Combining echo sounding, sediment and biological data to map benthic habitats in a coastal area of the Persian Gulf

摘要: Mapping surveys of coastal benthic habitat in Qeshm Island Geopark, Persian Gulf, were conducted using a combination biological, sedimentological and echo-sounding data. The survey area covered approximately 233 km2 depth range 5–25 m, the data acquired from single beam echo sounder, grab, video still photography. Sediment macrofauna samples collected by grab at 76 stations subjected to classification ordination analyses. Two acoustic classes identified differentiating along near/offshore axis. texture was dominated fine grain sizes, with five distinct sub-sediment types. In total, 214 macrobenthic taxa identified, which polychaetes accounted for 60%. Other dominant groups included young sponges, nematodes, malacostracan crustacean, bivalves, ostracods ophiuroids. Underwater videos photos integrated macrofaunal sedimentary revealed biogenic features such as burrows tubes. biological six main assemblages showing an inshore/offshore pattern. abundance did not demonstrate significant difference depth, although positively correlated depth. highest species richness observed median depths. Species distribution diversity show any correlation sediment type. A preliminary mapping south coast Geopark has been carried out, integrating acoustic,