In the Persian Gulf, Acropora- dominated coral reefs have been damaged by global and local disturbances. Inversion of coral colonies mostly occur due to anchoring and fishing in many coral reefs, particularly those established nearby human societies, like the coral reef of Hengam Island, in the Persian Gulf. The short term growth rates (weight increment) of inversely and normally transplanted c...

Corals that naturally thrive under extreme conditions are gaining increasing attention due to their importance as living models to understand the impact of global warming on world corals. Here, we present the first metagenomic study of viral communities in corals thriving in a thermally variable water body in which the temperature fluctuates between 11 and 39°C in different seasons. The viral a...

The lipid content and composition of the reef-building coral Acropora downingi, the largest coral reef of Hengam Island, were examined throughout a year. The results showed that the lipid content of A. downingi significantly differs in different seasons (t-test, P< 0.05). Depending on the season and spawning times, the lipid content of A. downingi ranged from 16.5 to 37.7 % (dry weight). The to...

the lipid content and composition of the reef-building coral acropora downingi, the largest coral reef of hengam island, were examined throughout a year. the results showed that the lipid content of a. downingi significantly differs in different seasons (t-test, p< 0.05). depending on the season and spawning times, the lipid content of a. downingi ranged from 16.5 to 37.7 % (dry weight). the to...

Thermal anomaly is among factors initiating coral bleaching and mortalities and threatening coral reefs worldwide. Therefore, susceptibility of corals to thermal stress is a central concern in reef conservation. In this study, we evaluated underwater temperature during 2012-13 and bleaching status of corals during summer 2012 in Hengam Island located in the eastern Persian Gulf. Hengam coral...

With on-going climate change, coral susceptibility to thermal stress constitutes a central concern in reefconservation. In the Persian Gulf, coral reefs are confronted with a high seasonal variability in water temperature, and both hot and cold extremes have been associated with episodes of coral bleaching and mortality. Using physiological performance as a measure of coral health, we investiga...

Abstract Current seawater temperatures around the northeastern Arabian Peninsula resemble future global forecasts as &gt; 35 °C are commonly observed in summer. To provide a more fundamental aim of understanding structure wild populations extreme environmental conditions, we conducted population genetic study widespread, regional endemic table coral species, Acropora downingi , across Peninsula...