Temporal and spatial distribution of fish larvae in Khur-e-Mussa Channel (Khuzestan-Persian Gulf)

Temporal and spatial distribution of fish larvae population in eastern and western parts of Khure e Mussa channel in Khuzestan province (Persian Gulf) was studied during 2007-2008. Monthly samples were collected by 300μm mesh size plankton net during which 9440 larvae were collected. Totally, 22 families were identified including Bregmacerotidae, Callionymidae, Carangidae, Clupeidae, Cepolidae, Cynoglossidae, Gobiidae, Leiognathidae, Mugilidae, Platycephalidae, Scaridae, Sciaenidae, Scatophagidae, Scorpaenidae, Sillaginidae, Soleidae, Sparidae, Stromateidae, Syngnathidae, Engraulidae, Trichiuridae, Triacanthidae. The most frequent families were Gobiidae (22.26), Clupeidae (17.61, and Sparidae (8.77%), respectively. The highest densities of larvae were observed in beginning of spring. Two peak of population was observed. The first one in early spring (April) and the second peak was in mid-summer (August and September). Cluster analysis based on average annual abundance of 12 important families classified stations into three groups with 70% similarity. The results of cluster analysis separated western stations 1, 2 and 3 from others. Higher densities of fish larvae in the western coast of Khur-e-Mussa channel showed that western parts better for nursery grounds for the studied fish larvae