Study of the abundance and species diversity of the damselfish family (Pomacentridae) in coral reef areas around Lark Island (Persian Gulf)

moezzi, maryam; haghi, mahsa; Behzadi, Siamak ‎

Volume 16, Issue 2 (summer 2026) J. Aqua. Eco 2026, 16(2): 35-49 | Back to browse issues page

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moezzi M, haghi M, Behzadi S ‎. Study of the abundance and species diversity of the damselfish family (Pomacentridae) in coral reef areas around Lark Island (Persian Gulf). J. Aqua. Eco 2026; 16 (2) :35-49
URL: http://jae.hormozgan.ac.ir/article-1-1170-en.html

Study of the abundance and species diversity of the damselfish family (Pomacentridae) in coral reef areas around Lark Island (Persian Gulf)

Maryam Moezzi

, Mahsa Haghi ^*

, Siamak ‎ Behzadi

Abstract: (7 Views)

Understanding the structure of reef fish assemblages as sensitive indicators of coral reef health plays a crucial role in the sustainable management and conservation of marine ecosystems. To assess the abundance and diversity of damselfishes (family Pomacentridae), seasonal sampling was conducted from winter 2019 to autumn 2020 at three stations surrounding Larak Island using Underwater Visual Census (UVC) methods. A total of six species were identified, including Abudefduf sordidus, A. vaigiensis, Chromis weberi, C. xanthopterygia, Chrysiptera unimaculata, and Dascyllus trimaculatus. One-way analysis of variance revealed significant differences in total abundance among stations and seasons (p ≤ 0.05), with Station 1 consistently exhibiting the highest mean abundance across most seasons. The highest total abundance was recorded at Station 1 during autumn (10.710 ± 0.30 individuals m⁻²), whereas the lowest abundance occurred at Station 2 in summer (0.134 ± 0.00 individuals m⁻²). C. xanthopterygia was the dominant species at Stations 1, C. weberi at station 2, while C. unimaculata dominated Station 3. The highest Shannon diversity index and species richness were observed at Station 1 during summer. The superior ecological condition of Station 1 is likely associated with greater live coral cover and more moderate depth compared to the other stations. This study represents the first UVC-based assessment of damselfish assemblages in the coral reefs of Larak Island and provides valuable baseline information for the conservation and management of coral reef habitats and regional fisheries resources.

Keywords: Coral reef, Damselfish, Lark Island, Persian Gulf, Unerwater Visual Census.

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Type of Study: Research | Subject: Special
Published: 2026/07/1