Biological assessment of river Haji Abad (Hormuzgan province) Using Macrobenthic Community Structure

This study aimed to investigate the population structure of benthic communities in Haji Abad River, West of Hormuzgan province. The study was conducted from October 91 till September 92. The three sites were determined based on regional topography and large benthic fauna. Sampling was performed monthly using a 500 micron Surber sampler with three replicates at each station. Samples were fixed in 4% formalin and identified. A total of 5 classes, 9 orders, and 24 families were identified in which the greatest diversity and abundance was recorded for aquatic insect larvae. The order Diptera and Ephemeroptera were dominant in all three stations. Maximum number of animals during the sampling period was 4195 individual at station 3, and the minimum was 2,935 sq m at station 1. Data on large benthic community structure metrics were summarized using the EPT richness (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, Trichoptera), the ratio of EPT frequency to Chironomidae family, the Shannon diversity index and Biological indicators Bauer.