Structure of Ichthyoplankton in Eastern estuaries of Hormozgan Province (Tiab and Yekshabeh estuaries)

Estuaries are one of the most important coastal areas as a habitat for aquatic animals, especially their larvae, which unfortunately today due to extensive human activities are affected by pollutants, which of course with a negative impact on organisms living in the ecosystem, including on plankton and especially the larvae are fish (Ichthyoplankton). In this project, we try to find out how dense and diverse Ichthyoplankton.This research was carried out in a one-year period from autumn ۲۰۱۶ to summer ۲۰۱۷ by sampling two stations in Tiab Estuary and one station in Yekshabeh in the east of Hormozgan province to obtain the structure of the Ichthyoplankton population (fish larvae). Sampling was performed using a bongo net with a spring size of ۳۰۰ microns equipped with a flowmeter. During the larval study period, ۹ families of fish were observed, identified and their frequency was estimated. These families included: Engraulidae, Clupeidae, Gobiidae, Carangidae, Leiognathidae, Scianidae, Sparidae, Scomberidae and Sillagnidae. The highest and lowest percentages of fish larvae were observed in spring and winter, respectively. Clupeidae larvae were observed in all seasons and their highest abundance was obtained in summer, while Engraulidae had higher density in spring. During a one-year study period, larvae of Clupeidae (۴۰% abundance), Engraulidae (۲۲%), Gobiidae (۱۶%) and Sparidae (۱۳%) were the dominant families. The larvae of the family Clupeidae were seen in all seasons, so that they had a higher percentage in winter and summer. The family Engraulidae was not observed only in autumn and was observed in spring with the highest frequency. Families of Leiognathidae and Sillagnidae with high percentage and low distribution were registered in only one season.