Short communication: Ecological classification of southern zones of the ( Province), based on CMECS model

Item Type article

Authors Hoseinzadeh, M.A.; Owfi, F.; Gorjian Arabi, M.H.; Keshavarz, M.

Download date 29/09/2021 13:56:22

Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/37692 Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences 15(3) 1246-1253 2016

Ecological classification of southern zones of the Caspian Sea (), based on CMECS model

Hoseinzadeh M.A.1; Owfi F. 2*; Gorjian Arabi M.H. 3; Keshavarz M.4

Received: August 2015 Accepted: March 2016

1- Department of Fisheries, Branch, Islamic Azad University, Babol, 2- Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute (IFSRI), Research, Extension and Education Organization (AREEO), , Iran 3- Department of Fisheries, University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resource, , Iran 4- Department of Fisheries, Ghaemshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Gaemshahr, Iran *Corresponding author's Email: [email protected]

Keywords: Surface geology, Biotic cover, CMECS model, Mazandaran Province, Caspian Sea

Introduction biotope level because of the direct A coastal area is a confluence of land relationship between the biota and their and marine ecosystems and includes the environment (Andrefouet et al., 2003; independent biological, ecological, and Capolsini et al., 2003). The Coastal geological area. Increasing pressure on Marine Ecological Classification these areas can decrease the quality of Standard (CMECS) was developed with marine habitats, and can even lead to the input of over 40 coastal and 20 the loss of sensitive habitats (Lund and marine habitat experts and presents a Wilbur, 2007). In this regard, a universally accepted standard “biotope” has been suggested as the classification for coastal and marine most informative operational unit for habitats (Madden et al., 2005). CMECS research and management (Costello, provides a uniform protocol for 2009). These biotopes, however, have identification and characterizing been specified by the dominant species; ecological units which is intended to they depend on the seabed, they are allow monitoring, protection and stable, and sometimes are used restoration of unique biotic synonymously with the word ecology assemblages, endangered species, (Madden et al., 2008). Habitat critical habitats and important classifications are, therefore, most ecosystem components (Madden et al., accurate and ecologically relevant at the 2009). CMECS (Version III, 2009) 1247 Hoseinzadeh et al., Ecological classification of southern zones of the Caspian Sea (Mazandaran … included five distinct components coastline (487 km of coastline belongs including Surface Geology (SGC), Sub- to Mazandaran Province) and unique benthic (SBC), Biotic Cover (BCC), features, is a place for valuable Geo-form (GFC) and Water Column ecosystems such as estuaries, the deltas, (WCC), of which we have only applied wetlands, important wildlife ecologies, SGC and BCC. Component Units come etc. (Sharifpour and Owfi, 2007). in CMECS VIII organized into a branched hierarchy of four nested levels Materials and methods (Hewitt et al., 1998). They include The coastline of this study is located in classes, subclasses, biotic groups and the mid-eastern part of Mazandaran biotopes. Biotic Groups are often Province which is 69.275km in length. observational and descriptive defined The field operation and sampling in this by obvious structure-forming research was conducted in summer and organisms. winter 2011. Considering the extent and Based on the results of the geomorphology of the covered area, 19 Environmental Management Plan stations within 4 sub-regions (Table 1) (EMP) and Integrated Coastal Zone were designated using a Garmin Vista Management (ICZM), the Caspian Sea CX GPS device. in the north of Iran, with 873 km of

Table 1: The study area sub- region in the south part of Caspian Sea, till Amir Abad Port.

Sub Distance Start GPS coordinate End GPS coordinate region (Km) N3642390 N3643332 ZA 9.55 Babolsar parking Arab Kheil village E05238297 E05244457 N3643590 N3645537 ZB 17.79 Arab Kheil village Joybar / Larim E05246227 E05256207 N3646202 N3648452 ZC 16.665 Siahrod estuary Tajan estuary E05258105 E05306534 Nozar Abad N3649465 N3651241 ZD 25.27 Amir Abad port (Gohar baran) E05311501 E05323338

Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences Iranian Journal of Fisheries 15(3) Sciences 1246- 15( 3 ) 2016 20161248

Figure 1: Map of the southeastern part of Caspian Sea: the designated sites from Babolsar to Amir Abad port coastal stretch.

Figure 2: Components and structure of BCC (Biotic Cover Component) and SGC (Surface Geological Component) in the CMECS III model.

1249 Hoseinzadeh et al., Ecological classification of southern zones of the Caspian Sea (Mazandaran …

Dominant species were determined by The highest and lowest abundance sampling during two seasons and we belonged to Gammarus sp. took photos from specimens in their (Crustacean) and Abraovata sp. natural environment. Collected (Mollusca), respectively. In addition, specimens were preserved in alcohol however, fish and crustacean were not and transferred to the laboratory for included in the sampling components of identification which was done by this research. experienced experts. According to Habitat diversity based on the BCC: CMECS, the sediment size and Biotic communities were categorized biological characteristics were used to based on CMECS, and also by categorize habitats within related considering habitat diversity based on classes, subclasses and lower levels. Surface Geology Characteristics. All We transferred the collected data from biotic groups were most abundant in the the Global Positioning System (GPS) to rocky or rocky-sand shores. In order to the computer and sorted and classified follow the CMECS model, the codes of the recorded information based on the dominant communities were information forms. The CMECS model determined, the domination criteria was was applied based on the BCC and based on the presence during the SGC components, using existing data. season. Habitat classification and We classified the eastern coast of coding based on the CMECS model: Mazandaran Province (Babolsar to Based on the CMECS model, near Amirabad Port) and then encoded this shore, freshwater influence and zone based on the CMECS model. estuarine systems and sub-tidal subsystem are presented with [NS], Results and discussion [FI], [ES] and [1], respectively. The Taking the SGC and BCC into abiotic portion (SGC) [S] in this consideration, the results of this research is based on hardness or study can be presented as follows: softness of the substrate and is Habitat diversity based on the SGC: represented by “Unconsolidated Shore” Based on the composition, particle size [US] and “Rock Bottom” [RB] classes, and monitoring of substrates, 69.275 which are further divided into “Sands” km of the coast of the Caspian Sea from [2] and “Bed rock” [1] subclasses. Babolsar to Amirabad Port is divided into 2 substrate types of sandy (64.127 km or 92.57%) and rocky–sandy (5.148 km or 7.43%). The Construction coast was only rocky–sandy in the ZA sub region and it was totally sandy in other sub regions. Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences 15(3) 2016 1250

Figure 3: Biotope distributions in the South Caspian Sea (Amirabad port to Babolsar area).

The biotic portion [b] is represented by The Surface Geology Component of “Faunal Bed [FB]”, “Aquatic Bed CMECS is a first-order characterization [AB]” and “Emergent Wetland [EM]” of the geology that provides context and classes, which are further divided into setting for many marine processes, and “In fauna [3]”, “Macro algae [1]”, provides soft or hard structure for “Rooted Vascular [3]” and “Coastal benthic fauna (Madden et al., 2009). Salt Marsh [1]” subclasses. Nine codes In this study 19 stations were recorded were determined based on the CMECS and 9 standard codes identified by the model in the range of Babolsar– encoding system CMECS III. Most of Amirabad port on the southern part of the codes and biotopes have been Caspian Sea that are shown with their observed in the ZA Sub - region distributions of biotopes in a map (Fig. (Parking one of Babolsar–Arabkheil 3). village) that is due to the non-identical Habitat diversity based on SGC: bottom structure. Coastal areas are Describing the composition of the divided into rocky, muddy and sandy substrate surface is a fundamental part shores based on the sea bed. of any marine classification scheme. 1251 Hoseinzadeh et al., Ecological classification of southern zones of the Caspian Sea (Mazandaran …

We had two kinds of shore based Although differences between bottom types: 1. Sandy shore: Coast communities can often be correlated generally had sand bottom but rocks with differences in sediment size, other and boulders were located by human on factors such as light and turbidity can the sandy shore. Shore was totally also influence them (Tait and Dipper, sandy in ZB, ZC and ZD sub regions. 1998). 2. Rocky sandy shore: Rocks and Habitat classification and coding boulders located by human on shore. based on the CMECS Model: Based on ZA sub region had rocky a sandy the CMECS definition for biotope, 9 bottom. Owfi (2009) mentioned that biotopes /habitats were identified and most coasts of the Caspian Sea were mapped out (see Fig.3). More than 77% flat and covered by sand. These results of identified habitat was located on the were similar to the results of this study, mid-western and the rest was in the where the Sandy coast was 64.127 km mid-eastern part. This distinction is (92%) of the total coast (69.275 km) of logical due to the heterogeneity of the this study. coast in mid–western part because the Habitat diversity based on the BCC: number of habitats is related to the During the second decade of the heterogeneity of the biological and twentieth century, pioneer studies of physical characteristics on sea bed marine benthos were initiated (Tait and region. Dipper, 1998). Compared with the This study area had fewer number of pelagic environment, the sea bed habitats and codes compared with 3 provides a wider variety of habitats and coastal areas: Chabahar-Guatr, North of it corresponds to a greater diversity of Qeshm island and South of Qeshm fauna. Six taxa of fauna and 4 taxa of island that had 27 habitats with 13 flora were identified based on the codes (Shahraki et al., 2010), 40 results of this research. Rahimi (2011) habitats with 32 codes (Rahimi et al., stated that crustacean and mollusks had 2011) and 60 habitats with 47 codes insignificant abundance in all (Ansari et al., 2011) respectively. This structures, and they had more is because 1. The Caspian Sea has less abundance than other taxa on south species diversity because it is not Qeshm Island. The abundance of connected to the other seas and oceans, crustacean and mollusks were higher and 2. The study area in this research than other taxa in the Caspian Sea too. (69.275 km) was smaller than other The ZA sub region that has sandy and study areas. This model of classification rocky-sandy substrate and is located in has a wide range; and because it is still the western part of the study area had at the beginning, it has a lot of the most biodiversity. Other sub regions problems; and if it is merged with other (ZB, ZC and ZD) had entirely sandy models of classification, it will provide substrate and low biodiversity. a new classification system which may Iranian Journal of Fisheries Sciences 15(3) 2016 1252 exclude the defects of the current islands. Canadian Journal of Remote classification. Sensing, 29, 187-200. In this study, 9 habitats (biotopes) Costello, M. J., 2009. Distinguishing with 9 codes were determined. This marine habitat classification habitat is related to bottom diversity. concepts for ecological data Most biotopes and codes were observed management. Marine Ecology in the ZA sub region (west part study Progress Series, 397, 253-268. area), so that we had different types of Hewitt, J., S. Thrush, V. Cummings bottom in this sub region. Dreissena sp. and S. Turner, 1998. 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