Visitor impact on rocky shore communities of Qeshm Island, the Persian Gulf, Iran

The influence of visitors on macroinvertebrates of rocky intertidal shores was investigated in southern coasts of the Qeshm Island, the Persian Gulf, Iran. Qeshm Island located at the Strait of Hormuz, with an area of 1,491 km², is the largest island in the region. This island consists of a number of important natural habitat types including creeks, mangroves, corals, and sandy, muddy, and rocky shores that accommodate diverse marine flora and fauna communities. Two rocky shores were selected at the touristic beaches being visited regularly, and further two control locations selected at pristine shores. Intertidal macroinvertebrates were collected from six microhabitats including rock platforms, cobbles, boulders, crevices, sea walls, and rock pools during two different periods representing high and low tourist seasons. Species richness, density, and assemblage structure in heavily visited shores were compared with that of control locations. Striped barnacles (Balanus amphitrite) were present on platforms of all locations, thus the changes in their size were used as the obvious contrast associated with visitor’s impact. A total of 70 macroinvertebrate species from 11 phyla were recorded. Significant differences were detected in taxonomic richness, density, and assemblage structure of macroinvertebrates between heavily visited and pristine shores, suggesting that macroinvertebrates were adversely affected by visitors’ impact at heavily visited shores. The test of changes in species richness, density, and assemblage structure from high to low seasons yielded mixed results. The significant changes in density and assemblage structure from high to low seasons were only observed in one heavily visited shore. A significant reduction in size of striped barnacles was observed only in one heavily visited shore. The opportunistic or fugitive species (e.g., small macroalgae and barnacles) were dominant macroinvertebrates on heavily visited shores indicating early succession stage. The results presented here showed that macroinvertebrates were adversely affected by human activities in subtropical rocky shore.     

Transformer oils as a potential source of environmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): an assessment in three central provinces of Iran

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination of oils from all transformers of the national electrical grid in Tehran, Qom, and Alborz, three central...     

Dichloromethane emissions from automotive manufacturing industry in Iran: case study of the SAIPA automotive manufacturing company

The primary data about the role of automotive manufacturing industry in emitting dichloromethane (DCM) to the environment in Iran are provided by a case study of SAIPA Automotive Manufacturing Company in 2012. The average emission rate and emission factor of DCM in the stack exhaust air streams of the solvent-based automotive painting plant were 6.8 kg·d^?1 and 19.5 g per car, respectively. The spray booths had the highest portion (about 85%) of DCM emission in the stack exhaust air streams. The average concentration of DCM (± standard deviation) in the generated wastewater of the factory was 64 ± 12 μg·L^?1, but in the effluent of the factory wastewater treatment plant, it was reduced to a nondetectable level. DCM was also observed in three groundwater wells out of five monitored water resources. To control DCM emission and prevent pollution, the replacement of solvent-based paints with water-based paints is highly recommended.