Study of Seasonal Variation of Biomass and Seaweed Composition in Tidal Areas of Boshehr Province (North Part of the Persian Gulf)

The study was carried out to evaluate the seasonal variations of dominant seaweed biomass and species composition at six different sites during 4 seasons from autumn 2008 till summer 2009 in the sand flats of tidal areas of the Bushehr Province. Algal samples were collected using quadrate sampling (0.5 × 0.5 m) from 4 different tidal areas (upper mid littoral, mid mid littoral, low mid littoral and infra littoral) at each site. Samples collected were sorted as far as possible at the location and placed in plastic bags. The plastic bags were placed in an ice-chest during transportation to the laboratory. Algal samples were distinguished using valid references. In sum, this study recorded 13 dominant seaweed species including 3 Chlorophyta, 4 Phaeophyta and 6 Rhodophyta were. Among Chlorophyta, Entromorpha intestinalis was the dominant species at all sites. This is while, Cystoseira myrica and Gracilaria corticatay both showed maximum biomass among the Phaeophyta and Rhodophyta, respectively.