Journal of the Persian Gulf (Marine Science)
Volume:8 Issue: 28, Summer 2017

In the present study, sampling and analysis of size-fractionated suspended particulate matter (SPM) in coastal waters of Chabahar Bay have been done for the first time. Sampling has been conducted on December 25 of 2018 from 5 stations in different locations of the Bay in order to evaluate the effects of natural and human activities on SPM mass and composition. With an overall average of 2.44 and 2.37 mg/L for small size (0.4-25 μm) and large size (>25 μm) fraction, concentrations of SPM ranged from less than 1.16 mg/L in the north of the Bay to a maximum of 3.96  mg/L near the urbanized area (Konarak harbor)  in the west of the Bay, respectively. The bulk composition of SPM was mostly of lithogenic materials and particulate organic matter with low contribution from biogenic CaCO3 and even lower biogenic silica, widely varied over stations. Leaching with HCl shows that most of the particulate Fe (>60%), Mn and P (>80%) were labile, while for lithogenic elements, such as Al and Ti the acid-leachable fraction was lower than 10%.  Me/Al ratio for heavy metals of Mn, Fe, Cr, Zn, Ni, and Cu was compared with local sediment and rocks. The ratio was higher in larger size fraction except for Cu.  Enrichment factor relative to reference sediment for Mn, Fe, and Cr was usually lower than 1.0, while for the other three elements the EF values higher than 1.5 indicates a significant contribution from non-crustal sources.

Foraminifera are one of the most important fossil microorganisms in the Persian Gulf. During micropaleontological investigations in 5 sampling stations around the Kish Island, 14 genera and 15 species of dead Cenozoic benthic foraminifera were determined and described. Next to these assemblages, other organisms, such as microgastropods and spines of echinids were also looked into. In this study, the statistical analysis of foraminiferal distribution was done in one depth-zone (60-150 m and compared with the Australian-Iran Jaya Continental margin depth-zone.

Wind induced wave is of great importance due to its high energy. In this study wave climate in the Gulf of Oman close to the Koohmobarak area is investigated. Wave climate study is necessary for determination of long-term analysis of wave statistics as well as climate change effects in the study area. First, wave climate is study using both measured and simulated wave data close to the study area. Due to the lack of reliable wave data, long-term simulation, i.e. 35 years simulation, is carried out to find the wave characteristics in the Gulf of Oman. Since, the Gulf of Oman might be affected by swells from the Indian Ocean, large scale wave simulation all over the Indian Ocean is performed using WAVEWATCH III model. Then, medium scale wave simulation with fine mesh is carried out close to the study area and yearly and monthly wave roses are determined.

This study was conducted to investigate the possibility of population forming of Oncorhynchus mykiss in competition with Salmo caspius on the southern shores of the Caspian Sea in Mazandaran province, Iran.  One hundred fish specimens were collected seasonally from commercial purse seine from October 2017 to April 2018. Brown trout diet was analyzed and a total of 90 individuals belonging to 12 taxa (groups) were identified. Except for algae which were general prey, the other food items in the diet were rare for rainbow trout. Atherina caspia and Clupeonella cultriventris were the other prey items, accordingly.  Analysis of the brown trout diet, a total number of 2 taxa were identified summing a total of 10 individuals. The Atherina caspia for brown trout was a specialty food and the most important A% and FO% found in the diet of its had. Although the feeding habits were both carnivorous and used more than fish as food prey, but rainbow trout fed a wide range of food items. Therefore, in the competition between two species, Oncorhynchus mykiss is more successful, and under adverse habitat conditions it is possible to remove Salmo caspius. In some rainbow trout caught, all stages of sexually transmitted infections (II to V) were observed, of which stages 4 and 5 had the lowest number. Escaped farmed salmon are able to spawn successfully in rivers.

Long-term observational data are essential for detecting and understanding local, regional and global climate change. The goal of this paper is to consider climate data of west of the Caspian Sea for any trends in Annual means of 2m temperature and precipitation at the stations of Anzali, Rasht, Astara and Lahijan for 1956-2018 period. Some inconsistencies in the data were found. Our analysis and computations are done for Mean, maximum and minimum temperature, and precipitation. Using some statistical methods, such as Pearson and spearman correlation and Z-score, some analytical considerations are done. The precipitation has mostly a downward trend, strongest in Anzali, opposite to the general global trends that are mostly upward in areas of abundant precipitation, such as in the study area. The results of homogeneous test analysis of time series data showed strong (99% confidence level) non-homogeneity trends (confidence level of at least 95%).

In this work, removal of phenanthrene and acenaphthene, as a representative of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, was investigated from soil samples by the soil washing remediation method combined with Central Composite Design. Response surface methodology was utilized to investigate the individual and interactive effects of three variables of removal process including surfactant solution concentration ( ), bentonite content ( ) and phenanthrene/acenaphthene solution concentration ( ). The gas chromatographic results showed that the removal efficiencies were up to 91% for phenantherene and 98% for acenaphthene. A quadratic model with high accuracy (phenantherene: R2 = 0.96, adjusted R2 = 0.94 and acenaphthene: R2 = 0.99, adjusted R2 = 0.98) was developed and well described for the removal process of phenanthrene/acenaphthene from soil. Moreover, the process was optimized to reach maximum removal scenarios. The results confirmed the accuracy and reliability of the optimization process using RSM. Therefore, response surface methodology is a suitable approach to determine the optimal parameters for chemical soil washing to remove PAH from contaminated soil by using surfactant.

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