Effect of shrimp farm effluent on the diversity and density of macrobenthic communities of Delwar coast (Bushehr province)

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of shrimp farm effluent on the diversity and density of macrobenthic communities of Delwar coast (Bushehr province). For this purpose, sampling was performed by Van Veen Grab sampler (15 x 15 cm2) during the farming period for 8 months (from May to October and two months including April and November as a control) from Delwar beach sediments (6 stations and 3 repetitions for each station). Also, the granularity of bed sediments, soil texture, and total organic matter (TOM) of sediments were measured. In this research, 15 families of benthic invertebrates were identified in 7 orders and 5 categories. Also, the examination of the changes in the detected benthic organisms showed that the maximum density was in April (103±82 N/m2) and the minimum density was in July (70±41 N/m2). Also, station five with 115±40 N/m2and station one with 62±40 N/m2had the highest and lowest density, respectively, and the total density of benthic invertebrates for 8 months of sampling was 15490±581N/m2. The results of this research show that the effect of shrimp farming effluents on the abundance of microbial organisms in Delwar coast is remarkable.