Evaluation of ecological status of the Persian Gulf inshore waters (Hormozgan rocky bottoms) using macrophytic communities and a macroalgae biological index, EEI

Abstract: Marine macro-algae are very important biological indicators of the ecological status of the marine environment because they are first to react to the pollution entering the sea including nutrients which determine the trophy of the ambient of the environment. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the present trophic level and the health status of the sampling stations according to the European Water Frame Directive. Sampling was done bi-monthly at seven stations at the tidal rocky shores west of Hormozgan Province. In this study a total of 63 of species were identified, from which 15 species, seven genes belonged to green algae16 species, five genes belonged to brown algae, 32 species, nine genes belonged to red algae The values of abundance of macroalgae and Ecological Evaluation Index indicate a high level of eutrophication and bad status for the Station 1 and poor status for Station 2, Station 3, Station 4 and Station 6. They are classified as zones with a bad and poor ecological status. It has been proved that chlorophyll and nutrients are higher in these zones. This fact just confirms the results obtained from macroalgae metrics. The best values of the estimated metrics at Station 5 and Sation 7 could be explained with the good and moderate ecological conditions in that zone and the absence of pollution sources close to those stations.