Analyses of macro benthic fauna in rocky habitats along the coast of Bushehr, Persian Gulf, Iran

The present study considers community variability and structure at taxa-groups of macro-fauna. Sampling was carried out in three seasons at three zones in intertidal rocky shores of Bushehr, Persian Gulf. In this study, 1936 individuals belonging to 66 species were collected. These are classified into 12 groups. The mollusks were abundant in all three sites in winter and also low zone in all seasons. In contrast, Portunid crabs and Polychaets were the lowest abundant groups. All zones in three stations were occupied by mollusks and were dominated by Planaxis sulcatus and hence the community is named "P. sulcatus ". Due to habitat diversity, the most abundant decapod groups were xanthoid and porcelanid crabs.