Investigation of Seasonal and Depthal Macrofaunal Distribution in Boojagh Marine National Park, Southern Caspian Sea

In this study, the distribution of macrobenthos in Boojagh Marine National Park (BMNP) was studied. Sampling was conducted in six transects, perpendicular to the beach, using a Van Veen grab sampler, with five replications. Samples were collected in five seasons (2015-2016). Each transect include three stations at depths of 1 meter, 5 meter and 10 meter. Washed and fixed samples were transferred to the laboratory, sorted and different groups of microbenthic taxons were identified. Mollusca with an average of 588 individuals per square meter, Malacostraca with 225, Polychaeta with 175, Hexanauplia with 109 and Clitellata with 98 individuals per square were identified. Depth profiles showed that the benthos are mostly distributed at 10 meter depth, followed by five and one meter depths. The densest season was at summer of 2015, with 356 individuals per square meter followed by summer of 2016, autumn and winter of 2015 and spring of 2016. Overall, the most macrobenthos distribution was in 10 meter depth. Macrobenthos density in the summer was more and in the spring was less than other seasons.