title: Habitat association of larval fish assemblages in the northern Persian Gulf.
abstract: We examined the habitat use of fish larvae in the northern Persian Gulf from July 2006 to June 2007. Correspondence Analysis showed significant differences between hydrological seasons in habitat use and structure of larval fish assemblages, while no differences were found regarding abundance among coralline and non-coralline habitats. The observed configuration resulted in part from seasonal reproductive patterns of dominant fish influencing the ratio pelagic:demersal spawned larvae. The ratio increased along with temperature and chlorophyll-a concentration, which likely fostered the reproduction of pelagic spawner fish. The close covariation with temperature throughout hydrographic seasons suggests a leading role of temperature in the seasonal structure of larvae assemblages. Our results provide new insights on fish larval ecology in a traditionally sub-sampled and highly exposed zone to anthropogenic pollution, the northern Persian Gulf, and highlight the potential role of Khark and Kharko Islands in conservation and fishery management in the area.
authors.affiliation: Iranian Fisheries Research Organization (IFRO), Marine Ecology, Tehran-Karaj Highway, Paykan Shahr, P.O. Box 14155-775, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rabbaniha
authors.affiliation: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Marine Ecology/Food Webs, Duesternbrooker Weg 20, D-24105 Kiel, Germany. Electronic address: jmolinero@geomar.de.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Molinero
authors.affiliation: IEO Centro Oceanográfico de Santander, Promontorio San Martín, s/n, P.O. Box 240, 39080 Santander, Spain.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: López-López
authors.affiliation: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Marine Ecology/Food Webs, Duesternbrooker Weg 20, D-24105 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Jamileh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Javidpour
authors.affiliation: Centre for Functional Ecology, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Calçada Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Ligia
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Primo
authors.affiliation: Iranian Fisheries Research Organization (IFRO), Marine Ecology, Tehran-Karaj Highway, Paykan Shahr, P.O. Box 14155-775, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Feryadoon
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Owfi
authors.affiliation: GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Marine Ecology/Food Webs, Duesternbrooker Weg 20, D-24105 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sommer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D019156:Indian Ocean; D007814:Larva; D012098:Reproduction; D012621:Seasons; D013696:Temperature
keywords: Clupeidae; Fish larvae; Habitat association; Pelagic and demersal spawners; Persian Gulf