Identification and ecological survey on macrobentic bivalves in the intertidal zone of Khark island(Persian Gulf)

Identification and ecological survey on macrobenthic bivalves in five sites in the Khark Island were carried out in four seasons during 2010-2011. At each site, three transects including supralittoral, eulittoral and sublittoral zones were selected. The highest and lowest water temperatures were recorded in Summer (35.94 ± 0.28) and in Winter (18.34 ± 0.39) and the highest and lowest salinity were recorded in Winter (44.6 ± 0.14) and Spring (37 ± 0.18), respectively. Maximum and minimum percentages of total organic matter (TOM) was observed in Summer (9.63 ± 0.71) and Winter (3.39 ± 0.15), respectively. Twelve bivalve species belonging to seven families were identified: Barbatia lacerate, Pinctada radiata, Ostrea sp.1, Crossostrea gigas, Sacosstrea cucullata. Diplodonta ravaiyensis, Venus sp.1, Circentia callypyga, Callista sp.1, Gariroseus, Tellina capsoides, Angulus adensis. The maximum and minimum density and distribution have been found in Spring and Summer, respectively. In our study the most frequent bivalve species observed in all seasons was Barbatia lacerate.