جستجوی مقالات مرتبط با کلیدواژه "خلیج فارس" در نشریات گروه "زیست شناسی"

The relationship between length and weight, growth patterns, and condition factors play a crucial role in the assessment and management of fish stocks. The fish Talal, Rastrelliger kanagurta (Cuvier, 1817), is a globally valued bony fish belonging to the tuna family and is one of the most widespread species worldwide. In this study, the parameters related to the length-weight relationship and growth patterns of this species were examined in the regions of Jask, Bandar Lengeh, Bandar Abbas, and Qeshm in the coastal waters of Hormozgan. A total of 172 samples of this species were collected from local fishermen during the winter of 2021 and analyzed. The maximum length and weight recorded for the fish were 25.60 cm and 215.72 g, respectively, at the Qeshm station, while the minimum length and weight were 17.10 cm and 42.64 g at the Bandar Lengeh station. The calculated parameter b for all four stations ranged from 3.12 to 3.71. Based on the 95% confidence intervals and the Pauly formula, the growth type was determined to be positively allometric at the Jask, Bandar Abbas, and Qeshm stations, while isometric growth was observed at the Bandar Lengeh station. The highest mean condition factor was recorded at the Qeshm station with a value of 1.79 ± 0.018, while the lowest was at the Bandar Lengeh station with a value of 1.51 ± 0.021. Comparisons among the stations did not show any significant differences regarding this factor (p > 0.05). The condition factor for this species in the studied areas was greater than one, indicating its good adaptability to environmental conditions.

The influx of nutrients into the waters of the Persian Gulf is a significant environmental issue. The discharge of urban and industrial wastewater, as well as runoff from shrimp farming ponds, contributes to pollution in the region. However, the sea also has the capacity for self-purification. This study investigates the concentrations of nitrate, nitrite, and phosphate nutrients, and their variation from the coast to the inner sea in Bandar Abbas, while also assessing the Gulf's self-purification ability in removing these pollutants. Five stations were selected along the shores of Bandar Abbas, focusing on key sources of sewage entering the sea. A transect was placed perpendicular to the coast at each station, with samples collected from the point of sewage discharge, 1500 meters, and 5000 meters offshore. Three seawater samples were taken from each point and analyzed for nitrate, phosphate, nitrite, and physicochemical parameters. The results showed phosphate concentrations ranging from 0.0096 to 0.1450 μg/liter, nitrate from 0.01 to 0.577 μg/liter, and nitrite from 0.0002 to 0.0887 μg/liter. The nitrate and nitrite levels were found to be below the pollution standard, indicating the sea's natural ability to self-purify these pollutants. However, phosphate levels at some stations exceeded the standard, with the highest concentration found at station 4 (Goorsoozan Creek), where untreated urban sewage enters Bandar Abbas. Comparing nutrient levels across the stations revealed significant differences, which can be attributed to varying pollution sources and nutrient input in different regions

Pollution of living organisms' ecosystems by crude oil and its products has harmful effects. The use of approaches such as bioremediation has received much attention due to their cost-effectiveness and being eco-friendly. In the present study, different types of Gobiiformes were collected from four regions in the north of the Persian Gulf, and then their intestinal bacterial flora was identified by biochemical and molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. The ability of these bacteria to degrade crude oil was investigated using the gas chromatography (GC) technique. The obtained results showed the isolation of bacteria Thalassospira permensis, Pseudomonas aestusnigri, Cobetia marina, and Halomonas beimenensis from the intestines of Scartelaos tenuis, Periophthalmus waltoni, Istigobius ornatus, and P. waltoni, respectively. Also, two strains of T. permensis and H. beimenensis with growth rates of 1.09 and 1.43 (OD600nm) had the highest crude oil decomposition with 85.17 and 88.13%, respectively. The results of this study revealed that the microbial flora of these fishes is effective in removing oil pollution. This process needs more investigation and optimization of bioremediation conditions.

The Persian Gulf is a semi-closed inland sea with specific ecological conditions, and the level of oil pollution in it exceeds the global average acceptable for the marine environment. Echinoderms, due to their benthic nature, are more exposed to sediment pollution. This study was conducted in the intertidal zones of Bushehr province, including the shores of Shaghab, Owli, Shirino, Nay-Band, the T-pier and the Northern Khark Island, to determine the level of contamination in sediments and the tissue of the sea urchin Echinometra mathaei. Sampling was carried out in two seasons, winter and summer (2014-2015). In the laboratory, the samples were analyzed for the type and concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using chromatography and GC-MS. The highest concentration of PAHs in the sediments at the T pier in Khark was found to be naphthalene (913.7ng/g dry weight) in the winter, while the highest concentration of PAHs in the tissue was measured as phenanthrene (371.5ng/g dry weight) in the summer. No significant difference was observed between the levels of PAHs in sediments and tissues (P>0.05). The trend of PAH accumulation in sediments and tissues was increasing. The level of PAHs in sediments across all study areas (3059-441ng/g) was higher than the global standards set for sediments (197µg/kg), indicating greater pollution in the examined areas. A comparison of pollution accumulation in the tissues of the sea urchin with other aquatic species revealed higher PAH levels in the tissues of benthic species. This finding is due to the habitat and feeding type of these organisms, highlighting the importance of this species and the need for environmental toxicological studies on it.

This study examines the status of toxic metals in the soil and fish of the Persian Gulf coast, focusing on Bushehr region. The main goal of this research is to identify and evaluate the concentration of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury and arsenic in soil samples and fish caught from this area. Using the standard methods of sampling and chemical analysis, the method recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA 3050B) was used as a common acid digestion method, and the necessary data were collected and analyzed. According to the values obtained from five stations on the shores of the Persian Gulf, the concentration of heavy metals, manganese, zinc, chromium and nickel is more than other metals. Also, by examining the average rate of heavy metals in the fish of three Persian Gulf stations, the concentrations of aluminum, zinc, lead, nickel, and copper are the highest. The results showed the presence of high concentrations of some toxic metals in soil and fish, which can be caused by industrial activities, agriculture and oil pollution. These findings raise concerns about ecosystem health and food safety in Bushehr region and emphasize the necessity of management and monitoring measures to reduce pollution and protect natural resources. In general, heavy metals are toxic to the body at very low levels. Aluminum, lead, cadmium, and nickel have a higher degree of toxicity, therefore, the increase of these metals in the tissue of fishes is associated with many risks. The main mechanism of heavy metal toxicity includes the production of free radicals to cause oxidative stress, damage to biological molecules such as enzymes, proteins, lipids, nucleic ‎acids and DNA damage‏.‏

The present study was carried out in the fishing grounds of small pelagic fish on Qeshm Island (namely Ramcha, Souza, Messen, and Salakh) from September 2022 to June 2023. Field sampling was performed by double-boat purse seiners and conducting 57 netting. The length, height, and mesh size of purse seines were 300 m, 50 m, and 10 mm (STR). Data of date, time of setting, location, and weight of target species and bycatch were recorded for each setting net. The mean CPUE (±95% CI) of small pelagic fish was overally obtained at 991.23 ± 157.14 kg per set. This was 1300 ± 364.01 for Salakh, 1246.88 ± 295 for Ramchah, 669.23 ± 214.20 for Messen, and 587.5 ± 155.71 for Souza, which there was a significant difference between Salakh and Ramcha compared to Souza and Messen (P<0.01). Also, the mean CPUE (±95% CI) of target catch for warm and temperate seasons were 1227.42 ± 224.11 and 709.62 ± 174.20 kg per setting net, which was significantly differ (P<0.01). The maximum and minimum of occurrence percentages were attributed to anchovy (with 100%) and Trichiurus lepturus (with 1.75%). The highest and lowest of mean CPUE (±95% CI) for bycatch species/groups, were related to the Trichiurus lepturus (1.75 ± 3.51) and Dasyatidae (0.07 ± 0.10) kg per setting. Given that fishing efforts have increased in recent years in the region, the estimated values of CPUE for target catch were smaller than in previous studies. Therefore, the fisheries managers must take immediate action to optimize the ongoing fishing effort.

Due to global warming and climate changes, the water level of the Persian Gulf has increased, and these changes have led to an increase in sedimentation level and retreat of mangroves in the Hara protected area towards land. In the present study, the trend of changes in the water level of the Persian Gulf from 2000-2023 and also the extent of mangrove forests in the Hara protected area in Hormozgan province were investigated. In this study, the fluctuation trend of Persian Gulf water using L5-TM images for the year 2000 and L8 and OLI-TIRS images for the year 2023 in the Google Earth Engine (GEE) web system. It was monitored and analyzed. In this way, the water level monitoring maps of the Persian Gulf were extracted based on the normalized difference of water zones index (NDWI) and classified into two classes, blue and non-blue. In the following, using the Kolmogorov Smirnov statistical tests and Spearman's non-parametric correlation coefficient, the relationship between the water level changes in the Persian Gulf and the extent of mangroves in the Mangrove Protected Area was investigated. According to the results, the fluctuations of the water in the Persian Gulf from 2000 to 2023 had an increasing trend, so that the sea level in 2000 was equal to 5 mm and in 2023 these changes reached 90 mm. Also, the results of the extent changes of mangrove forests in the Hara protected area indicate that this habitat has decreased in 2023 compared to 2000. The analysis of the relationship between changes in the water level of the Persian Gulf and the extent of mangroves in this area reveals that a high correlation can be seen between these two variables during the studied years. This means that there is a direct relationship between the increase in water level changes in the Persian Gulf and the decrease in the mangrove forests of the Hara Protected Area. The continuous increase in sea level and its consequences can be one of the most important reasons for the reduction of mangrove habitats in the future. Considering the importance of mangrove habitats in the Hara protected area as a provider of a wide range of ecosystem services, as well as high biodiversity, management solutions should be considered to control and reduce the consequences and risks caused by the fluctuations of the sea water in the Persian Gulf.

Stock Assessment of marine aquatic is essential for modern management and sustainable conservation of fishery species, which has been rapidly developed by improving the ability of computer simulation with stock assessment methods, and for sustainable management and exploitation of fish stocks, knowledge of parameters such as age, growth and reproductive biology fishes are essential, and the output information can be used to plan and develop fisheries programs in the future. Fishing management has a wide range of goals, which include identification of aquatic population, assessment of stocks, use and development of fishing tools in order to efficiently exploit the stock and ensure the benefits of fishing users by providing a sustainable harvest deal. Stock assessment models are one of the strategies used to preserve fishery species.

In this study, some biological characteristics of greenback mullet fish were investigated during six months of 2023 in the coastal waters of Bandar Abbas. For this purpose, after sampling, 120 of the fishes caught were transferred to the laboratory for biometry of length and weight parameters and were subjected to biometrics. After morphometric analysis of greenback mullet samples, fish growth parameters such as Growth performance index, condition index, von Bertalaneffy growth function (VBGF), mortality coefficients and exploitation ratio were calculated using FiSAT software processing.

The results of the study showed that the average total length and weight of greenback mullet fish were 11.06 cm and 21.90 gr, respectively. In this fish, the relationship between total length and total weight was obtained as W=0.1886TL1.9226. The parameter of condition index in the entire sampling period had strong fluctuations in the first half of the sampling period and did not change significantly in the second half and was almost the same. Among the parameters calculated, we can mention the growth function of von Bertalaneffy growth function and factors such as forked length, growth coefficient and t0 were calculated as 20 cm, 1.1 and -0.1 per year, respectively. Total and natural mortality rates were estimated as 2.56 and 2.07 per year for the samples, respectively.

Stock assessment is the process of collecting, analyzing and reporting fish population information to determine changes in the abundance of fishery stocks in response to fishing and to predict the future trends of stock abundance as much as possible. In this study, the results showed that greenback mullet fish in the coastal waters of Bandar Abbas are young fish. For both males and females, the growth index is the highest, and overfishing, especially during the spawning seasons, has messed up the regeneration of the young population, Therefore, not having proper management in fishing can damage this valuable stock in the coastal waters of Bandar Abbas. Therefore, it is suggested that this study be re-evaluated in a longer period of time and with a larger number of samples so that the results can be proven with more certainty.

Background and Theoretical Foundations: 

Blue economy, which has been become a principal part of political, economic and scientific diplomacy of various countries, focuses on economic growth based on sustainable exploitation and protection of marine resources. Marine aquatics production (capture fisheries and aquaculture) is one of the main sections of development of blue economy.  Iran (Islamic Republic of), with 1800 km borderline with the Persian Gulf, is the largest fisheries state in the region and has a high capacity in terms of blue economy.

A qualitative study was used to gather data through a literature review on blue economy. Forty-three scientific papers were analyzed and their primary concepts were illustrated by a word cloud graph.  

Analyses of the contents indicated that blue justice is a top ten concept to blue growth. As a consequence of overfishing and climate change, fish stocks of Iranian coastal waters of the Persian Gulf have mostly been depleted in the past few years. It has led to increasing the vulnerability of small-scale fishing (SSF) communities than before. Therefore, it should be paid a specific attention to these communities in processes of policy making to development of blue economy.

Showing the limitations of blue justice implementation in the region, the present paper demonstrated that blue economy will not developed without considering justice and its implementation is a task for government.

The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating variations of diet of copepods in the Strait of Hormuz in both cold and warm seasons using fatty acid profiles with considering the effect of dominant phytoplankton groups in the region. The studied stations were selected as a transect perpendicular to the Bandar Abbas coast and in the center of the Strait of Hormuz. Four stations were sampled in this transect. Sampling was done in two hot seasons (July) and cold season (January). A vertical plankton net with an opening of 50 cm, a length of 2 m, and mesh size of 300 μm in the body part and 100 μm in the collecting container (Netbucket) was connected to a winch from the upper part and a 5 kg weight from the end part. Sampling was done from a depth of 10 meters to the water surface as a vertical pull between 9:00 and 15:00. This operation was repeated three times in each station. The first and second replications were fixed using 4% formalin and transferred to 500 ml containers, and the third repetition was placed in a -40°C freezer located on the research vessel and transferred frozen to the laboratory. The first and second replicates were used to identify and enumerate copepods, and the third replicate was used to isolate and prepare fatty acid profiles. To measure environmental parameters, water samples of each layer (5 meters and 15 meters) were transferred to the floating surface using a Niskin bottle, and parameters were measured using a Hach multimeter. In order to identify phytoplankton groups, one liter of water was taken from the water surface at the sampling point and poured into dark containers and fixed with acidic Lugol solution and stored in cool conditions at room temperature (below 25°C).To concentrate phytoplankton cells, the method of sedimentation process was repeated twice. In this method, the water sample was transferred to a one-liter graduated cylinder and after 72 hours, 90% of the surface water was decanted. Then, the remaining sample volume was transferred to a 100 ml graduated cylinder and again after 72 hours, 90% of the surface water was decanted. After that, to remove the concentrated sample, the container was stirred to mix well, then using a pipette, one milliliter of the sample was transferred to the Sedwig Rafter counting slide. Samples were analyzed using a Nikon inverted microscope with 400x magnification. Finally, the number of cells of each phytoplankton group per milliliter was calculated.Zooplankton samples were separated from the fixative solution using a 100-micron sieve. Then the samples were transferred to 70% alcohol and glycerin solution. After that, the copepod samples were separated from other zooplankton using a Leica stereomicroscope. Finally, different copepod species were identified at the genus level. Using numbers recorded by the flowmeter, the volumes of water filtered by the plankton net was calculated for each net haul. Finally, the density of copepods was calculated as number per cubic meter. The separation of copepods from frozen zooplankton samples was done quickly and under conditions of near zero temperature. Then the isolated copeod samples were frozen again. Finally, the samples were transferred to the central laboratory of the National Research Institute of Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences in frozen form for analyzing fatty acids content.Cyanobacteria with 52% relative abundance were the dominant group in July. All the cyanobacteria observed in this study were Trichodesmium erythraeum, and after those, diatoms and dinoflagellates formed 36 and 12% of the phytoplankton groups in July, respectively. In January, diatoms were the most abundant phytoplankton group (74%) and cyanobacteria were rarely found (1%). A total of 17 genera of copepods were identified. Acartia sp. (30.57 %) and Oithona sp. (19.03 percent) the most abundant copepods were in July. In January, Calanopia sp. (16.2 percent) and Oncaea sp. (15.26%) were the most abundant copepods. The feeding type of copepods changes according to the season and available prey. In this study the majority of observed copepods were herbivores and omnivores.In July and January, hexadecanoic fatty acid has the largest share of the identified fatty acids in the total of fatty acids with 32 and 27%, respectively. The cis-Vaccenic index fatty acid also accounted for 9 and 4% of the total identified fatty acids in July and January. Docosahexaenoic fatty acid (DHA) with 4% in July and eicosapentaenoic fatty acid (EPA) with 2% abundance were found in January samples. In July, 4% of DHA was found in the total amount of fatty acids, which indicates the consumption of flagellates by copepods. Higher abundance of flagellates in July and abundance of Oithona sp. which prefer the consumption of flagellates caused Higher DHA percentage in summer samples. In January, EPA constituted 2% of the total amount of fatty acids, which indicates the consumption of diatoms by copepods in winter.The results of this study showed that the zooplankton community structure is significantly different between the cold and warm seasons in the Strait of Hormuz. Dominant phytoplankton groups also change significantly in the Strait of Hormuz in both cold and warm seasons, and the effect of changes in the community of primary producers in the Strait of Hormoz can be observed by tracking fatty acid markers in secondary producers. The environmental conditions in summer and winter are significantly different in the Strait of Hormuz. Water temperature and salinity were higher in July and the amount of dissolved oxygen measured in January was lower. However, we cannot obtain detailed information about the nutritional relationship of copepods and phytoplankton groups with the results of this study, but we can increase our general knowledge about their nutritional relationships in the Strait of Hormuz. Obviously, the amount of production in summer was higher than in winter. But the composition of prey available to primary consumers (herbivorous copepods) has changed. In this way, in summer, cyanobacterial flagellates were more available than diatoms. The question is, do copepods directly consume cyanobacteria and lead to continuation of the bacterial production in the food chain? By comparing the relative frequency of cis-Vaccenic acid as an indicator of bacteria in winter and summer, it can be said that the production by bacteria is transferred to the primary consumers, but the direct consumption of cyanobacteria by copepods cannot be commented. Whereas, harpactoid species known as direct consumers of cyanobacteria were not observed in this study. Regarding flagellates and diatoms, it can be said that the flagellates in summer and diatoms in winter has a greater contribution to the diet of copepods in the Strait of Hormuz.

Coastal areas represent the most vulnerable regions of the ocean. Thus, the identification and estimation of sedimentation rates in the sensitive coastal habitats of Qeshm and Lark islands were conducted during 2022-2023. The diving team identified three habitats consisting of natural structures in the north of Larak Island, characterized by the predominance of Acropora sp., and one habitat featuring flora and fauna originating from human-made structures (Doha Qeshm Jetty). These habitats, resembling those on Larak Island but on a smaller scale, were mapped using ArcGIS software 10.1. Three sediment traps were placed at 500-meter intervals in each station to cover each habitat comprehensively. The minimum and maximum sedimentation rates were measured at Larak Islands (St3) with 28 and Doha Qeshm Jetty with 196 (g/m2/day), respectively. Additionally, the minimum and maximum concentrations of suspended substances in the water column, ranging from 9.44 to 21.31 (mg/lit), were observed at these two stations during autumn. The freshness of Acropora sp. served as an indicator in all four habitats, potentially reflecting either the negligible impact of sedimentation rates on communities or the resilience of these communities to sedimentation during the study period

The study of food composition and feeding ecology of fishes living in the intertidal zone are essential in understanding the energetic connectivity between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The mudskipper Periophthalmus waltoni is an amphibious fish in the intertidal zone. The aim of this research was to discern how spatial and temporal factors influence the species' diet. A total of 319 individuals were collected across two estuaries in Hormozgan province (184 in Bandar Abbas and 135 in Bandar Khamir) during November 2018 to April 2018. The results revealed that P. waltoni primarily follows a carnivorous diet, as indicated by their relative gut length (RLG) and diet composition. The individuals measured 9.2–11.8 cm in total length and 8.1–15.8 g in weight. Analysis of stomach contents identified three main preys: Uca, Gastropoda, and Coleoptera, with Bandar Abbas and Bandar Khamir showing a prevalence of crab (79.31%) and Gastropod (54.16%), respectively. The mudskipper's feeding strategy, as per Castello, appeared general in Bandar Abbas and specific in Bandar Khamir. The highest frequency index of prey occurrence for specimens in Bandar Abbas for crab prey was calculated at 68.31%, while in Bandar Khamir, it was determined as 42.52% for gastropods. Stomach emptiness index values of 21.49% and 13.86% suggest P. waltoni is a voracious feeder.

The study delved into bacteriocins, peptides with antibacterial properties, originating from select lactic acid bacteria. Isolating 18 such bacteria from Liza klunzingeri's intestine, their potential in bacteriocin production against food pathogens was assessed. Crude bacteriocins from 7 isolates exhibited the ability to inhibit food pathogens via an agar spot test. Notably, bacteriocins derived from LK5 and LK12 isolates displayed a broader inhibitory spectrum against the pathogens under study. Further analysis revealed that the studied bacteriocins were susceptible to proteolytic enzymes, leading to complete degradation. However, these bacteriocins retained their antibacterial potency when subjected to diverse detergents, pH variations, and temperature fluctuations. Genetic analysis via the 16S rRNA gene identified LK5 and LK12 as strains of Lactobacillus plantarum, with similarity percentages of 98.55% and 99.46%, respectively. The findings highlight L. Klunzingeri's intestinal bacterial flora as a promising source for isolating bacteriocin-producing bacteria. Specifically, bacteriocins derived from L. Plantarum LK5 and L. Plantarum LK12 showcase potential as biological preservatives within the food industry, warranting further exploration.

The study aimed to assess temporal and spatial variations in the population of polychaetes, a significant invertebrate group in deep-sea ecosystems, across the northern waters of the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea. Sampling occurred from fall 2018 to winter 2020, covering regions in Hormozgan, Bushehr, Sistan and Baluchestan, and Khuzestan. A total of 115 stations were surveyed, utilizing 0.1 square meters and a 500 μm sieve (repeated thrice) to collect bed sediments within the depth range of 12 to 90 meters. Within this study, 35 species/genus of polychaetes were identified in the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea. Notably, Flabelligra sp., Manayunkia aestuarina, and Glycinde sp. exhibited the highest abundance, with Flabelligra sp. and M. aestuarina serving as indicator species in both regions. The provinces of Sistan and Baluchestan and Bushehr displayed the highest Shannon diversity and species richness, recording 3.592 and 6.998, respectively. Comparing these findings with prior reports revealed a reduction in the diversity of identified polychaete species in the Persian Gulf. This decline could stem from various factors such as habitat damage due to fishing equipment, and the incidence of contaminants. Continual research and database establishment for time series analysis could significantly aid researchers, authorities, and environmental advocates in comprehending the health status of the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea. Such efforts would facilitate environmental monitoring and pollution prevention measures, contributing to the preservation of these ecosystems

Coral reefs are one of the most important and diverse marine ecosystems that provide many benefits to humans. The increase in the sea surface temperature (SST), leads to their biology disruption and bleaching. In the present study, the relationship between the increase in SST due to climate change and the interactions between genes and proteins has been investigated. The results can give us a perspective on the extent of the vulnerability of corals to stress and the adoption of methods to protect them. Data on SST anomalies in the Persian Gulf was obtained using satellite data. The metabolic pathway of sod and cat genes in oxidative stress, and hsp90 gene in heat shock pathways were obtained by KEGG. Gene and protein interactions were obtained through GeneMANIA and STRING databases respectively. SST analyzes showed that there are temperature fluctuations in the Persian Gulf from the lowest temperature, about 16 °C to about 35 °C in Khark Island. Therefore, the coral reefs of the Persian Gulf tolerate very high temperatures. During thermal stress, the coral host responds to oxidative stress by regulating the expression of antioxidant genes, including sod and cat, to protect the coral-algae symbiosis. In addition, the expression of hsp90 indicates its role in protecting proteins from heat damage. Understanding the relationship between SST and the molecular health status of coral reefs is essential to develop conservation strategies to protect these marine ecosystems in the face of climate change.

One of the most important secondary metabolites of the marine sponges are steroids. The aim of this study is to investigate the antifungal activity of the steroidal fractions derived from the sponge Axinella sinoxea from the waters around Lark Island in the Persian Gulf. Extraction from sponges was done with acetone and separation of fractions was done by column chromatography with silica gel using a range of solvents with different polarity. Identification of steroidal fractions were done by thin layer chromatography and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Then, antifungal properties of the steroids were investigated through determining the minimum inhibition concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration by tubular dilution method against Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans. The identified steroids included compounds of Stigmasta, Ergosta, Cholest and Norgorgosta, which showed different results regarding the growth inhibition and killing of fungi and yeast strains at different experimental doses. Stigmasta and Ergosta showed more antifungal effects against A. fumigatus compared with the other steroids and Ergosta caused the best inhibitory and killing effects against C. albicans compared with the other steroids. In conclusion, promising results were found regarding the antifungal effects of the extracted steroids of the marine sponge A. sinoxea, revealing the necessity of more comprehensive investigations for the synthesis of biomedicines from the marine bioactive compounds.

The Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea are habitats for a variety of aquatic species, especially fish. Heavy metals are crucial pollutants in aquatic ecosystems and can be among the major factors influencing the health of consumers. The purpose of this essay is to conduct a systematic review of studies that have assessed the concentration of heavy metals in the muscle tissue of certain fish species in these waters, spanning from the year 2006 to 2018. This meta-analysis study was performed on 1182 muscle tissues of Pampus argenteus, Platycephalus indicus, Lutjanus johnii, javelin grunter, Johnius belangerii, Otolithes ruber, Scomberomorus commerson, Scomberomorus guttatus, Epinephelus coioides, caught from the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea, in order to investigate the amount of these metals. Also, the safety of food intake and the comparison with the standards were investigated. The THQ and HI indices were found to be less than 1 in the all species of fish for adults, but for children only in Scomberomorus commerson in HI index is more than one. The amount of mercury, zinc and lead in the all pecies of fish, cadmium in Lutjanus johnii and javelin grunter and nickel in Scomberomorus guttatus and Epinephelus coioides were lower than all standards. The daily and weekly absorption rates for all studied metals were lower than the authorized JECFA Committee due to fish consumption. Also, the lowest amount of allowance for studied metals was found mercury in Scomberomorus commerson, lead in Johnius belangerii and cadmium in Platycephalus indicus. It seems that high use of the Platycephalus indicus in terms of the studied metals has led to health risks in children. Therefore, environmental protection, which it has been influential in creating nutritional health problems, is considered a necessity.

The Persian Gulf hosts a variety of marine ecosystems, including mangrove forests, seagrass beds, and coral reefs, which have adapted to the challenging environmental conditions of the region to some extent. These ecosystems are increasingly influenced by rapid population growth, economic development in the countries surrounding the Persian Gulf, as well as, the impact of climate change in the region. They are facing mounting pressure from human activities. The influx of nutrients, coupled with the warming of the Persian Gulf, can result in a reduction in the dissolved oxygen concentration in the water. Consequently, the simultaneous occurrence of warming, reduced oxygen, and acidification in the Persian Gulf has become a significant challenge for its valuable ecosystems. According to studies, hypoxic areas in the Persian Gulf in mid-autumn can extend to more than 50,000 square kilometers. The occurrence of hypoxia in the Persian Gulf during late summer is confined to two primary areas in the western and central regions. In the eastern Strait of Hormuz, hypoxic conditions are observed in the near-bottom layer from early summer to mid-winter in areas distant from the Gulf's outflow. The reconstruction of dissolved oxygen concentrations in recent decades also indicates a declining trend accompanied by an increase in the extent and duration of hypoxia in the Persian Gulf. The degradation of water quality in the Persian Gulf, in addition to its adverse effects on its valuable ecosystems and consequently on fisheries and aquaculture in the Gulf, can significantly impact the Gulf of Oman and even the Arabian Sea in various ways, exacerbating the conditions of Oxygen Minimum Zones (OMZ) in these expansive seas. The Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea naturally and permanently host the widest and thickest OMZ in the world ocean. Depths exceeding 400 meters in the Gulf of Oman exhibit suboxic conditions (oxygen concentration less than 6 µmol/kg) during both summer and winter. The OMZ in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman has intensified over the past few decades. Oxygen levels recorded in 1960 in the core of the OMZ in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman ranged from 6 to 12 µmol/kg but have now dropped to levels below 6 µmol/kg (suboxic). This intensification of the OMZ in the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman has adverse effects on the ecosystems of this region and the livelihoods of dependent populations. Marine organisms residing in the near-bottom layer or surface sediments are most affected by the expansion and intensification of hypoxic and suboxic conditions. Oxygen deficiency leads to a decline in the biodiversity of benthic communities, promoting resilient species such as polychaeta in surface sediments. The reduction in oxygen levels in the Arabian Sea has significantly influenced the composition of phytoplankton communities, the vertical migration of zooplankton, and myctophidae in the water column. The expansion and intensification of the OMZ, with its adverse impacts on fishing and aquaculture, also carry socio-economic implications for residents of the coastal areas of the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Oman, and the Arabian Sea. Considering the prevalence of seasonal hypoxic conditions in the Persian Gulf and permanent suboxic conditions in the Gulf of Oman, addressing this trend and mitigating its environmental and economic impacts in the region is crucial. Management and policy strategies to halt or reduce the effects of oxygen depletion in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman can be classified into three main categories: a) ecosystem-based mitigation measures for environmental restoration and protection, b) adaptation-based measures to restore and protect marine organisms and fisheries, c) implementation and maintenance of monitoring programs and analysis of the information obtained. In essence, efforts to integrate research, management, and policy actions in oceans and seas across all biological, geochemical, and physical disciplines, addressing all climate change-related issues such as warming, acidification, and oxygen reduction, and involving all academic, industrial, governmental, and regulatory sectors, constitute the most effective roadmap recommended for combating the impacts of climate change on marine resources.

The Mediterranean-Arab (Arab-Med) Corridor of India to Europe is an emerging multi-faceted trade corridor that could fundamentally alter trade patterns between the Indian Ocean region, the Middle East, and Europe by creating a crescent of trade connectivity on the southern edge of Eurasia from the coasts. The Arabian Sea of India will change to the eastern Mediterranean coast of Greece. For India, this new corridor is a strategic paradigm shift with huge geopolitical implications that could change its role in the Eurasian economic order. Based on this, the current research, which was carried out in a descriptive-analytical way, seeks to answer the question of what effect does the Arab-fashion corridor have on the new architecture in the trans-regional connection? The hypothesis of this research is that the Arab-Med Corridor is creating an alternative trans-regional trade architecture in which the UAE ports can act as the connecting point of the Indian Ocean to create a separate trade corridor from India to Europe and India to The title introduces a new power to the world with the ability to create transregional commercial architecture. The establishment of a Mediterranean terminal - from Haifa to the European mainland at the Greek port of Piraeus - means that Indian goods sent to UAE ports can reach the main markets and production centers of Europe.