Effect of Environmental Conditions on Spatial Distribution of Macrobenthic Community in the Bushehr Coasts of the Persian Gulf

The spatial distribution of the macrobenthic community was studied along the Iranian coasts of Bushehr province during January and February 2013. Samples were collected with van Veen grab from intertidal (0 m) and subtidal (5 m and 10 m depths) zones at 16 stations designated in 6 transects, including 4 main harbors (Genaveh, Bandargah, Rostami and Asaluyeh) and 2 creeks (Farakeh and Shif). A total of 17 groups (taxa) of macrobenthos were identified, of which the most dominant assemblages belonged to Mollusca, Annelida and Arthropoda. Abundance and biomass are significantly higher in some stations and depths than others, which could be correlated with combination of factors. The average macrofaunal abundance and biomass ranged from 450 to 4380 indm(-2) and its from 9 to 165 gm(-2), respectively. The highest abundance and biomass were observed at 10 m and intertidal depths, respectively.