mohammadsharif ranjbar

This study investigates the impact of physicochemical parameters on the antibacterial activity of Symbiodinium sp. in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman during the summer season. Symbiodinium sp., a crucial symbiont in coral ecosystems, plays an essential role in marine environments, contributing significantly to the health and stability of coral reef ecosystems. Samples of Symbiodinium sp. were collected from the anemone Stichodactyla haddoni at three locations: Qeshm Island, Hormuz Island, and Chabahar Bay. Additionally, laboratory-cultured Symbiodinium sp. was included for comparative analysis. Physicochemical parameters, including temperature, salinity, and pH, were assessed, revealing significant differences across the sampling sites. Specifically, the Persian Gulf exhibited higher temperatures and salinity levels compared to the Gulf of Oman. The antibacterial activity of the algae extracts was evaluated against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. The results indicated that extracts of Symbiodinium sp. isolated from Hormuz Island exhibited the most potent antibacterial activity when compared to laboratory-cultured samples. However, the overall antibacterial efficacy of these extracts was found to be significantly weaker than that of established antibiotics, such as penicillin. These findings underscore the influence of environmental factors, particularly temperature and salinity, on the antibacterial properties of Symbiodinium sp. and offer valuable insights into its potential for biotechnological applications. Moreover, the study highlights the untapped potential of Symbiodinium sp. as a source of bioactive compounds with antimicrobial properties, which could pave the way for the development of novel antimicrobial agents. This research also emphasizes the importance of sustainable environmental management strategies to protect coral reef ecosystems, particularly in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, regions of high ecological and economic importance.

Pollution of living organisms' ecosystems by crude oil and its products has harmful effects. The use of approaches such as bioremediation has received much attention due to their cost-effectiveness and being eco-friendly. In the present study, different types of Gobiiformes were collected from four regions in the north of the Persian Gulf, and then their intestinal bacterial flora was identified by biochemical and molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. The ability of these bacteria to degrade crude oil was investigated using the gas chromatography (GC) technique. The obtained results showed the isolation of bacteria Thalassospira permensis, Pseudomonas aestusnigri, Cobetia marina, and Halomonas beimenensis from the intestines of Scartelaos tenuis, Periophthalmus waltoni, Istigobius ornatus, and P. waltoni, respectively. Also, two strains of T. permensis and H. beimenensis with growth rates of 1.09 and 1.43 (OD600nm) had the highest crude oil decomposition with 85.17 and 88.13%, respectively. The results of this study revealed that the microbial flora of these fishes is effective in removing oil pollution. This process needs more investigation and optimization of bioremediation conditions.

Mudflats are situated at the interface between land and sea, transitioning from submerged during high tide to exposed during low tide. For burrowing animals, especially crabs, mudflats serve not only as nesting sites but also as feeding grounds. This study aimed to examine the morphology and estimate the density, of the crab Leptochryseus kuwaitense using their burrows in the mudflats of Khor-Khoran during the winter 2023.  For this purpose, the mudflat above the mangroves was divided into three zones: the upper intertidal (station one), the mid-intertidal (station two), and the lower intertidal (station three) zones. The results of the study showed that the number of burrows was higher in the mid-intertidal zone compared to the other two zones, likely due to higher moisture levels and less human pressure. The diameter of the burrow entrances increased from station one to station three, with a significant difference observed between station one and station three . The morphology and structure of the burrows in the lower intertidal zone were more complex, likely due to competition with other species.

The coastal landscapes are constantly changing due to the increasing demand for structures aimed at economic, residential, and tourism activities. Human-made constructions such as breakwaters, piers, and seawalls have become characteristic features alongside shallow habitats in intertidal and subtidal zones. This transformation accelerates in response to exponential population growth and climate change impacts, such as rising sea levels and the need to mitigate natural disasters like storm surges. Concerns about the ecological value of these created environments have sparked efforts to establish new habitats to enhance biodiversity. Therefore, this study aimed to compare biodiversity patterns between artificial and natural substrates, as well as to investigate the role of slope and tidal height characteristics in determining biodiversity patterns.

Sampling was conducted in four natural habitats (rocky shores of Naz Island, Mosen, Naqashah, and Ramchah) and four artificial habitats (rocky substrates of Naz Island breakwaters, fish processing waste, Selakh, and Ramchah) along the southern shores of Qeshm Island, seasonally from summer 2016 to spring 2017. During this study, 960 photographs were taken of epibiotic communities from two types of substrates across eight stations and three tidal levels over four sampling periods.

After analyzing the photographs and identifying the collected samples, 105 species were identified, of which 65 species were found in natural substrates and 42 species in artificial substrates. Natural substrates exhibited a higher abundance (percentage cover) of epibiotic communities compared to artificial ones. Most taxonomic groups identified had higher percentage cover in natural substrates, except for three groups: hydroids, bryozoans, and sponge-like organisms, which were more abundant in artificial substrates. A similar trend was observed in the number of species, with the stations of Mosen, Ramchah, and Naqashah hosting the highest species counts. The results indicated greater species diversity in natural substrates (14.99) compared to artificial ones (9.98). PERMANOVA tests revealed significant differences in the structure of epibiotic communities between natural and artificial hard substrates, as well as across different tidal levels on the southern shores of Qeshm Island (p < 0.05).

A nearly regular increasing trend in species count was observed with rising tidal height, with lower intertidal areas hosting higher species richness compared to the other two tidal levels. No echinoderm individuals were found on the flat surfaces of artificial habitats, likely due to the steep slope and lack of microhabitats, which prevented these communities from establishing. In examining the cleaner species in both natural and artificial habitats, it was found that the distribution and growth of the algae Padina sp. on artificial substrates had significantly decreased compared to natural ones. This macroalga was one of the key species influencing the population structure differences between the two habitats. The steep slopes and high wave energy in artificial substrates likely hindered the successful spread of this species. In contrast, the macroalga Centroceras clavulatum successfully adapted to artificial structures and established significant coverage on these substrates, making it one of the key species influencing the differences in population structure between the two habitats, following Padina sp. This study demonstrated that creating low-slope surfaces leads to a broader range of habitats, increasing substrate heterogeneity and thereby providing multiple ecological niches for various species, ultimately enhancing regional biodiversity.

Green synthesis of nanoparticles has attracted a lot of attention due to economic and environmental benefits compared to common chemical synthesis methods. The aqueous extract of brown macroalgae Sargassum ilicifolium was used for the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles. Biosynthesized nanoparticles were identified by color change, UV-Vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, TEM, SEM and XRD. The results showed that the formed nanoparticles were spherical and crystalline with a size range between 15.1 to 27nm. Antibacterial activity of biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles was investigated by MIC and MBC method against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria and the results showed that biosynthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles had a significant antibacterial effect against the tested bacteria. Finally, this study shows that the green synthesis of zinc nanoparticles from marine macroalgae can be an effective, sustainable and environmentally friendly method to produce zinc oxide nanoparticles with antibacterial properties.

Coral reefs are one of the most important and diverse marine ecosystems that provide many benefits to humans. The increase in the sea surface temperature (SST), leads to their biology disruption and bleaching. In the present study, the relationship between the increase in SST due to climate change and the interactions between genes and proteins has been investigated. The results can give us a perspective on the extent of the vulnerability of corals to stress and the adoption of methods to protect them. Data on SST anomalies in the Persian Gulf was obtained using satellite data. The metabolic pathway of sod and cat genes in oxidative stress, and hsp90 gene in heat shock pathways were obtained by KEGG. Gene and protein interactions were obtained through GeneMANIA and STRING databases respectively. SST analyzes showed that there are temperature fluctuations in the Persian Gulf from the lowest temperature, about 16 °C to about 35 °C in Khark Island. Therefore, the coral reefs of the Persian Gulf tolerate very high temperatures. During thermal stress, the coral host responds to oxidative stress by regulating the expression of antioxidant genes, including sod and cat, to protect the coral-algae symbiosis. In addition, the expression of hsp90 indicates its role in protecting proteins from heat damage. Understanding the relationship between SST and the molecular health status of coral reefs is essential to develop conservation strategies to protect these marine ecosystems in the face of climate change.

The present study investigated phylogeny of Iranian (the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea) humpback dolphin, using mitochondrial D-LOOP gene. As a result, four sequences of D-LOOP were obtained from the four Iranian specimens and were compared with available sequences of the members of the genus Sousa from the GeneBank (NCBI). For phylogenetic analyses we used two methods, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference. In the analyses of D-LOOP, all Iranian sequences group firmly together with Indian specimen under a supported clade (bootstrap value = 98 in ML tree, posterior probability = 1 in BI tree). The Indo-Iranian clade clustered firmly with the clade of Sousa plumbea from west of Indian Ocean and South Africa. This finding proof that the Iranian humpback dolphin does not belong to S. chinensis, as previously were recorded, but belongs to S. plumbea. To address the phylogeny with better resolution, careful morphological examination along with using more mitochondrial and nuclear markers are suggested.

Coral bleaching, loss of symbiotic algae of Symbiodinium sp. or photosynthetic microalgae pigments from their coral host have become commonplace in recent decades due to the rising of sea temperatures and changes in physicochemical factors. It is essential to study the susceptibility of corals to bleaching, the physiology of its symbiotic algae, and its capacity to cope with abiotic stress. Oxidative stress is of particular importance due to the fact that it can be caused by photosynthetic dysfunction drived by temperature and other physicochemical factors. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of physicochemical factors on the photosynthetic performance of Symbiodinium sp. symbiosis with Stichodactyla haddoni in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. To determine whether the cultured Symbiodinium sp. has different sensitivities to oxidative stress and whether winter and summer play a role in oxidative stress and coping with it, DPPH test and Freak ion reduction method (FRAP) were used and Physicochemical factors were measured through the HQ40D prototype device. Moreover, air data (wind speed) was obtained from the website www.irimo.ir. Statistical analysis was performed through one-way analysis of variance at the level of 0.05 and heatmap analysis. The results showed that the highest antioxidant capacity was assigned to Symbiodinium sp. extract in Chabahar in winter (IC50:135.768 μgr/ml) and the lowest antioxidant capacity was allocated to Chabahar in summer (IC50:349.090 μgr/ml). Ferric ion reduction of Symbiodinium sp. extracts showed the highest inhibition compared to ascorbic acid at a concentration of 2 mg/ml (0.297) and the lowest inhibition at a concentration of 0.063 mg/ml (0.015) in Chabahar in winter.

Regarding the significant effect of temperature on biomineralization process, the study of the seasonal changes impacts on the functions and patterns of gene expression in mantle tissue as an important organ responsible for biomineralization in pearl oysters, is necessary. In this study, the gene expression patterns of 9 biomineralization genes (ASP, KRMP, SHEM5, PRISM, PEARL, CHIT, PIF, MRNP34, NACREIN) were investigated in the mantle tissue of Pinctada persica between warm and cold seasons. The cDNA was constructed using reverse transcriptase enzyme and then the expression of genes were quantified in qPCR. The results showed difference in seasonal pattern. Three genes of prismatic layer (ASP, KRMP and SHEM5) had high expression in cold season and PIF which involved in nacre layer formation, showed high level of expression in warm season. It is likely, the biomineralization rate reduce in higher temperature and the prismatic related genes play more important role in response to seasonal changes. This study has provided valuable information about mantle tissue traits of P. persica and influence of environmental factors in molecular mechanisms involved in the formation of shell and pearl.

Chelonibia testudinaria is a globally widespread epibiont barnacle. Previous phylogenetic studies have shown that specimens of this species positioned in three separate clades. One clade contains specimens of the Eastern Pacific, one clade contains specimens of the West and East Atlantic, and one clade contains specimens of the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia. In the present study, we addressed the phylogenetic position of specimens of C. testudinaria from the Persian Gulf using the mitochondrial COX1gene. The results show that specimens of the Persian Gulf cluster with specimens of Southeast Asia from Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore as well as Japan in a supported clade. The widespread distribution of this species in the Indo-West Pacific seems to have been facilitated by sea turtles.

Since the Persian Gulf is a semi-closed water ecosystem, climate change has more severe impacts on organisms, especially on non-motile ones. The harmful effects on organisms can be studied at all biological levels of morphology, anatomy, physiology, to cellular and molecular levels. The collapse of the symbiotic relationship between coral and its symbiont algae can result in bleaching and it is the first effect of changing favorable conditions on hard coral. The cells produce Heat Shock Proteins (hereinafter referred to as HSP) in response to heat stress. The rate and way of HSP production in corals depend on the expression of the genes encoding these proteins. In this study, we investigated the expression of heat shock gene HSP70 in response to elevated temperature in Acropora downingi (Wallace, 1999) coral reef. After sampling hard corals in March 2018 and adapting them to laboratory conditions, their ambient water temperature increased to 9 °C (from 25 °C to 34 °C). The samples were adapted to laboratory conditions for 2 weeks after being transferred to the laboratory. The water temperature was 25 °C under control conditions, which was increased to 34 °C to create thermal stress. The expression of the gene Hsp70 was evaluated at control time and also 24 h and 48 h after temperature rise. The study showed that gene expression was significantly increased 24 h after stress and it decreased at 48. However, the corals were bleached, which could be due to the deterioration and reduced resistance to heat shock.

Coral reefs provide the important and diverse part of ecosystem biologically. The population of hermatypic coral is declining around the world, in response to various stress factors including increasing sea surface temperatures. The increase of sea surface temperature leads to the collapse of symbiosis life between coral and its symbiont; so the algal colonies leave corals and results in the loss of corals’ colors. The highest threshold of bleaching has been observed in the coral reefs of the Persian Gulf. In this study, the status of the Persian Gulf coral reefs is shown in the Khark, Hendourabi, Kish and Larak Islands from January 2010 to September 2019 by direct observation and photographing. According to the observations, the health of corals has fallen sharply over this period, and there is less than 10% live coral in some parts of the Larak and Hendorabi islands. Despite the exceptional capacity of the Persian Gulf corals to survive over high temperatures compared to other coral reefs, when the temperature exceeds the tolerance threshold, these corals will also be bleached.

Symbiotic relationships play an important role in marine ecosystems. Among marine symbionts, marine dinoflagellate chemical compounds have drawn the interest of biologists and ecologists due to their rich supplies of unique active secondary metabolites. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity and antibacterial activity of Symbiodinium sp. extract isolated and purified from Stichodactyla haddoni in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman and purified and cultured Symbiodinium sp. in vitro. Sea anemone samples of S. haddoni were collected during summer and winter and Symbiodinium sp. was isolated from anemones by manual homogenization method and then cultured and extracted. Brine shrimp lethality test was used for investigation of Symbiodinium sp. extracts toxicity. The effect of extracts on human pathogenic bacteria, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was also investigated. Results showed that the cytotoxicity of Symbiodinium sp. extracts during 24 and 72 hours showed the highest cytotoxicity in Chabahar summer with less LC50 (0.179 and 0.075 mg/mL, respectively). Comparison of antibacterial properties showed that the highest zone of inhibition was related to winter in Qeshm Island, but it was less than the penicillin zone. In general, the study of methanolic extracts did not show antibacterial properties, while they showed lethal effects on A. salina. Therefore, Symbiodinium sp. can be used as more specific anti-cancer and anti-tumor tests as a cytotoxic dinoflagellate.

Sea anemones (order Actiniaria) are among the most diverse and successful members of class Anthozoa, subclass Hexacorallia. According to the wonderful role of sea anemones as a benthic suspension feeding community and their ecological success by a propensity for engaging in symbiotic relationships and also their recent applications in biotechnology and the extraction of active biological substances and drug compounds, a study of internal structure of this aquatics is necessary. In this study, the histological sections with 5 µm thick were prepared from two species Anthopleura buddemeieri and Stichodactyla haddoni and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. By investigation of light microscope images, in both species the body wall and gastrovascular cavity were easily visible. Body wall significantly contained 3 layers of epidermis, mesoglea and gastrodermis and gastrovascular cavity structure included mesentery, longitudinal retractor muscles and parietobasilar muscles. In the species A. buddemeieri with making a histological section from all of the gastrovascular cavities of this animal, actinopharynx and siphonoglyphs were observed and the types and numbers of mesenteries were determined. Also in both species the longitudinal retractor muscles were stronger and wider attached to the end of primary and secondary mesenteries than pareitobasilar muscles placed near the body wall.

The reproductive biology of Indian halibut, Psettodes erumei, a commercially valuable flatfish species, in the northern Persian Gulf and Oman Sea was studied. A total of 433 specimens were collected monthly from October 2016 to November 2017, and their length, weight, sex, gonad and liver weight, and maturity status were recorded. Monthly variations in Gonado-somatic index showed two obvious peaks in the spawning period in both sexes. Observations from the seasonal maturation curve, the frequency distribution of the female gonadal development stages and the condition factor confirmed recent findings that the spawning periods have two peaks, a higher peak in April-May (spring) and a lower peak in October (autumn). The size at first maturity of females was estimated to be 38.20 cm in total length. The absolute fecundity ranged from 18072 to 332171 eggs while the relative fecundity ranged from 22 to 161 eggs/g. Absolute fecundity was positively correlated with body related parameters (total length/weight) and with gonad weight. Combined, the information provided in this study could be useful for resource managers to set seasonal closure during peak spawning periods and implement minimum size limits above the size at first maturity to let the fish spawn at least once before capture.

Climate change due to global warming is one of the worst environmental disasters in the world, which affects all ecosystems and has led to increasing degradation of coral reefs. The increase of sea surface temperature is inversely related to the resistance of corals and is directly associated with their bleaching. High temperature disrupts the symbiotic relationship between coral and algal symbiont and results in coral bleaching. To evaluate the adaptation of corals to heat stress, in this study, we investigated the thermal stress effect on the expression of genes involved in programmed cell death (PCD), cysteinyl aspartate proteases 3 (will be mentioned as Caspas3 hereafter) and anti-apoptotic pathway, B-cell lymphoma 2 (will be mentioned as Bcl2 hereafter) in Porites lobata (Dana, 1846). Corals were incubated at 25°C for 2 weeks (adaptation period) and then exposed to 34°C (heat shock) for 24 and 48 hours. Then, the expression of genes was measured using real-time PCR. The results revealed that both genes were up-regulated at 24 hours after heat induction. Bcl-2 expression (anti-apoptotic gene) was induced at 24 hours and was down-regulated at 48 hours. In contrast, Caspase3 (apoptotic gene) continued to be expressed up to 48 hours. These results might indicate that coral cells are headed towards bleaching and death with increased temperature. The results of this study, regarding the observed expression patterns, can clarify the response of different genes to a thermal stress in coral reefs. The exposure of corals to acute conditions with high temperatures presented the behavior of the desired genes in the studied conditions.

Indian halibut, Psettodes erumei is the single member of family Psettodidae recorded in the southern waters of Iran (north of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea). In the present study, the feeding habit of this species was investigated. The specimens were collected monthly from October 2016 to November 2017 by shrimp trawl from three sampling sites along the northern parts of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea (Hormozgan Province, Iran). For the diet analysis, the stomach contents of 433 individuals were analyzed. Of these, 277 were empty (VI=63.97%) which varied significantly throughout the study period. Feeding intensity of both sexes was high before the gonadal maturation peak; during the period when a maximum percentage of fully mature individuals were present, the feeding intensity was found to be low. The overall diet showed that Indian halibut is mainly a piscivorous carnivore and Teleostei were the most frequent and important food group in the diet (%F=48.08, %IRI=98.44). Crustacean and Cephalopods constituted a small portion of the diet (%F=5.77 and 1.92, respectively) and were of minor importance (%IRI=1.33 and 0.23, respectively). Diet composition showed no significant variation in relation to season, fish size and sex and only some significant differences were observed in their frequency and numerical percentage. The trophic level for this species was calculated 4.4. The present study provides partial information on feeding habits of Indian halibut, of prime importance for the fisheries management and also helps to understand the trophic role of fish in relation to other species in the ecosystem.

Coral reefs productive ecosystems which are the habitats for regeneration of many marine fauna and flora species. The high production of coral reef ecosystems has made them a suitable place for fishermen catches and fisheries organizations. Increasing population growth, human activities, including uncontrolled exploitation of edible and non-edible or decorative sources of coral reefs, as well as global warming, which is the widespread reflection of human activities, has reduced coral reefs as quickly as possible. According to these conditions, many societies around the world have been considered the creation of artificial reefs for settlement of many marine organisms, in the recent years. The existence of artificial reefs or rock formations has created a new ecosystem over time that according to its characteristics, is comparable to natural coral reefs. This innovation was implemented in year 2002, with financial support of the United Nations GEF/SGP, the Qeshm Free Zone Department of Environment and the village council of Salakh in the Qeshm Island. All stages of the project were carried out with the help of Salakh’s people from the beginning and construction of different parts of the artificial structures to the placement on the seabed. Artificial reefs have greatly positive effects on biodiversity, the beauty of sea bed, suitable sites for the settlement and growth of marine animals, and place providing for the study of coral reef-like ecosystems. In this study, the steps of construction and placement of artificial rock beds in the village of Salakh, Qeshm has been explained.

The LC50-96h test paradigm is used to measure the susceptibility and survival potential of organisms exposed to particular toxic substances, such as heavy metals. In this study, the statically acute toxicity of Pb on hermit crab D. avarus was determined according to standard methods O.E.C.D in 96h. 84 individual hermit crab with 0.19±.0.01 g weight average were used in five different treatments (75, 100, 150, 175, 200 microgram per liter of lead) with three replicates and a control treatment (15 hermit crab per in each treatment). The effective physical and chemical parameters of water including pH, total hardness, dissolved oxygen and temperature were controlled throughout the experiment. Finelly, the rate of the acute toxicity (LC50 96h) was determined to be 184.045 µg/l by using the statistic method Probity analysis. Furthermore, the rates of LC10, LC50, LC90 (24, 48, 72 and 96h) were calculated. Results indicate that when the experiment time is extended, lower concentration of Pb is leading to mortality in hermit crab D. avarus. The percentage of mortality increased with increasing duration of exposure of crab to different amounts of lead concentration. The behavioral changes observed in hermit crabs D. avarus in the experiment period included an imbalance in walking, reduced activity and movement, slow motion, no irritability and also color change of the abdomen.

This study was conducted to identify the intertidal crab species and their temporal distribution caught by set net in northwest of the Qeshm Island. A total of 120 crabs were collected monthly from February 2015 to January 2016. The specimens were collected by hand and then fixed in formaldehyde 10%, transported to the laboratory and then identified based on their morphological characteristics using identification keys. The results showed that the specimens belong to 3 families including Portunidae, Macrophthalmidae and Pilumnidae. Portunus segnis and Venitus dentipes were dominant species in set net in northwest of the Qeshm Island whereas, Eurycarcinus orientalis was observed in some months in the study period. Temporal distribution and frequency of species was different in overall year, so that the frequency of crabs in warm seasons (spring and summer) was higher than than in cold season (winter).

Behavior is a unique link between physiology and ecology of the organism and their environment. In this study, the behavior of the visual detection and shell selection of samples of hermit crab Diogenes avarus were studied. So, the samples exposed to the lateral and reverse sides of empty shells of four species of gastropods and the behavior of visual Detection and finally shell selection of samples were observed and recorded. The result indicate that the samples were presented with different views of four shell species, they were significantly attracted to shells of Umbonium vestiarium in lateral and upside-down position and selected it. The lateral and upside-down positions of U. vestiarium mimic the Semi-circle shape. While, it seems that the non-attractive shape like Canoed for this organism so that the lowest attracted to the canoed gastropod shell Certhidea cingulata. Such escape response to some geometrical shapes of shells can be interpreted as an escape response from predators that mimic these geometrical shapes.

The mantle of bivalves has an important role in the forming of the shell and the pearl. The purpose of the present study is comprehension of the histological structure of the mantle edge and comparison of this tissue in a pearl oyster, Pinctada radiata and an edible oyster, Saccostrea cucullata. This study is the first research regarding the comparative histology of mantle edge in pearl-producing and non pearl-producing bivalves of the Persian Gulf. The anterior, posterior and ventral segments of each valve’s mantle edge were removed and the samples were stained with Harris hematoxylin and eosin method. The results showed that the mantle edge in each species has three folds with different and specific shapes. The cells of two species’ mantle edges such as mucus cells, brown granules, hemocyte and muscle fibers were similar to each other, but their distribution in each fold was different. It concludes that there are various color and morphological structure in the mantle edge of each species.

Marine gastropod genu's Conus diversified rapidly during the Miocene includes the most species-rich modern marine genus. The aim of this study is an expanded molecular phylogenetic analysis and divergence time of two dominant cone snail species from the Persian Gulf. The mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I sequence data of Conus coronatus and Conus frigidus species from the Persian Gulf were used to compare with the other Conus species in Viroconus and Virgoconus clades from the different regions. Moreover, divergence time of the Persian Gulf clusters was estimated from the substitution rate of the genome. Results showed, low differences between the Conus species of the Persian Gulf and Indo-Pacific, and divergence time of the Persian Gulf Conus species was about 2 million years ago. So, the Persian Gulf Conus species originated from the Indo-Pacific parallel to the geological events and after the Ice Age. Then, these species were transferred through the Indian Ocean to the Persian Gulf. These findings give use a knowledge of the origin and the evolution of these species in the Persian Gulf.

This study aimed to investigate the sea cucumber Stichopus herrmanni diet in coral reef located southeast of the Qeshm Island and other nutritional indices. Sampling was done seasonally (10-15 samples in each season) in southeast of Qeshm Island (area around 515000 m­2) and intestinal contents were examined as a standard method. In this study, Diatoms, blue green algae, Micro benthic animals (foraminifers, nematodes and gastropod) as main prey were detected in the intestinal contents in this species. During different seasons, changes observed in the index of fullness and vacuity index of intestine and RLG Index was over one. In general, it seems that the diet changes happening in this beast is affected by different stages of life including sexual maturation and spawning.