Study of diversity & abundance of Ichthyoplankton in Sistan & Baluchestan Province ( phase : Guatr Creek & Bay)

Abstract

Identification & determination of abundance Ichthyoplankton in Gouatr ( Creek & Estuary ) in Chahdahar region was carried out from Octber 2005 to September 2006. Sampling period was seasonal and 6 stations were selected. Sampling stations no. 1, 2 ,4 were located in the sea waters of Creek , no.5 & 6 in Gouatr Estuary and no.3 was near to Bahokalat Estuary. The results of environmental factors measurement were as follaws: Main depth of area: 4m, Salinity: 37.08 (g/l), pH: 8.19, air temperature: 29.8? and water temperature: 27.3?, Clarity: 0.75m Sampling was conducted using single ring Bongo-net with 333µ of mesh size. Totally, 585 specimens of diverse fish larvae stages were collected in 20 sampling. The dominant families of fish larvae were Gobiidae, Clupeidae and Engraulidae with 86% of total abundance and 11 families of fish larvae were identified. Most of the fish larvae were observed in winter season and some of them such as Clupeidae, Gobiidae, Blennidae Engraulididae and Sillaginidae were found in most season. The stage of the most samples was Preflexion ( 87%) therefore , the area is a nursery ground. Commercial fish larvae were carangidea, Sparidae, Clupeidae, Sillaginidae, Hemiramphidae, Engraulidae and Nemeptridae but they were only 37% from total abundance. The main diversity was 0. 6236. There is no correlation between abundance, temperature and salinity. The results showed a significant different between abundance from pre monsoon and post monsoon but no significant different between diversity in pre monsoon and post monsoon.