Habitat Heterogeneity Influences Intertidal Fish Biodiversity and Ecological Functions in Chabahar County, Sea of Oman | ||
| ECOPERSIA | ||
| Volume 13, Issue 4 - Serial Number 54, Autumn 2025, Pages 429-439 PDF (2.84 M) | ||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||
| DOI: 10.48311/ecopersia.2025.104055.0 | ||
| Author | ||
| Mehdi Ghanbarifardi* | ||
| Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Aims: This study examines the biodiversity and ecological importance of intertidal fish communities across three distinct habitats in Chabahar County, Sea of Oman. Materials & Methods: Sampling was conducted in the intertidal zone at three stations in Chabahar during low tide using hand nets and waiting nets in summer/June 2023. Findings: Sampling at Darya-Bozorg, Tis Fishing, and Tis Recreational Beaches revealed 22 species from 9 families, with Blenniidae and Gobiidae dominating the permanent resident community. Darya-Bozorg’s supratidal pools, characterized by vertical walls and wave exposure, support blennies with specialized morphological adaptations for clinging and aerial respiration, while Tis Fishing Beach’s sandy and gravel pools favor gobiid species that remain mostly submerged. Tis Recreational Beach, with large boulder formations, supports fewer cryptic species but provides habitat for transient juveniles of families such as Epinephelidae, Apogonidae, and Pomacentridae. Transient species utilize intertidal zones as nurseries and feeding grounds, linking coastal ecosystems and contributing to trophic dynamics. Conclusion: Ecological roles of resident and transient fishes include regulating invertebrate populations, nutrient cycling, and maintaining reef community structure. Habitat heterogeneity, substrate type, and microhabitat availability strongly influence species composition and abundance. The findings underscore the ecological significance of intertidal fish assemblages for biodiversity conservation, fisheries, and the aquarium trade. Given the distinct ichthyofaunal assemblages and habitat characteristics among the studied sites, habitat-specific management and protection strategies are essential. This research provides a baseline for understanding intertidal fish diversity in Chabahar, an area facing increasing industrialization pressures, and highlights the need to preserve diverse intertidal habitats. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Biodiversity; Blenniidae; Ecological conservation; Gobiidae; Habitat adaptation; Sea of Oman | ||
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