Comparison productivity of class Desmospongiae (phylum Porifera) on Artificial Reefs (ARs) in Northwest Persian Gulf

This research was carried out in four seasons from May 2009 to February 2010 in artificial reefs of Bahrakan coastal water.The samples were collected by SCUBA diving at depth of 12m by throwing quadrate (0.25×0.25m) randomly. Four stations selected for sampling. Comparison of sponge production in ARs was examined over one yr period. The highest production during the one year in seasons belonged to H. simulans and H. oculata:7.06 gAFDMm-2yr-1 and 6.75 gAFDMm-2yr-1, respectively and the lowest scale of production belongated to species Clathria sp. with 0.31 gAFDMm-2yr-1. So, in this study the production of stations estimated that the highest production stations belonged to H. simulans and H. oculata:46.22 gAFDMm-2yr-1 and 12.09 gAFDMm-2yr-1, respectively and the lowest production in stations belongated to species Clathria sp. with ratio of 0.32 gAFDMm-2yr-1. The results of relation between physicochemical properties of water and sponges biomass showed increasing of salinity in cold season increased biomass and vice versa decreasing of salinity in warm season decreased it in all species.