthe structure of planktons in the last recent years. Therefore, this study was carried out in order to determine these changes in the zooplankton community.the Sampling was done in 8 transacts in Astara, Anzali, Sefidrood, Tonekaboun, Noushahr, Babolsar, Amirabad and Bandar Torkaman coastal waters at 5 different depths including 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 m. Sampling was carried outin four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter during 2008, 2009 and 2010 on board of R/V Gilan.Altogether, 12 species of zooplankton were identified in 2008, 22 species in 2009 and 14 species in 2010. The zooplankton included four groups: copepoda (4 species), cladocera (8species), rotatoria (10 species) and protozoa (2 species).The increase of diversity in 2009 was due to cladocera and rotatoria groups.The abundance of zooplankton in the spring was 5074 + 7807 ind/m3 more than other season in 2008. The abundance of copepoda in the summer reached the highest value of 3332 ind/m3 and since autumn the abundance gradually decreasesand in the winter reached to the lowest value. The most abundance of cladocera was 797 ind/m3 in winter and decreased in summer and autumn. The abundance ofrotatoria was 2189 ind/m3 in winter. rotifera and copepoda consisted the main population of Zooplanktons in the winter.The results of 2009 and 2010 showed that the abundance of zooplankton in winter was 2.6 fold of autumn, 1.6 fold of summer and 1.1 fold (1/9 fold in 2010)of spring. After increasing increased of temperature, phytoplankton, andzooplankton in summer, M.leidyi increased too. In the autumn M. leidyi reached to the highest rate and decreased zooplankton. The maximum population of zooplankton was in the layer 0-20 m and in the layer more than 20 meters, the abundance of zooplankton decreased very much. In 2162008, 2009 and 2010, the abundance of zooplankton was 87, 77 and 77 percent in the layer 0-20 m respectively.In this study, the thermocline was observed in the layer 10 – 20 meters in the spring, that formed a thin layer but in the summer it was in the layer 20 to 50 meters. Temperature decreased between 11 to 15 oC in this layer. The variation of temperature between surfaces to bottom was 10 to 13 oC in spring, 19 to 21 in summer, about 9 oC in autumn and maximum 3 oC in winter. The most biomass of zooplankton was in the west. The biomass of zooplankton in central west and east of Southern of Caspian Sea was 54 %, 22 % and 24 % respectively in 2008, in 2009 was 48%, 33% and 20% respectively and in 2010 was 54 %, 29 % and 16 % respectively .The biomass decreased from west to east.The model of zooplankton designed by principal component analysis (PCA)and linear regression for Southern of Caspian Sea.

Description: PhD

Description: Advisor: Seyed Mohammad Reza Fatemi Counsellors:Rezvan Mousavi Nadoushan, Reza Pourgholam

Description: This study was conducted to determine biological characteristics and population dynamicsparameters of threadfin bream (Nemipterus japonicus) in Persian Gulf (Bushehr Province),during November 2006 and October 2007. The minimum and maximum specimens were 75-273 mm FL and their weight was 7.6 - 351.9 g. Based on the exponential relationship betweenfork length and weight, slope (b) for individuals, males and females was 2.987321, 2.992546and 3.007314, respectively.The emptiness value (V) was 45.6% and it shows that N. japonicus is a moderate feeder.The results of Fp indicates that crustacean with 78.2% are main foods, mollusca (27.7%),fishes (20.7%), polychaeta (19.2%) and Foraminifera (11.7%) were identified as minor foodsand phytoplanktons (9.9%), nematoda(8.0%), echinodermata (2.3%) and sea weeds (0.3%)were random foods.The reproduction studies showed the spawning season extended within 2 peaks, fromApril- May and September and main spawning occurs in spring season.The mean absoluteand relative fecundities were 472388±42633 and 3817±293 (X±SE), respectively. Themaximum, minimum and mean of oocyte diameter were 0.448, 0.022 and 0.221mm (SE=0.071), respectively.The fork length at 50% maturity estimated to be 20.25 cm for females.The growth coefficient (K) , length infinity (L∞ ) and ɸ' was estimated 0.42/yr , 34.17 cmand 2.69, respectively.The coefficient of total mortality, fishing mortality, natural mortality and E was 1.37,0.43, 0.94 and 0.31, respectively.

Description: PhD

Description: Advisores:T. Valinassab, S. Jamili Counsellors:M.R. Fatemi, F. Kaymaram

Description: Chemical ecology is the science of study and analysis of natural chemical products in result of biochemical processes in organisms and their reactions to variations of ecological and environmental parameters.In marine chemical ecology the existence of natural products in aquatic organisms and their ecological roles in marine animals and their reactions to environmental parameters variations will be studied.Among them, fatty acids are the most various and abundant ones in natural products which had been extracted from many marine organisms such as mollusks and algae.In this study selected animals were the dominant species of mollusks in intertidal zone of chabahar bay including gastropods, bivalves and polyplacophora classes.Nerita textilis and Turbo coronatus species are among gastropoda, Saccostrea cucullata is from bivalve, and Chiton lamyi is from polyplacophora.After seasonal sampling, separation and identification of natural products of these species, fatty acids had been isolated and identified by GC mass chromatography and their seasonal variations had been identified.In addition environmental factors of the location including pH, salinity temperature, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a and nutrients were measured monthly.Then the effect of seasonal variations of environmental factors on fatty acids had been studied by applying statistical analysis.GC/MS resulted thirteen fatty acids, which the most importants were myristic, stearic, oleic, palmitoleic, arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids.In majority of species palmitic acid was most abundant than the others and saturatedes had the most percentage levels than unsaturated ones.Although seasonal variations of identified fatty acids was not similar in species, but the majority of unsaturated ones had their maximum during winter, while saturated acids reached their maximum in summer.Statistical Analysis showed the strong correlations between Environmental factors and some fatty acids and temperature, nitrate, silicate and pH had strong correlations in all species.The species was studied from the point of lipid content and the results showed a good quality of lipid content in the selected species in the intertidal zone of Chabahar bay.

Description: PhD

Description: Advisors:Peiman Eghtesadi, Ali Mashianchin Counsellors:Isa Iavari, Shahla Jamili. The full text document is in Farsi only so it has not been possible for AC Editors to check the metadata input.

Description: In order to come up with the responsible fishing pattern of common carp, there was a need to identify some of the biological characteristics and stock assessment of carp in Iranian waters of the Caspian Sea .The fork length ,weight ,age ,growth parameters of von bertalanffy and mortality rates of common carp were estimated from oct 2006 to sept 2007.Based on the exponential relationship between length and weight in the size range 6.3-65.6 cm ,b was calculated 2.895, 2.843 and 2.925 respectively for combined sexes ,males and females. The mean condition factor was 1.9 which is close to the ideal condition.The results from measuring 3170 specimens ,were showed the first fork length of maturity was 30 cm for males and 32 cm for females. The results indicated that females were predominate and sex ratio was 0.66:1 (M:F) and chi-squares analysis showeda significant difference between males and females.(p〈0.05).Length infinity and growth coefficient were calculated by three different methods as below: Length frequency analysis : k=0.17 L∞ =68.04 Age-Length Key k=0.15 L∞ =74.25 Back calculation : k=0.14 L∞ =68.4The mortality parameters and exploitation rate were estimated as below :Z=0.73 per year M=0.31 per year F=0.42 per year E=0.56Refer to amount of common carp catch in 2007 -08 ,biomass was calculated 9640.2 tones by jone's cohort analysis and MSY 2374.5 tones.According to analysis ,the number of common carp in the distribution area (Iranian part of the Caspian Sea ) was estimated 24 millions in the 2006-07.

Description: PhD

Description: Advisors:Mohammadreza Fatemi, Farhad Kaymaram Counsellors: Shahla Jamili, Aminollah Taghavi Motlagh

Description: In the present study, intestinal helminth parasite fauna of 398 specimens of three species of kilkas, C. engrauliformis (N= 92), C. grimmi (N= 136) and C. cultriventris (N= 170) from Babolsar harbor were investigated. Five parasitespecies were found including: Corynosoma strumosum (Acanthocephala), Pronoprymna ventricosa (Trematoda), Contracaecum sp. (Nematoda), Raphidascaris sp. (Nematoda) and Anisakis sp. (Nematoda). The highest prevalence and abundance were observed in C. strumosum and P. ventricosa.The prevalence and abundance of C. strumosum in C. grimmi was significantlyhigher than C. engrauliformis. The prevalence and abundance of P. ventricosa inC. cultriventris was significantly higher than C. engrauliformis. The prevalence,mean intensity and mean abundance of the parasites were compared accordingto the sex, length group and season also effect of parasite on host growthparameters was considered. The diversity, equability, similarity, speciesrichness, dominance Indices and specificity indices of helminth parasites of thethree host species were studied.Also the lead and cadmium concentrations in the intestine, muscle, liver, kidneyand gonad of kilkas and their parasites C. strumosum and P. ventricosa weremeasured and compared. The results revealed that lead and cadmiumconcentrations in C. strumosum and P. ventricosa were significantly higherthan kidney, liver, intestine, gonad and muscle. The lead and cadmiumconcentrations of the parasites were compared according to the sex, parasitismand season.

Description: PhD

Description: Advisors:Shahla Jamili, Masoumeh Malek Counsellors:Mohammad Bagher Nabavi, Abbas Ali motallebi

Description: Scleractinian coral species harbour communities of photosynthetic taxa of thegenus Symbiodinium. As many as eight genetic clades (A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H) of Symbiodinium have been discovered using molecular biology. These clades may differ from each other in their physiology, and thus influence the ecological distribution andresilience of their host corals to environmental stresses. Corals of the Persian Gulf are normally subject to extreme environmental conditions including high salinity and seasonal variation in temperature. This study is the first to use molecular techniques toidentify the Symbiodinium of the Iranian coral reefs to the level of phylogenetic clades. Samples of eight coral species were collected at two different depths from the eastern part of Kish Island in the northern Persian Gulf. Partial 28S nuclear ribosomal (nr) DNA of Symbiodinium (D1/D2 domains) were amplified by Polymerase ChainReaction (PCR). PCR products were analyzed using Single Stranded Conformational Polymorphism (SSCP) and phylogenetic analyses of the LSU DNA sequences from asubset of the samples. The results showed that Symbiodinium populations weregenerally uniform among and within the populations of 8 coral species studied, andthere are at least two clades of Symbiodinium from Kish Island. Clade D was detectedfrom 8 of the coral species while clade C90 was found in 2 of species only (onespecies hosted two clades simultaneously). The dominance of clade D might beexplained by high temperatures or the extreme temperature variation, typical of thePersian Gulf.

Description: PhD

Description: Advisors:Mohammadreza Fatemi, Mohammad Hassan Shahhosseini Counsellors:Amin Keivan, Gholamhossein Vosoughi